Hey y’all – today I’m sharing a project that is near and dear to my heart – a sewing pattern for a mastectomy camisole. This can also be used for anyone recovering from any other torso surgery.
You see, this lady pictured above was my grandmother. And she died after a long fight with breast cancer before I was even in high school.
I’ve always done what I could to help support breast cancer research and breast cancer patients, usually donating money. But last year when both my boys were finally in school all day, I also started volunteering my time with a local group, the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). And through them I met another group, Crafting Comfort.
Crafting Comfort was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that did charitable sewing. And some of the things they made were these post surgery camisoles, which help patients with two post mastectomy difficulties – they can’t easily lift their arms to get dressed (you try putting your clothes on without lifting your arms – it’s pretty darn hard) and they usually have surgical drains that they have to carry with them for up to 2 weeks.
With velcro closures at the shoulders and front, and interior pockets for surgical drains, these camisoles help post surgical patients through their recovery.
And the best part of all of this – you can help too, whether you just want to sew one for a friend or family member facing breast cancer, or even if you don’t sew at all. Crafting Comfort used to make and donate these camisoles, and the BCRC distributed them to patients. However, the people behind Crafting Comfort have since moved and the organization was disbanded. But BCRC is still in existence and helping breast cancer patients.
I’ve created a pattern for digital download from the master patterns used by Crafting Comfort. The pattern is available below, and it is a name your price purchase. So if you really can’t afford the pattern but need the camisole or are making one for someone who does, you can get the pattern for free by editing the price in your cart. But if you choose to pay for the pattern – even if you don’t want to sew it – 100% of the proceeds from this go to the Breast Cancer Resource Center. So the suggested price is $5, but if you choose to you can pay more and know that money goes to the BCRC.
To get the pattern, add it to your cart using the button below.
Payment will be processed through E-junkie and Paypal and your pattern link will be emailed to your Paypal email address. The suggested price is $5, because that amount covers the cost of materials for one donated camisole. However, you can edit your price and pay more or less than that amount as you are able.
Please note: only 100 free patterns can be processed per day. Even $1 helps, so if you can purchase the pattern for any amount of money, please do so that others who cannot afford to can still access the file. If you are trying to get the pattern for free and cannot check out, you can try back another day as there is nothing we can do to override the 100/day limit.
The pattern includes sewing directions, but just to make sure that every learning style is covered, I also made a video of the sewing process.
This is also a great project for charity sewing groups – perhaps there’s a need for these in your local area. If so, please use this with your group and donate locally! I originally shared this pattern in 2016 and it has been used around the world since then. It’s a tiny thing but I know it’s been a comfort to many patients over the years.
Anna
Thank you so much for making this an optional free pattern. My Mother-In-Law had a double mastectomy and it is wonderful that I can sew some of these for her and other people I know who have had breast cancer surgery.
Ann
In Nov 2016, I had a double mastectomy. I’m cancer-free now! The drains were the bane of my existence for the week I had them. I made a belt out of flannel that hooked with velcro just below my navel. I had two pockets on it for the drains. It gave me the freedom to wear whatever I wanted (I wore a lot of button/zip up tops) without having to pin the drains to the surgical bra or something else. I am now committed to making one for friends if they are ever faced with this surgery.
Great Lake Connection
Wow,wow,wow. Such a great project. Ive never downloaded a pattern or made a camisole, but here I go! I have a clothes-hog, 56 year old friend (mother of 6) awaiting a double lung transplant. She’ll be needing this camisole. Thank you! DONATION A MUST. Again, thanks for this wonderful contribution.
Anne
We could have used some of these when my grandmother was recovering from a bad fall and couldn’t lift her arm! We ended up splitting a button up shirt at the shoulder somehow and adding ties I think? My memory is fuzzy. There’s so much to deal with when a family member is sick, getting them dressed should be stress-free! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this afternoon that features your post: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=90259 –Anne
Julia
I Think TThese Are Awesome.
Kimberly Eiland
Thanks for posting the pattern! When I found out I had breast cancer in February 2016, I made myself some simple short-sleeved, v-neck blouses with interior pockets for drains and velcro down the front. The blouses served me well after surgery, as well as during the last six months of chemo. The velcro makes it easy (and modest) to access the port implanted in my upper chest during chemo, and the short sleeves makes it convenient for other injections. But I had to adapt my blouse pattern without any guidance on how big to make the drain pockets, etc. Having a pattern like this would have been a blessing when I made my blouses. I start radiation therapy in a few weeks, and this camisole may be just what I need for this next step in my treatment. Hurray for Crafting Comfort and for all those who sew to help the many breast cancer patients who never learned this valuable skill.
Heather
I’m having a mastectomy in January I never even thought about what I would be wearing thank you so much for this pattern I will have time to make some before my surgery. And thank you for it being free as we are struggling it is very overwhelming.
brenda
wow I hardly know what to write. this is such a awesome thing you are doing. as the daughter of a mother who had breast cancer and am once more awaiting the results of followup ultrasound for suspicious findings on a mammogram, I am comparing this with what was available for mom. I will be cking into this program to see what I can do to help.
thank you for bringing this program to our attention.
Kellie
Thank you for this great pattern! I wish I found it when I had my double mastectomy in May, but I think I will look into making some for charity! I just had my implants put in last week so currently have drains right now! But, not up to sewing. It’s all good! Thank you again for this!
Lisa Smith
Thank you so much. In 2011 I went through a double mastectomy and I clearly remember that dressing and taking care of the drains for three weeks was a big hassle. I am blessed and my husband took exceptional care of me. Thank you, Eric! I love you!** This camisole is just perfect– and we can make it in any color! I hope many, many folks are eased with the comfort of this top. Thank you tons and tons!!!!
Olivia Taylor
Hi, I am the Patient Advocate for Austin Cancer Center in Austin, Texas. We have just partnered with Crafting Comfort to be able to give our breast surgery patients one of their camisoles. Ann Randall is such a force! She is such a good supporter, of not only breast cancer patients, but women in general. I am a 12 yr. breast cancer survivor and will be having my implants replaced shortly. I am so happy I have a camisole to wear after my surgery, so that I don’t have to pin my drain tubes to my underwear like I did 12 yrs. ago! First time to bathroom, well I saw that wouldn’t work! Thank you for putting this pattern on your blog so that women all around the world can have a camisole after surgery.
Olivia Taylor
Carolyn
Olivia, I just read your reply and I was curious what a breast cancer advocate does to hep patients. I am also a patient of Austin Cancer Center as well, and have been cancer free for 1year. I love this top, although my surgeon offered a top that was donated to her office by a local highschool.
Victoria Moore
I am so glad to see that the pattern includes a front opening! When I first saw it, I thought it was velcro at the shoulder only. I couldn’t raise my arms at all after my bilateral mastectomy and wondered at how useful this would be. Now I see that it’s phenomenal. I was lucky enough to benefit from a local sewing group who made mastectomy arm pillows for patients to go home with. Maybe I can see if I can include one of these in those care bags! Thank you!!❤️
Barbara
It isn’t only mastectomy patients that need a few of these. I had a lumpectomy – quite a large tumor – and a whole lot of lymph nodes removed which requires a second incision in the arm pit. I had a drain for two weeks and had to safety pin it to a cord I tied around my waist. I could easily have made this camisole or something similar with pockets for myself, but didn’t expect to have either the drain or the lymphadenectomy. When they do that, they cut muscles that make your arm weak and it, and part of your back, become forever numb, so dressing still remains difficult with some things. I gave up wearing a bra and found the only thing comfortable to be cheap Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton sports bras! There are new sensations, and new discomforts that are lasting when major nerves are severed. I don’t like the Velcro closures, though. I had a radiation shirt that was sent to me with Velcro in the front and on the shoulders. The closures are very thick and un-natural looking, and irritating to the skin underneath, even when covered with cloth. Snaps or buttons (i know – buttonholes!) are easy enough to handle and the front lays nicely. Exercises are a part of recovery, and buttoning buttons is a good thing, not a bad one! It would be nice to have some shirts that men can wear. It’s unusual, yes, but men do get breast cancer, too. And jackets. I spit sweatshirts down the front, added a band on each side after cutting a V neck, and snaps, and large, deep pockets. I could wear it during chemo that way. Those rooms are often cold, or you get chills from the meds. I live in the south, and we wear T-shirts, not blouses. So I split some of those, too, and closed them with bands and snaps for chemo days. They’re cute, and comfortable, and carefree. No one wants to iron blouses going through all that! All my fellow chemo baldies loved my shirts, and I made hats from matching fabric! TALK to those going through it. They will tell you what feels good and what their needs are. Those needs don’t end in the immediate post-surgical days. Make things very, very soft. And thank you for thinking of those of us that have to walk that path. Your kindness is so very much appreciated.
CD
I am going for a palliative mastectomy in 7 days. I will make several of these and donate to other surgical patients through the surgeon.
Thank you for making the pattern available. Since I have not been able to work for over a year, every little bit helps. I will print your website info and place in pockets so you get the credit due.
Michelle Bogart
Thank you soooooooooooo much for your pattern! My cousin was diagnosed with Staget 4 Metastatic breast cancer a year ago and is about to undergo a double mastectomy. My Mom and I have been working hard on her shirts. I made the rose one by myself so even an absolute beginner can make this! Granted, my stitches are wonky but I did it. I donated the $5 when I downloaded so you can make another but I wanted to tell you how much we appreciated your work in creating this.
I have only made a pin cushion mouse previously so I was very very proud of that!
Jordan Slice-Metcalfe
Thank you for providing this wonderful pattern! I just finished one for my boss who just had shoulder replacement surgery. She has reported that it is working wonderfully (making getting dressed much easier) and she has been wearing it often. Since she was not going to have drain, I omitted the interior pockets and extended the front Velcro closure. Based on her measurements, the fit is great! This is such a thoughtful pattern for you to provide and also a very easy sewing project for any level!
Ann Harper
I was also had surgery for lymphoma ( tumors removed from under arm and had a drain for several weeks). I was young and in major denial at the time and don’t remember having so much trouble with the surgery or recovery. Being much older now and having another bout of lymphoma I can see where the shirt could be a life saver. LOL much less Mobil and Stiffer in my old age. Thanks for your good work. I was so anger driven at the time I had surgery on Friday and went back to work next Monday( Teaching Gymnastics no less). Stay tough for anyone facing any medical issue.
Barbara
I had breast cancer surgery in 2016. Not only is specialized post-surgery Clothing necessary, it suitable tops for chemo, as well. As a long-time sewist, I prepared before surgery by buying some heavier all Cotten knit t-shirts, then Splitting them down the center front (but that could be offset as well), adding two interfaced bands, and Kam snaps. Unsnapping the top couple of snaps provides access to a chemo port, and they are -ray/scan safe while providing modesty. They can be short or long sleeved. If shirts are needed in a hurry, they are very fast to make and require little fabric. They wash and dry quickly and look nice to wear out anywhere, any time. Pockets can be added to the inside to hold drainage bulbs. Cover with a pocket on the outside. These worked wonderfully well for me.
Barbara
Please fix my post. I am a person with low vision and did not see that my iPad. Hanged the word SEWIST to sexist! And every time I type “but”, it changes it to “it”! Gah! So sorry!
Kathy Oberste
Having surgery at the end of August . Seeing Surgeon tomorrow for preop tests and consultation. Thank you for this – was wondering what comfortable clothing to wear…