My tutorial covers how to convert a cami to a nursing top. Since the tops are so stretchy, they can even be worn while pregnant. The most important thing to remember when purchasing or selecting a top is sizing. Before I got pregnant I wore a small cami. Afterwards, as my milk came in, I had to increase my size to a large.
Although the cost of this top can vary depending on what you use, I generally pay about $12 each, including all the supplies and taxes, and everything.
Supplies:
- Mossimo cami with shelf bra (I get mine at Target)
- Fashion straps like these or these from your local fabric store (one package per two tanks)
- Fabric scissors
- Needle and thread or sewing machine
The hooks I used are designed for 3/8" straps, but the straps on the tank are narrower. This can cause some slipping but is generally not a problem since the hook prevents the strap from "jumping off" the loop.
I prefer the metal hooks because they have a smaller profile than the plastic ones, and I would worry about the plastic ones breaking. I have not had much issue with paint coming off them despite many, many cycles in the washer and dryer.
It is best to wear the top with a cardigan or something over the shoulders to prevent the straps from falling to the back.
In addition to the conversion method described above, I also tried two other ways. One was to use the fashion straps "as is." To do this I cut off all of the existing strap except what I needed to make a loop on the back and front of the cami. Although I liked the more substantial elastic, the straps were bulkier and tended to come unhooked. Plus, you lose the matching color of the strap and you only get one cami from a pair instead of two. For the other way I removed the existing straps completely and stitched on Dritz replacement bra straps. Again, I liked the more substantial strap, but the glue they used to hold the strap together failed after only a few washings and the whole thing came apart.