I want to make a wrap...BUT... - Page 2

[CalebsMama05]

Originally Posted by maygee

Hey there! I pmed you a few days back...
If you are doing a back carry, then you want to go for the gauze-
I'm pretty sure I've seen it there before--- thing gauze like you wrap wounds with- loose weave, but not quite as loose as a bandage. Think breezy summer curtain fabric. Think hippy skirt fabric...well, you get the idea. It has to have some give to it, to cradle and support the baby. Muslin is just too tightly woven to really conform to the babies (or your) body. It should be thin enough to see the lights of the store when you hold it up, but not so thin that it wouldn't support your baby's weight. I know it's a little overwhelming, but my best advice is just to try and find something close, and try it out around the house to get a feel for it. I have used cotton knit (tshirt material) wraps for my baby until she was about a year, but they stretch, so I'd be careful for back carries. I tried the rucksack carry with the knit and it was just so stretchy that it felt like she was gonna pop out the bottom! But, cotton knit is a very forgiving wrap material to learn with, so it may be worth it to you to try it out and then give it to a mum with a littler one. Also, have you seen if there are any NINO or babywearing groups in your area? There was a mom selling crinkle cotton on TP- maybe she has a pic you could look at. Good luck!

I read somewhere (or maybe someone told me) that stretchy fabric was bad for back carries.

and I also read on here that stretchy fabric doesn't work for heavier (or older) babies.

and no, there aren't. there's milkworks but I am not sure I want to pay their prices for a wrap. ($40+)

[cinnamama]

Ok, I made my wrap and I LOVE IT! I bought some cotton gauze at Joann's and cut it down to 5 yards and 30 inches wide. Unfortunately that only left me with one wrap - I thought I would have enough width for 2 but I will use the extra to make a child sling for dd1. I haven't hemmed it yet so if I do that it will be a tad narrower. It feels so supportive, much more so than the Moby wrap - dd2 was starting to stretch it out. I am sitting here typing with her in the simple cross carry and I am so comfortable! I did read about people finding appropriate fabric at Walmart at babywearer.com. I would go to that website and sign up and look at the DIY forum. Here is an example

" Re: Material for wrap?
You want a natural fiber for breathablility. If you baby is tiny you can use a stretchy (but not too stretchy) fabric like cotton interlock. For a woven, you can use a cotton gauze fabric for a light, summer wrap (or with a tiny one) or a loosely woven cotton with some bias stretch. The links at the top of this page under article, sewing and improvising will help. Aslo www.wearyourbaby.com has lots of good info on fabric and how to tie"

I also met someone who bought crinkle cotton @ fabric.com for $2/yd. Here is a link to some not as cheap but shipping is free for 1st time shoppers.
http://www.fabric.com/SearchResults....3-26a376046a5e
I also read that you can use linen blends???

Good luck and HTH!

[cinnamama]

Also, I just saw a woman in the store with a wrap on and I asked her what it was made from and she said a linen/cotton blend. She had a little baby - maybe 2 months. She said it was comfortable. She made it herself. Good luck.

[maygee]

dp

[maygee]

I would go for cotton gauze- it's somewhat stretchy, but not like t-shirt material. T-shirt material is knit and elastic. Gauze is woven and has a little give, but isn't bouncy-stretchy.
I used my stretchy (tshirt material) wrap on my baby (front carry) until she was one (20 lbs).
That was when I felt like she was just too big for it.
I still use that stretchy(tshirt material) wrap for strap back carries, as I said in my pm.
I would not use that wrap for the rucksack carry, as I said in my pm.
I'm sorry I wasn't more help, but I tried to tell you what I know.
I'm sure if you went to Walmart, and asked for cotton gauze, they could help you.

[Phyra02]

Well after reading this thread I finally made my first wrap over the weekend and I love it. I went to Jomar's and got 6 yds of a stretchy striped cotton, another 6 yds of a white cotton guaze and another 6 yds of a striped, loose weave cotton. I tried the white gauze and it was ok. The stretchy cotton was better once I cut it down to size. My DS loves it. Thanks everyone for your advice.

[cinnamama]

Yay! You may like the gauze/woven a little more once the baby is bigger. Good job!