Sling Questions

[FirstTimeMommy]

I really want/need to use a sling or wrap. I think my little one would like it since she loves her mommy and needs to be held all day. ;) I just don't know what to buy and wouldn't want to waste the money. I could even sew something, just to try it out and see if she liked being in it. So my question is what are some good slings? Does anyone have any good patterns for making a sling also? We'd need something that I could use during the hot summer months as far as fabric goes and also something that a 7 and a half month old would be comfortable in. I've tried a carrier type thing that I received as a gift but I wasn't comfortable with it so I don't think my little girl was either.

I did a google search but that didn't really give me the mom knowledge that you ladies have here. TIA :)

[RedheadbyChoice]

*thunks head*

Red----get thy buns to the post office today. Do you hear me? Get to the dang post office TODAY!

FTM----it's on its way, sugar!

[klynnw]

We use a heart-to-heart sling. I ordered it online. Just google Heart-to-heart baby slings and the website will pop up. What's nice is they come in different sizes. My ds1 was in that sling until he was 2.

[rookiemonster]

nurturecenter.com moby wraps are great, light weight and 100% cotton

[FirstTimeMommy]

*thunks head*

Red----get thy buns to the post office today. Do you hear me? Get to the dang post office TODAY!

FTM----it's on its way, sugar!


lol :)

And thanks for the other info ladies. Does anyone have a sling pattern that they love? I could make one.

[Psyche]

You can make a wrap at home easily. Just get something jersey knit about 5-6 yards and cut into thirds lengthwise. Google instructions how to do it and use it. :)

[Peanut1207]

I have a moby wrap that I absolutely love, but it's too hot for the summer. I'm looking for material to make a lighter weight moby (if anyone has suggestions that'd be great). I have a hotslings sling also but it's not nearly as comfy as the moby. Good luck!

[threefunboys]

Okay, sewing things are really hard to describe if I can't show it to you, but I'll do my best.

When DS was little, I bought some fabric for a moby type wrap. He and I both loved it. Now that he's older, we don't love it so much. so I got some of the extra fabric from the moby and made a sling that's kind of like a hotsling or peanut shell or there are a hundred others like that.

The fabric is a lighter type of fabric--I don't have any idea what it's called. But you can use pretty much any kind of fabric you want as long as it is stretchy side to side, and not so stretchy on the straight of grain.

I got a piece that was about 40 inches across (the stretchy way) and 60 inches the non stretchy way. I folded it in half so it was about 20 inches, and sewed so it made a 60 inch long "tube." Then I made it into a circle by sewing the ends of the "tube" together. This is the tricky part because you want all the seams to be on the inside. Turn the tube right side out, fold it so the raw edges touch, and start pinning right sides together. Once you get nearly all the way around, turn it so the pinned edge is flat and "sewable" and the wrong side is out. It will probably look like you're sewing it wrong, but when you get it turned back so the right side is out, it will be right. As you are sewing, you need to leave a hole to turn the right side out. Don't stitch the hole closed until you know you have it to the right size. (actually, mine still has the hole open, but when I use it the hole is covered, so it doesn't matter, and I can alter it if I ever need to.) Now, once you get the ends of the "tube" sewn together so it makes a circle, you can try it out to see if it's the right size. Mine, when flat, reaches from the outer part of my shoulder to the top of my hip bone. It was actually smaller than I thought I would want it.


OR

you can sew the fabric into a circle first, then fold it in half (like a sock folded over itself) and sew that side shut last.

My explanation sounds WAY complicated, but I am not an expert seamstress, and I was able to figure it out. It sounds a lot harder than it really is.


To put it on, you fold the circle back over itself, so the 20 inch side is now 10 inches. Put it around yourself, with the open side "up" in front. Put your baby inside, then unfold the part close to your hip so it makes a "pocket" for your baby to sit in.
So why not just go buy a hotsling, you ask? This way you can have it exactly the right size, and in the fabric you want. I tried out a hotsling a friend of mine had, and it wasn't very comfortable. Plus, they cost a lot more than I was willing to spend.

If you choose a more durable fabric, you can start with a piece that is about 20 inches (stretchy direction) and 50-60 inches long, and just make a circle and finish the raw edges. It's much simpler, but won't work with lighter (more summer-appropriate) fabrics. Remember--you want the fabric to be non stretchy in the direction that goes around your body, and you want it more stretchy up and down (when you are wearing the sling).

I hope you could understand my explanation. It would look like a super easy project (and it is--I whipped it out in like 2 hours) if I could sit and show you what I did.

Hope this helps!

[RedheadbyChoice]

Woot for Red! I got to the post office, but it was already closed. Gah! But, it's in the van, already made out to 'Very Patient First Time Mommy' so it'll be in the mail Monday AM! :D

[FirstTimeMommy]

Okay, sewing things are really hard to describe if I can't show it to you, but I'll do my best.

When DS was little, I bought some fabric for a moby type wrap. He and I both loved it. Now that he's older, we don't love it so much. so I got some of the extra fabric from the moby and made a sling that's kind of like a hotsling or peanut shell or there are a hundred others like that.

The fabric is a lighter type of fabric--I don't have any idea what it's called. But you can use pretty much any kind of fabric you want as long as it is stretchy side to side, and not so stretchy on the straight of grain.

I got a piece that was about 40 inches across (the stretchy way) and 60 inches the non stretchy way. I folded it in half so it was about 20 inches, and sewed so it made a 60 inch long "tube." Then I made it into a circle by sewing the ends of the "tube" together. This is the tricky part because you want all the seams to be on the inside. Turn the tube right side out, fold it so the raw edges touch, and start pinning right sides together. Once you get nearly all the way around, turn it so the pinned edge is flat and "sewable" and the wrong side is out. It will probably look like you're sewing it wrong, but when you get it turned back so the right side is out, it will be right. As you are sewing, you need to leave a hole to turn the right side out. Don't stitch the hole closed until you know you have it to the right size. (actually, mine still has the hole open, but when I use it the hole is covered, so it doesn't matter, and I can alter it if I ever need to.) Now, once you get the ends of the "tube" sewn together so it makes a circle, you can try it out to see if it's the right size. Mine, when flat, reaches from the outer part of my shoulder to the top of my hip bone. It was actually smaller than I thought I would want it.


OR

you can sew the fabric into a circle first, then fold it in half (like a sock folded over itself) and sew that side shut last.

My explanation sounds WAY complicated, but I am not an expert seamstress, and I was able to figure it out. It sounds a lot harder than it really is.


To put it on, you fold the circle back over itself, so the 20 inch side is now 10 inches. Put it around yourself, with the open side "up" in front. Put your baby inside, then unfold the part close to your hip so it makes a "pocket" for your baby to sit in.
So why not just go buy a hotsling, you ask? This way you can have it exactly the right size, and in the fabric you want. I tried out a hotsling a friend of mine had, and it wasn't very comfortable. Plus, they cost a lot more than I was willing to spend.

If you choose a more durable fabric, you can start with a piece that is about 20 inches (stretchy direction) and 50-60 inches long, and just make a circle and finish the raw edges. It's much simpler, but won't work with lighter (more summer-appropriate) fabrics. Remember--you want the fabric to be non stretchy in the direction that goes around your body, and you want it more stretchy up and down (when you are wearing the sling).

I hope you could understand my explanation. It would look like a super easy project (and it is--I whipped it out in like 2 hours) if I could sit and show you what I did.

Hope this helps!

Thanks! That is a great explanation, I think I could manage that. I'll be going to the fabric store this week and will let you know how it turns out.

Ps Red~ TIA! :)