Mei Tai w/ headrest S&S

[mehndi mama]

More ABC experiments! This one is dome with a recycled denim outer body, linen inner body, and cotton batik straps which are a tad too short - I can't double them around like I like to. I made these narrower than my other ones, too - about 11" for the shoulder straps. The headrest straps need to be a bit longer, too, so I can cross them in the back when I'm frontwearing for nursing - when I loop them around my shoulders while doing a front carry, they slip off my shoulders. Right now I'm just tying it like a halter top instead.
Anywho, here's the pictures - Side with the headrest up, back with headrest up, peeking in the top, front with twist, side with headrest down, back with headrest down.
For my next one, I'll definitely make the straps a full 2 yds long, and maybe round off the headrest part.

[twouglyducks]

Looks great!!! I have a mei tai cut out to see if i even like that type of carrier but can seem to make/find much sewing time lately.

[mehndi mama]

I never thought I'd like one of these, but it's been really great! I've been doing one a night, after Bobby goes down to sleep at 11:00. He usually sleeps till around 3, so that's 4 hours of sewing time for ME!

[cinnamonamon]

Stell: you said you were putting a pleat in the bottom, right? Can you give me an idea of how much you're pleating? I was thinking of taking the center 10 inches worth of fabric & pleating it down into about 3 inches, but I'm really not sure -- way too much; way too little; too tight of a pleat; too loose??? I was thinking of doing 4 pleats.

pleat pleat pleat...now that word sounds wierd too me! :LOL

[mehndi mama]

I only do 2 pleats, about 1" wide, about 3" from the sides. It just draws the width in enough so the body of the carrier isn't wrapping around my sides, and adds a bit of a curved pocket for the bum.
I also discovered that my brilliant idea for a rounded-off headrest with angled straps wasn't very brilliant at all. It sits really wonky when being used. So square it off, and make the straps come straight out of the sides at the top corners.

[cinnamonamon]

:LOL about the curved headrest thing -- I did the same thing with the one I made for a friend, but I made the straps (you know beth's style from the link in your other thread...) about a foot too long as well. Still not sure how I messed that up so badly! :LOL

Thanks for the tip, that sounds a lot easier, too!