How to choose a fabric for a wraparound carrier

[Avital]

Hi all,

I'm looking a for a new carrier for my 15 mo old DD.

I read that a wraparound carrier made from woven fabric is very good for this age (unlike strechy wraparound).

The products are very expensive and I figured that this is basically a long piece of fabric, why not buy the fabric and make the carrier myself ?
It seems simple enough if i have access to a sewing machine.

The problem is that I don't know much about fabrics.
What type of fabric is suited for this purpose ?
What should I be looking for ?

Thank you,
Avital

[Wild Flowers]

The fabrics that I like to use, I make non stretchy wraps, are cottons, like a broadcloth good for a HEAVIER child, or a light cotton gauze, which is still good for all weights. I also like, since we are in a warm climate, a rayon cotton blend. It feels very nice. Though it is a bit slipperyer, if that is a word, and may be a little hard to get it on tightly enough. Those are mainly what I use. If you go to mamatoto.org she has instructions for wraps. They are mostly stretchies though. I think that her directions has them a little wide, this is my opinion though, we all like them different. I like mine to be anywhere from 25 to 30 inches depending on fabric. It is best to start out long and wide and make it shorter thinner as you find what is comfy for you. You can always cut, but you really can't make it longer after its cut without giving yourself a week spot. Good Luck, let us know how it goes!

[AnnR33]

www.thebabywearer.com has some good info on types of fabrics but it boils down to comfort. You want a fabric with some 'give' that still breathes (100% cotton is best). A gauze is nice but it can't be too lightweight like the "scrim" gauze for curtains. Basically pull on it a little and see how it feels and moves-will it hold your baby? That's what you need to think about. Wrap it around you at the store and see how it feels on your shoulders-no one looked at me funny when I did this
I got some nice midweight gauze fairly cheap but you have to watch for it...
Calico for example is not a good choice since it doesn't have any give.
Look for wovens with a diagnal weave if possible.
Check out the clearance racks, you can sometimes find some great bargains, that's where I've gotten all of mine.
As the above poster said-25-30 inches wide is pretty common but if it's gauze you could go 34" if you wanted or a little less like 22-24" for a good woven.
And better start long and cut down-start with 5 yards and go from there.
Good luck!
Ann

[Wild Flowers]

Actually, I would start with 6.5 or 7 yards. All of my wraps are almost 6 yards long. I actually like almost 6.5, but it is a little much if we are out. So I have a longer one for home and the shorter ones for when we go out. I know a lot of people who like the 5 yard ones, but if you are like me and some others, you will want more fabric. Also, I make them this long so my husband can wear them, he is 6 foot with broad shoulders, I am 5'3", so you also need to consider your height and body type.

[Lou]

i'm planning on sewing myself a wrap too- ann gave me a baby bundler in a swap, which i'm loving ...but i want to make a wrap with a fabric that i love, i've been drooling at the euro wraps like the didymos and storch- do you know what kind of fabrics they use?

i was also thinking about splitting the fabric with another mama to make two wraps, i think we'd be able to do that. any opinions?

also- are you always supposed to fold a wrap before wrapping up baby, or do some people leave it open and use the whole width?

[AnnR33]

Here's a source for woven material that wraps are made out of
http://www.unicas.com/v2/search.php?category=Fabric

The Didys and Storch are "organic" woven which is why they are more costly. I think sharing the fabric is a great idea as long as it's 60" wide fabric or maybe 54" would be fine for a 26 inch wrap.
And I use the whole width on my Girasol.
Good luck! Glad you're feeling the wrap love Lou!
Ann

[msright2474]

Also, aren't they (Ellaroo, Storch, Didy) woven to the exact width so they don't have to be hemmed on the edges? Isn't this one of the reasons they are so expensive?

I made a nice 5 yard wrap with some gauze off the WalMart $2 table. I cut it straight down the middle and traded one of the wraps to my friend for some baby clothes.

It helps if you mark the center with something (i.e. a pocket, applique, piece of ribbon, etc.). This helps you to put it on faster.

I also made myself a stretchy wrap. You will want to make sure that your knit is not TOO stretchy with a heavier baby. In fact, I haven't worn my dd in a while in the stretchy wrap. It might not be too comfortable for a heavier baby for any length of time.

[perditafoster]

I made myself a wrap out of a twin bedsheet that I tie-dyed. Cheap. Easy. And pretty fun! I used this website for directions: How to make a wrap-style sling The sheet is not stretchy at all, so it can be hard to adjust around my dd sometimes, like if the fabric is bunched under her and I want to smoothe it out over her back or something. But it worked for us for a good long while. I have an Ergo now but I pull out the old one sometimes and use it to give my back a break from the same type sling all the time. Good luck and have fun! Oh, I also hemmed the raw edges of my sheet after I cut it in half lengthwise. When I sewed it together in the middle, I simple overlapped the two ends by about 8 inches or so and sewed the ends and then the middle. that way, there was plenty holding the two pieces together. Hope that's not too confusing...once you get to cutting you'll see how to do it.

[KoalaMama]

You can make a wrap out of pretty much any fabric, but you're definitely going to notice a difference depending on what you use. The reason a lot of the woven ones cost what they do is that they're hand woven. This gives them a diagonal give that makes them very comfortable to wear. It also means that you're unlikely to find the fabric at retail for less than the cost of buying the wrap!

A good alternative to hand woven is a cotton/linen blend. In my experience this tends to have a nice amount of give, and won't be as unforgiving as a broadcloth or calico, for example.

Another good option, especially for the summer, is crinkle cotton/gauze. You can usually find it cheap, as well. And because it's so light you could easily use the full width and save yourself the time of cutting and hemming.

Happy sewing!

[mehndi mama]

I made mine out of 6 yards of crinkle gauze, 20" wide. I tapered the ends. I really like the gauze, and I don't think I'd like a knit very much, because it would stretch....which means sagging. If there's one thing I HATE about some slings, it's SAGGING. Drives me nuts!

[msright2474]

Originally Posted by mehndi mama

I made mine out of 6 yards of crinkle gauze, 20" wide. I tapered the ends. I really like the gauze, and I don't think I'd like a knit very much, because it would stretch....which means sagging. If there's one thing I HATE about some slings, it's SAGGING. Drives me nuts!

I have to agree on the sagging part. My knit wraps were very snug and comfy when my dd was tiny, but now that she weighs over 15 lbs, they really sag too much to stay comfy for long. I think they were my favorite when she was younger, though.

[KoalaMama]

I've used my Moby Wrap with my daughter at 25lbs and have no problem with sagging if I tie it tight enough. The key for me has been tying her so tight that she's up in my face starting out, and then she sags to the right spot within the first five minutes. After about five minutes, you really shouldn't notice any further sag. That said, the knit wraps I've used are the Moby and HaB, both of which are made with quality knit fabrics. Maybe a cheaper fabric wouldn't behave as well?

Oh! I did use a knit wrap once that was a cotton/lycra blend, and wasn't successful with that at all. She was hanging down to my knees within minutes!

[Wild Flowers]

I think a lot of people differ on the strechiness factor. I never liked stretch to mine. But I understand that there are who do. Probably the best thing you could do is try to find someone who has one of each. Check the mamatoto.org to see if there is babywearing help in your area. Also there is a new babywearing group out there, nino, nine in nine out http://www.nineinnineout.org/. One of my friends is starting a group in our area and she is planning on having like a sling library for those trying to decide on a carrier which to get. Also, I really couldn't stand the hem on my wraps, always seemed to dig in, whuch is why I serge them now. So you may lok out for someone with a serger. And if you are going to hem it I suggest trying it on first, before you do all the work of hemming it, so you knw you have the right length and width.