Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry: A Photo Tutorial

Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry is a great pre-tied tandem solution for wearing two babies of similar size in a single shorter woven wrap.  Using a wrap as short as a Base-3 and two or four large sling rings, the wearer can have the effect of wearing two ring slings without the added expense of buying two carriers.  What makes Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry unique is that once prepared the wrap can be left threaded through the rings and removed for wear at a later time.  Once added to the carry the baby is secured and tightened before adding the next baby.  This removes the need to hold tension and balance as seen in Amanda’s Tandem Hip Carry.  There are two methods for tying the beginning knot.  The carry can be prepared with a cow hitch knot or simply threaded through the rings without the extra work of the knot.  The rings act with passive resistance, the fabric passed through the ring holding the tails in place with tension and pressure.  Tension is a force acting on the wrap when it is pulled tight equally on the tails from opposite ends.  This secures the wrap  often tighter than a knot but without the added pressure of a large knot against your chest or back.

Benefits of a Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry

Using a two or four ring finish in Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry allows you to have a pretied, adjustable carry where each baby is secure once tightened and independent from the other baby.  The two ring variation tightens both babies through the same set of rings independently but loosens both babies at the same time when the lower ring is lifted.  The four ring variation allows both independent tightening and loosening, as each baby has their own set of rings.  The drawback to the four ring variation is the extra pressure at the sternum of the four rings layered on top of each other.  While Jasmine’s takes skill to setup, wearing has the same learning curve of a ring sling where creating a seat, tightness of the rails, and positioning are your only concerns.

Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry also uses a shorter wrap from Amanda’s Tandem Hp Carry.  Using a Base -3 woven wrap, roughly the same size as a Rucksack carry, Jasmine’s can successfully be completed at less expense than the Base or Base+1 length needed for Amanda’s Tandem Hip Carry.  Security is another great benefit of the ring finish.  The ring holds the carry tight, without the wrap slipping or sliding back with baby’s every bounce.  Often the amount of pressure baby places on the seat can make the carry loosen and previously unseen slack is noticed.  In a ring finish you can work the slack around toward the two tails then strand by strand tighten rather than needing to untie the double knot and start again.

Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry in Little Frog Sunny Agate

Safety Considerations

Always use the correct ring size for your carry.  A ring that is too large will not hold tension and the ring will slip, loosening the carry.  A ring that is too small will produce puckering, bunch the wrap within the ring, and prevent strand by strand tightening.  Placing the rings high on your chest for this carry will help with weigh distribution and prevent the yoke like feeling of the babies low on the hips and the wrap pulling at the neck.  Always check your woven wrap for visible damage.  Broken threads, punctures, and wear may compromise integrity of the carry and endanger both the wearer and the babies being worn.

Back view of Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry in Little Frog Sunny Agate

Selecting the Correct Ring Size

I only use tested, non-toxic, and lead free aluminum rings from Sling Rings.  The rings from this particular company are an industry standard, having passed testing through the American Standards and Testing Materials International Institute (ASTM).  This means that each batch of rings produced are periodically tested and weight rated to maintain a high quality standard and consistent performance.  Nylon rings are also available and work best with soft, slick fabrics such as athletic mesh.  The rings are available for sale in pairs of small, medium, or large.  A medium ring is great for wraps 220 gsm or lower.  The large ring is best on wraps 220 gsm and higher including the big fluffy handwoven wraps under 220 gsm.  The wrap should pass through the ring and not bunch or fold on itself in the ring.

Medium versus large ring finish. The image on the left shows the medium ring and the image on the right snows the large ring finish. This is the same wrap in both image, Oscha Slings Copper Beech

Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry, Two Ring Variation

Risaroo Kerrington Carbon and Two Large Sling Rings

Cow Hitch Knot

1.   After determining which ring is the correct size for the wrap you are using the next step is to complete your carry.  I am wearing a two ring variation in a Base -3 which is a size 4 for me in Risaroo Wovens Kerrington Carbon and a two large Silver sling rings.  The first step is to thread the wrap through both rings at the middle marker.
   

   Starting at your middle marker

2.  Accordion fold the woven wrap to thread it through the rings.  This step allows the wrap to fold evenly and neatly through the rings preventing bunching.
   

   Folding the wrap at the middle marker

3. Fold the wrap in half lengthwise making a loop at the middle marker.  Pull the loop through both rings to give approximately four to five inches through the top of the rings.
   

   Feeding the loop through the rings

4. For the Cow Hitch knot you will fold the loop down over the two rings.
   

   Completing the cow hitch knot

5. Pull tightly, strand by strand, on the tails to secure the knot.  Make sure it is very tight, all of the weight will rest on this point.
   

   Tightening the cow hitch knot

6. Your completed cow hitch knot should be very secure, does not slip, and should make parting the rings a little bit of work.
   

   Completed cow hitch knot from the front

   

   Back view of the cow hitch knot

7. Place the ring high on the center of your chest with one tail over each shoulder.
   

   Rings placement

8. Cross the tails across your back making an X-shape.  Make sure the tails are spread wide, this will help distribute weight across your back.
   

   Crossing the tails

9.   The next step is to accordion fold the tail to prep for threading.  This is an important step for this carry.  Take the time to fold the wrap end over end before threading through the rings.  This ensures that the wrap is not bunched and can be easily tightened once baby is added to the pouch.
   

   Accordion folding the tail for threading

10. Thread the folded tail through both rings.
    

    Threading the first tail through the rings

11.  Make a pouch for baby to sit no larger than the size of your arm folded inside the pouch.  Now lift the top ring and spread the rings.
    

    Threading through the lower ring

12. Pass the folded wrap through the bottom ring only.  Pause to fan out the wrap in the space between the rings.
    

    Adjusting the pouch size

13. Tighten the tail strand by strand through the rings to secure the pouch.
    

    Strand by strand tightening the first tail

14. One side completed.  Now let’s work on the other side.
    

    Completed first pouch

15. Repeat the accordion fold for the other side.
    

    Accordion folding the second tail

16. Thread the tail through both rings.
    

    Threading the second tail through both rings

17. Spread the rings and thread the folded tail through the bottom ring only.  Spreading the rings may take some force at this point.  That is a good sign that your carry is tight and will be secure.  If it is too tight to move the rings you may need to try the simple threaded version or move up a ring size.  Currently the largest sling ring is the large ring, if there is difficulty in separating the rings try the simple threaded version.
    

    Spreading the rings to thread the bottom ring

18. Take a moment to fan out the tail in the rings.  Tighten the tail strand by strand to secure the carry.
    

    Tightening the tail through the bottom ring

19. Completed setup with both tails threaded and the two pouches for your babies.
    

    Your pouches for baby to sit

Simple Threaded Variation

1. Accordion fold the wrap at the middle marker.  This will make sure the wrap is easy to spread once threaded in the rings.
   

   Starting at the middle marker

2. Thread one tail completely through both rings so that the rings rest at the middle marker.
   

   Threaded through both rings

3. Place the rings high at the center of your chest with one tail over each shoulder.  Note that the other side of the wrap will be seen on the opposite shoulder.
   

   Positioning of the ring on the chest

4. Cross the tails over your back spreading wide to distribute weight.
   

   Spread the tails across the back

5. Accordion fold the first tail
   

   Accordion fold the tail

6. Pass the folded tail through both rings.  Leave space for a pouch for baby to sit at your hip.
   

   Thread the tail through both rings

7. Spread the rings and pass the wrap through the bottom ring only.  Take a moment to fan out the wrap between the rings.  Now tighten strand by strand.
   

   Thread the tails through bottom ring

8. Accordion fold the second tail
   

   Accordion fold the other tail

9. Pass the folded tail through both rings leaving a pouch for your second baby to sit.
   

   Threading through both rings

10. Spread the rings.  Pass the folded tail through the bottom ring only.
    

    Threading through the second ring

11. Take a moment to fan out the tail to make sure you can strand by strand tighten.
    

    Spreading the tail between the rings

12. Your setup of the carry is now completed.  You should have two pouches for your babies to sit.

Pre-tied Solution, No worries

As previously mentioned Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry is a great pre-tied solution that you can prepare then take off and store ready for next use.

Getting out of the carry

1. Slide your arm out of one side of the carry.
   

   Slide your arm out

2. Slide your other arm out of the carry.
   

   Slide out your other arm

3. Lift the ring over your head.
   

   Up and over your head

   Off for storage and ready to wear

   

   Prepped and ready for next use

   Getting back in

4. Start by holding the ring and both loops in one hand.
   

   Placing the loops one on top of the other

5. Pass the entire carry over your head.
   

   Place both loops over your head

6. Slide your arm into the carry.
   

   One arm in at a time

7. Slide your other arm into the other loop
   

   Slide the other arm in

8. Spread the passes in back
   

   Spreading the passes

9. Spread your shoulders and you are ready to add your babies.
   

   Ready to wear!

Getting out of a Jasmine’s Tandem Hip Carry

Now that you are all secure and babies are hopefully asleep in a wrap nap, you have to get out of the carry.  This is also easier and more secure than untying a knot.  The ring finish is all tension so releasing the tension is all you need to do.

1.   Release the tension from the ring by gently lifting up on the edge of the ring where the tail last passes through the ring.  This can be either the bottom or the right side of the ring.  I recommend the right side of the ring as it will continue to hold tension on the other tail giving you a moment to release the wrap from the ring.
   

   Removing the tail from the ring

2. Loosen the one side and lift baby up and out to a safe place.  Repeat for the other baby again lifting on the edge of the ring to loosen the carry.  Now you can start unthreading the first tail passed through the ring.
   

   Unthreading the other tail

3. Repeat for the other side, loosening the tail from the rings.
   

   Both tails released

4. Remove the rings from the wrap and you’re done.
   

   Ready to fold & store

Want to see the four ring variation and prefer to work along in a video, I’ve got you covered.  If you prefer to watch it directly in YouTube click the arrow pointing right in the upper right hand corner.

Ethos Babywearing Cascade Freakin’ Pink

Woven Wrap Stats

I am frequently asked what to wear in hot weather.  Living in Arizona we know a little something about hot weather.  If you are unfamiliar with an Arizona summer let me give you a visual.  It is ten am in July.  The sun only four hours over the horizon but the heat waves rising from the pavement are already dancing like snakes in the near distance.  It may early in the morning but the temperature is already over 100º Fahrenheit (38ºC).  No joke, by noon it will be at least 108ºF and by 3pm at 111ºF (43.8ºC).   Your toddler, whose shoes may actually be melting, is walking so slowly you can feel your skin blistering into sunburn.  You parked extra far away because that’s where the one lonely tree providing the tiniest bit of shade is located.  Now the walk across the lot seems like miles.  You have to wear them, they are walking so slowly across the lot that the SPF 70 is sliding off as if laughing at your attempt to prevent sun damage.  The question becomes what do you wear to stay cool in one of the hottest summers on record?

Cascade Freakin’ Pink when the “wrong” side is so right!

Something new in BreatheBlend® from Ethos Babywearing was just one of our favorite hot weather wraps this summer.  The wrap is woven with a satin weave and a pronounced zig-zag pattern along the width of the wrap.  Along the edges of the zig-zag is where something magical is found.  Tiny microvents have been intentionally woven into the wrap to promote air circulation.  The vents didn’t just allow air to flow through the wrap, they also allowed excess body heat to escape.  We maximized our microvents with a Base -5 woven wrap and wore all the super shorty carries.

Cascade with Microvents in Ethos BreatheBlend®

At first glance you can’t see them, when you hold it up against the light the microvents become very noticeable.  They don’t seem like much but with the vents along each of the zig-zags you start to see the airy, breathable properties of the wrap.  Add in that it is a poly cotton blend and you have added breathability within the woven fibers as well as the vents.  We wore Freakin’ Pink from the Cascade collection, a vibrant pink, the very color of hot pink peonies.  Despite the 212gsm the wrap is extremely lightweight in hand adding yet one more thing to the list of things we liked.  The saturated pink color was muted slightly by pairing with a medium gray weft.  One side was dominant pink with gray zig-zag pattern while the reverse side was dominant gray with pink zig-zags.

What we like about Cascade Freakin’ Pink

This wrap was perfect for even a wiggly toddler.  My girls are growing up, much faster than I would like and stretching out in legs and arms as they gain weight.  At only 32 pounds (14.5kg) the force of their bouncing can shift a cross pass and pop a seat.  Cascade stood up to the active toddler and didn’t give, even a centimeter.

Fun with sparklers from the comfort of the wrap. Front Torso Carry

As much as I am not a pink person, the color was fantastic, a strong splash of color to my monochrome khaki summer wardrobe.  While it was thin and lightweight in hand, it did not dig at the shoulders as an overtightened thin wrap would do.  Cascade was supportive for longer carries to the zoo and made a secure slipknot for a Traditional Sling Carry.  The no sew ring sling is a fantastic summer carry giving the same air flow as a sewn ring sling without purchasing a separate carrier.  Cascade glided easily through the rings and held securely with large sling rings.  The No-Sew Ring Sling carry omits the weight requirement for the ring sling carry as there are no stress points at lines of stitching.  This allows you the ability to carry your toddler in a quick and easy carry throughout multiple errands.

Wrapping Qualities

We took Cascade out and about on many of our errands.  Tying a Traditional Sling Carry got us from the car safely to the copy shop, bank, and even a trip though Target for sundries.  There was no stretch to Cascade, the stretch usually along the diagonal made way for the microvents.  This gave the wrap the feeling of wrapping a little smaller than size.  The poly content of the wrap gave much more glide than grip making passes across baby’s back with ease.

A trip to the doctor’s office was a breeze. Rucksack Carry, Tied Under Bum

This wasn’t an issue as knots, including slipknots, held in place solidly despite the glide to the wrap.  The zig-zag pattern is slightly embossed and lends some grip to the wrap.  For longer wear in Cascade I preferred to give myself just a little slack at the inside shoulder and in a sandwiched shoulder for extra comfort.

As always, we wore in a front, hip, and back position.  We wore a super shorty so multilayer carries were harder to evaluate.  I can only speculate that with the firm toddlerworthy carries multiple passes would be as supportive as they would be breathable.  The traditional sling carry became our fast favorite for this summer.  It was easy to wear a baby back to the car from the splashpad, carry tired legs back to the apartment, and safely get slow, short legs into cool air quickly.

A chat about bougainvillea flowers and a Traditional Sling Carry

Cascade never disappointed in ease of wear nor in ease of cleaning and maintenance.  The Satin weave is more simple than previous weaves we have seen from Ethos.  It is woven tighter and as such, less prone to pulls, snags, or broken threads.  The wrap is washed on high heat wash for the first wash and a high heat dry.  This draws in and seals the weave without closing the microvents.  Following the initial hot wash all subsequent care should be on cold and air dry or air fluff dry, no heat.  A warm iron will take out all the wrinkles, the shine of the poly fibers setting the lower ironing temperature.

The affordable price of Cascade coupled with the availability of longer sizes sets the Cascade series above as an excellent budget friendly woven wrap.  Routinely stocking up to size 9 woven wraps means every babywearer has the opportunity to wear in their base size and without serious escalation in cost.  As the ladies have gotten older, transitioned into long legged toddlers, I have seen our base size increase.  As a mother to multiples I know all too well the expense of buying two carriers or increased costs of longer woven wraps.  Ethos makes owning a base size woven wrap a realization with comfort and a dramatic statement all in one wrap.

Supportive enough for the sleeping toddler. Torso Back Carry

Big Momma’s Gluten Free Lactation Cookies

The original recipe for these cookies was crafted by my grandmother.  Filled with love and all the old remedies, the cookie produced was as chewy as it was filling.  She preferred chocolate chips and had quite a sweet tooth, doubling up on the brown sugar in her recipe.  Merging her recipe with a more contemporary recipe allowed me to reduce the sugars and yielded a healthier recipe while maintaining taste.

Bigma’s recipe merged with a more modern recipe

My love for the recipe was compounded when I was recently asked by my allergist to reduce the amount of gluten I eat.  An apparent life long skin sensitivity may be attributed to gluten proteins.  Taking the task of revamping all of my favorite baked treats into gluten free delights started with this recipe.  There are many lactation cookie variations circulating, most of them starting with wheat flour.  Working on this recipe allowed me to learn more about the dynamics of gluten free dough and resulting texture.   I failed many times using the gluten free flour blends from our local grocery store.  Those flours were stored on the shelf next to the wheat flours at which contamination was a risk.  The resulting cookies were flat, dense, and tasteless bordering on cardboard.

Success at last!

I took to the internet to read reviews on these blends to find more information and the first link sent me to a great, honest review series for ready made gluten free flour blends.  Since then I have been following Nicole at Gluten Free on a Shoestring and found her advice on choosing gluten free flours brilliant.  Her experience in using flour blends is fantastic and I very much recommend subscribing to her blog.  In this recipe and our other adventures in updating our favorite recipes I follow Nicole’s Mock Better Batter blend.

All mixed and ready to bake

We are lucky enough to have a Honeyville Farms store local to me where we were able to buy all of our supplies to create our flour blend.  I was impressed with the store in Tempe, the Gluten Free supplies and flours were stored separately, on their own shelf, no risk for contamination.  In addition to selling their own brand they also carried the Authentic Foods brand recommended by Nicole at Gluten Free on a Shoestring.  Armed with all this knowledge I set out to turn Bigma’s recipe into a tasty gluten free cookie.

Restocking the cupboard with the Gluten Free flours

I am pleased with the way they turned out, the cookies were as soft and chewy as I remember and didn’t loose any of their taste in the process.  Packed full of Flax meal which provides essential amino acids, calcium, essential fatty acids, iron, magnesium Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and vitamin E.  Flax has the highest concentration of phytoestrogen than any other food.  Brewer’s Yeast is rich in basic nutrients including B vitamins, minerals, and 16 different essential amino acids.  Yeast helps in boosting energy between meals and helps in metabolism of sugars.  The Brewer’s Yeast or Nutritional Yeast adds a whopping 32g of protein to the three dozen cookies. This is awesome news if you are following the Brewer Diet for pregnancy or lactation and need to bump your protein numbers.  We have previously written in more detail about Breastfeeding Nutrition.

Coconut Macadamia Nut Gluten Free Lactation Cookies

Big Momma’s Gluten Free Lactation Cookies

Makes 3 dozen

• 1/2 cup + 1tbsp Butter or Shortening
• 1/2 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• 2 Tbsp flax seed meal
• 4 Tbsp water
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup gluten free flour with xantham gum
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 4Tbsp Brewer’s Yeast
• 2 1/4 cup Old fashioned Oats

Coconut Macadamia Nut

• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup diced macadamia nut

Cranberry White Chocolate

• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Combine Flax meal and water and set to the side.  Combine flour, baking soda, and Brewer’s Yeast, mixing well.  In a separate bowl cream butter or shortening, cane sugar, and coconut sugar.  Add eggs to the sugar mix and combine well.  Add hydrated flax, vanilla, and mix well.  Sift half flour mixture into wet ingredients, mixing well to incorporate.  Sift last half of the flour mixture and combine well.  Add oats and mix well, the mix will be thick.  Choose your flavors and add to the cookie base. Using a portion scoop, measure out cookies to desired shape and place on cookie sheet.  Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes prior to baking.  Bake for 13 minutes and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.  Store in sealed container for up to two weeks at room temperature or four weeks refrigerated.

Fluffy and soft with a nutty crunch

To make both cookie flavors split the dough in half and use only one quarter cup of each mix.  The reduced sugar content is off set with the white chocolate chips and cranberries.  Try it out and let me know how it works for you.  Post your pictures on our Facebook page or here in the comments.  I would love to know your favorite mix ins.  We are working on our other two favorite flavors to see if they work in our gluten free version too.

Twice the goodness in two flavors

Firespiral Slings Moss Twilight Winter Hill

Wearing carriers from a company with an ethics is but a bonus when the wraps they weave hold beauty and significance.  Firespiral Slings uses materials sourced from their local Northwestern England, combined with ecological consciousness of the footprint they leave behind.  The product is a wrap that is worthy of a tapestry, more a work of art than woven cloth for babywearing.  This time we tested a wrap featuring two of our favorite fibers, Merino wool and combed cotton.  Add in the compliment of our favorite color and nothing but enjoyment can result.  This time a wrap modeled after the very hill near the workshop where so much creativity flows.

Kangaroo Carry

Named for the hill along beside the Firespiral Slings workstation, the wrap is a pale but vibrant green with deep navy blue.  The weft of the wrap is unique being a combination of both combed cotton and merino wool in a balance of the more coarse fibers with the combed cotton.  The Navy blue appears more indigo in sunlight with hints of purple within the navy color.  The green stands apart giving a splash of color against the darker solid color.  The pattern shows an uneven path along the bottom gradually leading upward to a wall before sprawling hills rise beyond.  Power lines and telephone poles dot the tops of the hill with the rainy sky and clouds beyond.  The path at the base of the wrap includes cobblestone foot path and the appearance of a body of water.  Each side of the wrap is the same with only a change of colors from the previous side.

Double Hammock Rebozo

What we like about Moss Twilight Winter Hill

I love the grip in this wrap.  The ability for the passes to stay in place can mean the difference between a struggle and an easy amount of work to get a neat carry that is secure.  The wool content allows the fibers to adhere to each other giving the wrap the ability to stay in place as you tighten a chest pass in a Shepherd’s Back Carry.  Passes that can take extra skill to master such as the shoulder flip in a Double Traditional Sling Carry are made so much easier when the wrap rests on your shoulder and stays in place while you work in the pass.  For some carries the difference between an extra few minutes tightening and done and on the move can end in a fail.  Moss Twilight Winter Hill was able to use the agglutination properties of wool to make a Front Reinforced Torso Traditional Sling Carry an easy feat.  tightening across both our bodies was an easy task and the slipknot held in place as if a double knot.  Adjusting the carry was similarly easy, the combed cotton offering up glide, making adjusting for nursing a simple task.

Front Reinforced Torso Traditional Sling Carry

The deep indigo color giving the moss green the spotlight to pop right off the fabric.  The green is the very color of moss growing under the shaded canopy of the redwood forests as I remember them in Oregon.  Green is my absolute favorite color, seeing Firespiral Slings approximate the color so exactly made me feel as if I could actually see the moss in North West England the same as I recalled my walk in the Redwood forests.  The Merino wool was softer than other wools we have worn.  The shaft is longer than other wools making it extra fine and softer than other wool varieties.  This equates to fewer of the wool prickles making a softer wrap that is comfortable to wear without the threat of itching.  Wool is also an amazing wicking fiber so you can wear low percentage wool blends in the summer and find that is wicks away moisture in the process of an evening walk.

Shepherd’s Back Carry for our nature walk

Wrapping Qualities

Moss Twilight Winter Hill definitely was more grip than glide.  The addition of the soft wool allowed passes to stay in place, gripped as if an ace bandage.  The pass glides up and stays in place allowing you to continue to tightening without worrying the pass will slide down baby’s back.  Carries with shoulder flips were a breeze, gently placing the wrap on you shoulder was enough to keep the wrap there without sliding or slipping.  Working through the slack wasn’t cumbersome, the wrap gliding and staying put to prevent extra work in completing the carry.

Front Traditional Sling Carry is my go to for an upset toddler pending nuclear meltdown status.  It is a quick up and when paired with the more Western slipknot allows us to get down just as quickly as they needed up.  Wool has very nice drape and diagonal stretch lending characteristics toward a secure carry with smooth passes.

The complexity of the weave was easy to show off with a Poppin’s Hip Carry.  The switchback demonstrating the flow of the colors, the grip keeping the pass in place without the excess tightening.  I did enjoy the large fluffy knots in Winter Hill.  Reaching near handwoven knot size but soft and without excess pressure against the back hip or shoulder.  The play of color also made for a very dramatic candy cane chest belt, always soft against the chest.

Poppins Hip Carry

We always test in one shouldered back carries for support and shoulder comfort.  Winter Hill did not disappoint.  The Double Hammock Traditional Sling carry is one of our favorite Base -2 carries.  Full support of the Double Hammock with the extra chest pass for weight distribution the traditional sling finish can be tied as a double knot or as a slipknot.  We prefer the double knot and a well capped shoulder.  Even after falling asleep, arms all tucked into the generous width, the carry did not slip or sag.

As a wool wrap Winter Hill does require some special care.  While some wools are machine washable, I prefer to handwash all my woolies.  a simple soak with minimal agitation is my preferred wash method and I choose the kitchen sink or bathtub to soak.  From first wash at loom state the wrap had minimal bleeding of the indigo color and fluffed up nicely upon drying.  A low steam, low heat iron was enough to rid the scant number of wrinkles after a flat dry.

Cross Passes of Kangaroo Carry

Top 5 Summer Woven Wrap Front and Hip Carries

Lord knows it’s hot in Arizona! I often am asked how we survive and still wear in the 117F tempertures of the summer. @WrappingRachel has five really great carries that are perfect for allowing airflow and maintain support for you and baby. Add in a nice, lightweight, breatheable fiber like linen or Tencel and you are all set for the hot days. #summerbabywearing #wearallthetoddlers

Babywearing Educational Blog

Everyone asks me:  What’s the BEST carrier to wear in the heat?

This question can have so many answers!  Everyone has a different favorite carrier in the summer time.  My personal favorite carrier in the summer is a thin breathable woven wrap in a single layer carry.  In the summer, I like to use a wrap that’s a bit shorter than my base size.  My base size is a 6 and I love size 4 carries (so base minus 2) in the summer.

This post has my top 5 favorite Base minus 2 Summer Carries!

5.  Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied under the Bum

This is a fabulous beginner carry.  If you are brand new to wrapping, this is a great one to start with.  The carry teaches you to tighten really effectively.  Tying off under the bum means that there is less fabric wrapped around you (so less warmth!)…

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Sincerely Rae Fiber Arts Webslinger

Have you ever worked alongside someone you thought was a regular person like you?  Amazed by their knowledge yet never knowing they had an underlying skill, dare I say, secret power?  I have had such an opportunity with Rachael Bender of Sincerely Rae Fiber Arts.  Rachael is an Advanced Babywearing Educator, Mother, and a kind woman.  All the while she was helping new parents fit their babies in carriers and teaching her favorite Poppins Hip Carry, she was practicing and honing her fiber artistry.  Her creations range from scarves to cowls, shawls to babywearing wraps.  Her materials are the finest cotton, Tencel, and Merino wools and her talent, no, secret power, is weaving the softest fabrics.

“I don’t know how to make it make sense to you. I’m not even sure it makes sense to me. In the end, it all comes down to one, simple truth…I’m Spider-Man.” -Peter Parker in Spider-Man and Wolverine Vol 1: Stuff of Legends

Webslinger is a Spider-Man inspired wrap designed by Rae after her son’s favorite comic book hero.  We like to believe he has good taste, the wrap appeals to our geeky side so you know cosplays were had while it was visiting.  Starting at each rail is the rich black with thin stripes of silver reminding me of the tendrils of webs shot from the web crawler’s spinnerets.  The wrap then transitions into a luminous red followed and alternating with vibrant royal blue.  The colors continue the length of the wrap before transitioning to black with silver streaking at the opposite rail.  The colors pop off of the wrap surface against the black weft.  Red and blue are slightly embossed from the surface giving the wrap a tactile experience alongside the incredible softness.

“Fate gave me some terrific super-powers, and I realize now that it’s my duty to use them… without doubt… without hesitation!! …and that means Spider-Man is going into action again! I’ll fight as I’ve never fought before!! Nothing will stop me now! For I know at last that a man can’t change his destiny… and I was born to be… Spider-Man!!! ” Spiderman: Amazing Spider-Man Special Vol 1 #18 The End of Spiderman

The blend is an even composition of Egyptian cotton and Tencel.  The balance provides both grip from the natural properties of the Egyptian cotton while the slinky smooth Tencel lends glide to the wrap.   Not all cottons are the same.  If you have read my other reviews you know I am just a little bit of a fiber afficianado.  Egyptian cotton is one of the premium extra long staple cottons.  I won’t go as far to describe the difference in the S1 primary layer and S2 secondary layers, no that would be too geek, even for me.  Naturally a pale brown color, Egyptian cotton bears it’s name from the particular cultivar of extra long staple cotton (ELS) grown in Egypt.  True ELS Egyptian cotton is considered one of the finest in the world, the strands nearing an inch and a half in length.  This means the fibers twist evenly layering upon each other in the twists of the yarn giving a smooth glide with fewer convolutions equating to less grip than regular cottons.

Up and safe yet still distressed by the wind.

I frequently hear the question why are hand wovens so expensive?  The answer lies in materials, design, and artistry.  As with any artisan craft, the time of the weaver is extremely valuable.  It may take a month to design and choose the correct materials.  Once materials are procured warping the loom may take up to sixteen to twenty hours depending on the elaborate nature of the design.  Weaving is done on a hand operated loom which takes time.  If it is an uncomplicated weave it can take six hours to complete 3.6 meters of fabric, longer for a more complicated diamond, heart, or pebble weave.  The amount of time to weave significant length for a small release of 10 meters may take the course of a week.  Once the wrap is woven, taken from the loom, it is not yet ready for sale.  Finishing the hems at the tails is next, stitching in middle markers, and finally wet finishing of the wrap.  The finishing process may take an additional few days in the process of nearing a finished product.  Adding materials cost, time in design, labor in weaving, and labor in finishing, setting the cost of the wrap at $120 or higher per meter makes easy sense to pay the weaver in time and materials.

What we like about Webslinger

This epic knot has it’s own super powers 🕸

Incredible softness combined with superb glide are how I would sum up Webslinger in a single comment.  The wrap is soft and floppy, newborn ready.  The blend is an even composition of Egyptian cotton and Tencel.  The balance provides both grip from the natural properties of the Egyptian cotton while the slinky smooth Tencel lends glide to the wrap.  This translates to passes that slide easily over the other yet cling in place from the natural grip of cotton.  Webslinger is lightweight in hand wearing the same.  The combination of Tencel and Egyptian cotton allow high breathability and very low heat retention.  We wore Webslinger in June and July, two of the hottest months in Arizona.  Both baby and I were cool and comfortable with excellent air flow even in the intense 115ºF heat.

“Keep on trudging ahead. And if you should happen to fall at some point along the way, Pete– Get up. Dust yourself off. Don’t look back… And try even harder the next go ’round.” Peter Parker Spider-Man Unlimited Vol 3 #6: The Agony of Defeat

A comic book inspired wrap almost requires a babywearing cosplay.  A quick closet cosplay as Peter Parker made wearing more fun, the colors perfectly matched to the Web Crawler’s comic fame.  Webslinger is a pliant wrap making completion of a Poppins Hip Carry with passes spread simple and a great way to show off the wrapping qualities.  The grip allowed the switchback to hold well while the precision tightening could be completed.  Perfecting the pre-tied Poppins was one of the tasks on our list and Webslinger provided an opportunity for this tutorial.

Single layer back carries were cool and comfortable, able to maintain support for a bouncy toddler.  Although newborn blanket soft, I noticed no sagging or need to adjust the carry once up.  Long walks in a single layer carry are really a test of the support and softness of the shoulder.  Joining the Pokémon fray we went on a 1.7 mile walk through our neighborhood on the hunt for a Charizard.  Getting caught up in the game was easy and no notice of the toddler weight or bouncing.  The ruck didn’t budge in all the bouncing, full seat and secure for the duration of the walk.  The “Spier-Man” wrap has become an absolute favorite.  Bedtime, late night terrors, and sleeplessness the “Spier-Man” wrap was requested each time and without doubt comfort was immediate.

“Out there, if I ever gave up, even for a second, it would all be over. But it’s hard. I get tired. I get worn. Do you know what keeps me going? I know that I have to get home to you. I have to walk through that door.” Spider-Man Unlimited Vol 3 #2 Tests

Wrapping Qualities

We wear single layer and multi-layer carries in front, hip, and back positions for testing.  Webslinger is wonderfully supple, easily made smooth passes without work.  The chest pass was smooth, easily tightened without extra effort.  Torso passes were all smooth spreading easily across baby’s back.  Shoulder flips in a kangaroo carry remained on the shoulder giving the luxury of spreading the cross passes in back well without awkwardness.  The carry held very well without sagging, pressure on the shoulders, or need to retighten.  The wrap was soft enough for toddler snuggles on rough days when nothing seemed to work right for her.  The softness of the wrap prompted me to wear back carries with knotless finishes at the chest belt like Secure High Back Carry and Short Double Hammock.  In other wraps these carries place pressure on sensitive breast tissue at the chest pass.  The softness and pliability of Webslinger produced a slim, bunched chest pass that was cushy against the chest.  The knotless finishes added no additional pressure against the breast making them comfortable for long wear.

My Spidey sense says naptime is around the corner 🕷 Poppins Hip Carry

The Short Double Hammock is a comfortable long wear back carry that is supportive of toddler weight.  It allows the wearer to complete the full Double Hammock with a knotless finish at the chest pass.  An alternative to the Double Hammock, Double Rings, the Short Double Hammock adds no pressure to the chest allowing the same long wear carry to be completed in a Base-3.   Webslinger flowed easily across the chest, gliding into the cross pass over baby’s back. 

As with any handwoven, Webslinger produced some epic knots with the added glide were easy to tie.   Tencel is known for being a slinky, slippery fiber and depending on the content can make certain carries more difficult than the usual skill level.   While the 50% Tencel is a relatively higher percentage of fiber, the natural grip from the decadent Egyptian cotton provided balance to the Tencel.  Caring for the wrap required a small amount of extra attention.  It is recommended by the weaver that Webslinger be hand washed and dried lying flat.  I did not find any disposition toward pulls adding to the easy care, and allowing Webslinger to be an everyday use wrap. I am excited to see the variety of weaves produced by Sincerely Rae Fiber Arts in the future and absolutely encourage more additions to her geeky chapter.

Such a soft shoulder and so comfortable spread or sandwiched

 

Easy Feel Toddler Soft Structured Carrier

Easy Feel Products is an up and coming manufacturer of ring slings, soft structured carriers, and accessories for the SSC.  They are a family operation that includes design, quality assurance, and tailoring at the hands of the owner and her mother.  Their goal is to make sure that everyone has a well made carrier that fits within the budget of a growing family that is comfortable, ergonomic, and affordable.  The carriers meet and are tested to ASTM safety standards keeping comfort in mind but safety at the forefront of design.

“All the carriers are designed with lots of love and care by my own mom and her team of tailors. And thus the Easy Feel SSCs happened….designed under the grandma’s loving care and brought to you by a mom who understands the needs to urban mother in India”

We have been very pleased to help test the Easy Feel carrier as it was being updated for style and fit.  Having passed ASTM certification the last items on the list before marketing to a larger audience was to hone the style and fit of the carrier.

Sometimes I need a little helper even when I did not know I needed help. Pink Peaks Ikat Toddler SSC

We tested two Easy Feel Toddler SSCs, Pink Peaks and Gray Helix.  The Pink Peaks carrier featured a variation on the Ikat design.  The design is seen throughout India and Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia.  The word Ikat translates to knotted or bound which is part of the technique in the resist dyeing in which two strands of yarn are tied by a third strand to create a unique pattern prior to weaving.  Traditionally performed by women, it is considered taboo in some cultures for men to be present or perform the dyeing process.  Ikats are seen throughout many traditions including South America, Central America, and Mexico in addition to Indonesia where it is believed to originate.  Often represented as geometric designs that have the appearance of uniformity although abstract patterns.   The design is seen in the rising colors of the peaks where small variations in the colors can be noted.  The same pattern can be seen in the Gray Helix design in which the geometric triangles line the panel and small variations from navy blue to white are seen.  Pink Peaks features vibrant transition of color from yellow to burgundy, magenta, and pink.

Easy Feel Products Toddler SSC Gray Helix

My standards on an SSC begin with safety followed closely by comfort with beauty coming in a very distant third.  I appreciate the time and effort that goes into the design of an SSC.  Having sewn a few myself I can see places where cutting corners and skipping steps can very easily end in the injury of wearer, child, or both.  I admire that Easy Feel has taken the time to focus on the safety of their carrier and made it a priority to exceed the ASTM standards for safety.  Simple features like waistband buckles having a snug safety elastic to prevent injury should a buckle accidentally release are standard on the Easy Feel.  Extra lines of stitching as well as X-box stitching reinforce weight-bearing seams.  Convenience features include a stowable hood is sewn in to a pouch at the top of the body panel.  Generous one inch legs out padding for baby and seat darts ensure baby’s comfort.  The personal fit adapters (PFA) allowing fine adjustment of carrier fit for all body shapes, giving an extra three and a half inches of adjustment for both taller wearers and the more petite.

Stowaway hood within the top of the carrier body

The contoured waistband is well structured using a firmer compressed padding that seems to mold to the waist of the wearer.  Expandable from as narrow as 27 inches up to 55 inch waists.  The legs out padding is thicker than we have previously worn but much softer than previous carriers.  This means it does not put undue stress on the bend of baby’s knee but instead adds an extra pillowy softness where the carrier comes in contact with the knee.  The shoulder harness is thick but plush, padded with almost two inch thick moldable foam.

Tandem wearing on the way home from the grocery store

As with many SSCs, the adjusters on the shoulder harness of the Easy Feel SSC adjust away from the wearer.  If baby is in a front carry the adjuster pulls back, away from the body of the wearer.  The same is true of the PFA which also pulls back, away from the wearer so they should be adjusted prior to wearing baby.  The seat is a comfortable 17 inches wide, a great knee to knee fit for a toddler entering the 3T clothing range.  The body panel is contoured, forming to the shape of baby’s body giving a little more enclosed feeling than other SSCs in the toddler to preschool size.  The hood design is similar to others we have tested, the tucking into the body panel was the difference between having to search for a detachable hood that got separated in the wash and knowing the hood was present when it was needed.  Secured to D-Ring loops on the shoulder straps with matching cloth ties, the hood can be used as extra head support for a sleeping toddler or sun cover as needed.

A trip to the bank is much easier with tandem babywearing

As with any soft structured carrier, it is important to make sure your baby can sit unassisted so that they can reposition their heads and protect their airway from suffocation.  This is a suggestion for best practices, recommended by all professional babywearing schools, Babywearing International, and carrier manufacturers.  It is also important to make sure the carriers you purchase have met or exceed safety standards for the regulatory agencies in that country.  The carrier is compliant with the new Consumer Product and Safety Commission and ASTM compliance standard F2236.  Easy Feel is proud to have passed and been certified compliant with the ASTM F2236 standard.

What I loved about this carrier

First stop on our journey, donuts. Essentials first but much more manageable with my sensitive twin worn close. Gray Helix Toddler SSC

I am impressed by the quality of the Easy Feel SSC for the very budget friendly price.  The carriers sell for $89 for the standard size and $104 for the toddler sizes including shipping.  This means a family with a single income, restricted budget, or other limitations of finance can have a high quality carrier with all the features of the more expensive name brands and at a price that won’t destroy your budget.  The carrier exceeds all the current safety standards which is of utmost importance.  Comfort features are stellar.  The waistband is six inches wide, contoured to fit the waist.  The waistband easily fit flush, and tight enough that I didn’t have to be concerned with it drooping or sagging in the front under the weight of my girls.  The extended webbing on the shoulder harness meant I could wear it with comfort as could the twins father who is at least a foot taller and slimmer in the waist.  The body panel fit the ladies to the top of their shoulders.  Favoring arms in more times than arms out, they could sneak down into the carrier and hide from the eyes of passersby.

After a long day at the pool and hot hot sun, a tandem is easier than begging them to walk faster under the 117ºF sun.

Curved shoulder straps meant a contoured fit that naturally followed the curvature of the shoulder.  The ability for both parents to wear the girls in the same carrier was definitely a bonus.  The shoulder straps are well padded, with a closed cell foam that bounces back to it’s original shape and molds well to the contour of the shoulder.  We were able to wear the carriers in tandem with comfort and not bulky at all.  We took many walks and carried sleeping babies back to the house without extra pressure on the shoulders or hips.

The webbing on the carrier is extra grippy, a suggestion from the ASTM rules but has been shown to soften and glide more with wear.  This came as an added safety feature in which the buckles definitely stayed in place, the buckle combs catching within the grooves of the webbing.  This meant as we moved, or even danced around the house or on a walk, the waistband stayed in place, without moving and never dipped or sagged where weight was applied from the girls.  On many SSCs I experience pain in my hips, slight as they are, in an attempt to support the weight of my babies.  I did not experience this with the Easy Feel SSC, it was comfortably set, allowed me to place much of baby’s weight on my upper back.  The little pocket was perfect storage for my keys to the house and a debit card for a treat while out on our walk.

Small storage pocket perfect for keys or an identification card

What I am looking forward to seeing in the next release

The only improvement I ever have for any SSC, especially a toddler SSC, is to have the shoulder harness adjust pull away from the body of the wearer to the front rather than toward the back.  The angle backward is difficult on the wrist and often provides a tricky angle to achieve maximum tightening.  When pulled forward this would allow much more even tightening of the carrier straps and even permit PFA tightening or loosening while wearing to get the best possible fit in a back carry.  

Personal Fit Adjusters (PFAs)

 

Anmol Wrap Handwoven Prisha

We have worn Anmol before, their soft structured carrier has been an absolute favorite of both girls.  This time we are wearing something beautiful from their handwoven line.  This brand is always expanding, unafraid to take a chance toward a new, softer branch with an amazing affordable handwoven series.  We tested Prisha as the first in our affordable handwovens series.  Anmol believes every babywearer should have the ability to carry their precious little ones in comfort and safety, all of their carriers meeting ASTM and CPSCIA standards of safety.  Continuing to expand their beautiful handwovens, Anmol has partnered with local handweavers in India to revive past weaving traditions and preserve the culture and craftsmanship of the artisans.

Double Hammock, Saltwater Finish

Prisha is a vibrant handwoven of 100% cotton arriving in loom state tightly woven hinting at great toddler support.  The girls loved the colors of the wrap, they have since nicknamed it the “matermelon” wrap for the green and pink colors that remind them of their favorite summer melon.  They aren’t far off, the colors are an azure grad into a vibrant green before transitioning into magenta and a watermelon pink.  The wrap softens considerably with first wash and iron, increasing the already floppy softness.  With middle markers on both rails, you can easily turn the wrap to have a different perspective of the color scheme.

Saltwater Finish on a Double Hammock

Prisha is Hindi for beloved, loving, God’s Gift, which makes this wrap perfectly named for carrying our precious babies.  The azure blue color was the exact shade of the noon day desert sky, a color that is difficult to capture well.  The blend from blue to green allows the magenta and pink to be a beautiful splash of color standing apart from the rest.

What we like about Prisha

Wearing a handwoven is not something all babywearers will get to experience.  Often the cost of a handwoven wrap is up there with a car note or even a mortgage payment.  While the cost of the weaver’s time and resources is highly valued, it leaves the handwoven in the category of those babywearers with extended disposable income.  This isn’t the case for most babywearers and it leaves the handwoven experience unapproachable for those with growing families, single incomes, and strict budgets.

Wrap nap and a Momma snack in a Double Hammock Double Rings Front Cross Carry

One of the things I loved most about Prisha is the value of the wrap.  I was impressed by the cost for the high quality of the wrap.  The wrap plus shipping cost under $150 making this a very affordable handwoven for less than the cost of many machine woven wraps.  Prisha and many others from the Anmol line offer high quality hand weaving at a cost that allows the budget conscious babywearer the opportunity to wear something truly soft and special.  As with any handwoven wrap Prisha had small weavers knots and little nubs within the shaft of the yarn but nothing out of the ordinary, all expected in using natural materials.

Telling me about the owie on her hand in Front Wrap Cross Carry

Wrapping Qualities

If you have read my other reviews you know I love a wrap with great stretch and grip.  They are my two favorite qualities in a woven wrap.  Prisha featured an incredible grip that keeps passes in place as you tighten the slack.  My best test of the grip is in the Double Hammock, Poppins Hip Carry, and the Reinforced Kangaroo Carry.  In the Double Hammock the ability to have the cross pass stay put on your shoulder as you take a second to tighten the chest pass can make the difference between a love and hate relationship with the carry.  The same is true of Poppins.  In a grippy wrap you can tighten through the switchback as you torso pass across your back to tie the knot.

Momma’s eye view of the Flamingos in Christina’s Ruckless Back Carry

The shoulder flip of the kangaroo carry serves to increase tension in the bottom rail as you lead into the cross passes at back.  The ability to keep the tension on the bottom rail as you cross over the legs and tie in back is made so much easier in a wrap with grip.  The additional spreading of those cross passes in the reinforced kangaroo allows not only the extra support for the wearer but also the ability to have a snug carry, well tightened, with just the spreading of those passes.  Prisha impressed with the level of grip, allowing stellar finishes to all these carries while having great spread and enough glide to allow the wrap to mold to the curve of baby’s body.

There was no special care to this handwoven, it was machine washable, tumble on air fluff, or even hand wash and line dry without need of special detergents.  I chose to machine launder and air fluff dry without note of shrinkage or change in the fiber composition.  It was very much a toddler worthy wrap allowing even the bounciest of babies to remain secure in a Christina’s Ruckless without budging.  We pulled out a few different carries to evaluate this wrap.  We wore hip carries like hip wrap cross carry which is a three layer carry finished with a slipknot.  A great carry for the changeling toddler mind, it allowed us the down and back ups that are so frequent these days.

Sleepytime snuggles after a long day at the zoo

We have had many a wrap nap in Prisha which I believe attests to the comfortable softness of the wrap.  Under 29 pounds of sleeping toddler weight Prisha maintained support, never leaving me with a sagging Rucksack carry or low Back Wrap Cross Carry.  While I do usually prefer a little more stretch I have found that I have to balance the stretch with support as the little ladies continue to grow.  Too much stretch and no matter how much you tighten you end with a sloppy saggy carry.  This was not the case with Prisha.  I found myself drawn more to the support and drape from the wrapping qualities.  We are always excited to wear something new from Anmol and look forward to their vibrant use of color in their newest line of handwovens.  The attention to details, particularly for safety, shows their dedication to improving the babywearing community through their products.

Bijou Wear Wildthing Valentine, Kiss, & Crush

I always enjoy seeing a new release from Bijou Wear.  Never afraid to try out a new blend or fiber content, the patterns are all original artwork, never a standard or stock mill design.  The owner is a babywearer and maintains first testing to ensure a wrap is indeed worthy of being run on a larger scale.  Many patterns don’t make her exacting standards and the brand is all the better for her discerning taste.  The mind of an entrepreneur with an eye on the positive social aspect of the babywearing community, owner Jaime Gassman ensures every wearer has their base size, feels welcome, and uplifted alongside their babies when wearing.  She is an active participant in the Facebook fan group Bijou Buzz, not only posting those teaser images of what is to come but making sure to remind all those in the group how truly awesome they are.  Whether you own one of each colorway, or are aspiring to buy your first Bijou I very much recommend joining the fan group.

Shepherd’s Back Carry in Wildthing Kiss

The Wildthing series of wraps feature bold weft colors with vibrant exotic flowers in magenta, fucshia, orange, green, and even grey.  We wore Kiss, Valentine, and Crush, each a low Tencel cotton blend.  We have come to enjoy wearing Tencel, easy care with low maintenance, and soft from first wash.  Low heat retention well balanced with grip and glide, wearing the Wildthing range was a splash of vibrance in a spring of illness.  The colors of Kiss reminded me of the bright pink hibiscus flowers outside of my mother-in-law’s house.  The bush would be a dull green, uninteresting, and slightly boring.  Then after spring temperatures would warm, the flowers would untwist, providing an exotic beauty to the house.  After three days of high fevers Wildthing Kiss arrived washed and ready for wear.  Emerging from the house for a walk was a refreshing change of pace and wearing Kiss allowed my sicklings to get some air and stay close to momma.

Mermaid Carry in Wildthing Crush

The longer length was perfect for adding flips at the shoulder and switchbacks to show off the contrast in both sides.  The dominant white with pink flowers was a favorite of my younger twin.  With alot to wear she specifically sought out Wildthing Kiss for her uppy-down.  Her sister preferred the dark weft of Wildthing Valentine.  The magenta flowers seemed to be floating atop the wrap, the dark weft providing dramatic contrast to the color.  We found Wildthing Crush the same, chromatic intensity against a black weft radiating bright color.  The black weft is cotton, and an even, flat black color allowing the color in the flowers to really take center.

Rucksack Carry in Wildthing Valentine

What we like about Wildthing

There was no right or wrong side to the Wildthing series, the contrast was beautiful on both sides.   I enjoyed adding shoulder flips to almost all our carries to give a flash of contrast from the dominant side.  Introducing a sandwiched shoulder in a back wrap cross carry allowed a peek into the opposite side of the wrap.  Tencel is always a soft fiber, almost silky.  Wildthing emerged from the wash soft and floppy, ready to wear a newborn.  The wrap is very lightweight in hand and wears light with excellent air flow.  We wore multiple layer carries without extra heat retention and full support.  Despite the thin, lightweight feel in hand Wildthing has great support.  Even in a single layer front or back carry my ladies and I were comfortable.

Kangaroo Carry in Wildthing Valentine

An excellent width for full back coverage and deep seat.  My girls prefer arms in for a super snuggled feeling and Wildthing allowed soft, supportive snuggles.  Trips to the zoo were easier when the girls were worn the mom’s eye view position was a great way to see all the animals.  A single layer ruck or Robin’s back carry were comfortable for us both and supportive of bouncing toddler weight.  Many toddler tantrums were averted and the support of a three layer back carry even subdued my headstrong toddler.

Rucksack Back Carry Tied Tibetan in Wildthing Kiss

The pattern is a variety of floral designs and presented in beautiful colors.  The flowers are allowed to shine, the colors of the wrap adding to the pattern rather than being the dominant feature.  The wrap is lightweight in hand, wrapping with easy, smooth passes.  The Tencel adding glide balanced against the natural grip of cotton.

Wrapping Qualities

Enjoying a much earned drink in Ellevill Jordan’s Back Carry wearing Wildthing Crush

Tencel is a smooth fiber conveying glide to the wrap.  Coiled without burrs or stray fibers Tencel has a similar structure of silk.  When balanced with cotton a good balance of grip and glide come together in the one wrap.  The lower Tencel percentage retained the glide we have come to expect in Tencel blends but without the extra slippery glide in the higher Tencel percentages.  The cotton allows passes to stay put, gripping to the previous pass, reducing the amount of work in tightening and smoothing passes.   Overall the wrap allows for smooth neat passes and is forgiving enough for the novice babywearer making the transition from stretchy wrap to woven wrap.

I described the Tencel fiber as being silk like in texture which gives the wrap amazing glide.  Where Tencel differs from silk is in the relative stretch.  Tencel offers tail to tail stretch along the shaft of the fiber and along the diagonal of the wrap.  We have worn Bijou Tencel before, in the Blast series of colorways and have a full explanation of the wrapping qualities of Tencel.  Bijou Wear Lilac Blast with Tencel.  The Wildthing series are deceptively thin yet cushy experience with the extra fluff giving a fantastic shoulder.  Lightweight in hand the Wildthing series we tested were perfect for warm weather even in multiple layers.  Despite the thin feel the Wildthing the knots were large, often as large as handwoven knots, holding well without slipping.  We often opted for a ring finish using a large ring to hold securely.  Using a ring finish at the shoulder in carries such as Shepherd’s and Double Hammock Traditional Sling Finish were more comfortable with the sling ring finish.  Ring Finish: A Photo Tutorial

Arms in for security wearing Wildthing Valentine

We took the opportunity to try out some new carries and many of our old favorites.  The support of Tencel held nearly 30 pounds (13.6kg) securely and nearly effortlessly which added a sense of adventure to the carries we chose to wear.  Our old favorites Symmetrical Half Jordan’s, Christina’s Ruckless, and Short Back Carry were supportive, comfortable and airy in warmer spring weather in the desert.  The pliability of this series gave confidence to try out seldom worn carries such as Ellevill Jordan’s Back Carry and Mermaid Carry.  The high contrast between sides made shoulder flips and switchbacks like in the Mermaid Carry fantastic to show off both sides of the wrap.

Finish in Mermaid Back Carry wearing Wildthing Crush

Tencel for is an excellent fiber for warm weather babywearing.  As summer heats up in the Arizona desert temperatures easily exceed 100ºF with an average summer temperature of 112ºF and warmer.  Keeping cool is a challenge as even those little bundles of warm body heat need reassuring.  Wearing single layer carries in a high breathability fiber allows baby to have the comfort of being worn without the wearer sweating or overheating.

The Ellevill Jordan’s Back Carry is a three layer carry featuring wiggleproof passes and an extra torso pass.  This carry is a veritable toddler prison and usually requires extra work to tighten, smooth passes, and maintain tension.  Wildthing Crush was the perfect combination of glide and grip to maintain smoothness of the passes without breaking a sweat.  For the Mermaid Carry the experience was different.  Maintaining tension while centering the ring is the most difficult part of the Mermaid Carry.  Too much tension on one side and you loose the centering of the ring, too much glide and you can’t get enough tension to hold for the next pass.  The Mermaid carry is an elegant finish on a solid back carry that is a combination of skill and the right wrap.  Wildthing Crush was a great wrap to do this carry, offering glide, grip, and amazing contrast to the finish.

Just a little small talk in Front Torso carry in Wildthing Kiss

Half Jordan’s Back Carry

Slipknot Finish: A Photo Tutorial

I have been accused by the twins dad to be an Girl Scout with a badge in advanced knot tying.  That’s his description of babywearing, beneficial yet complicated.  I reminded him that he has been a slipknot expert for about 30 years now and he looked at me strangely.  When I showed him I got a short dissertation on the benefits of the Double Windsor over the Single Windsor but he proved my point.  Babywearing is not complicated, just another skills toolbox that we try to expand with each wear.  The slipknot is another one of those tools in that box that we use to secure a carry we want to be adjustable.  Just like tying a necktie, the slipknot requires practice and repetition to become a staple in your toolbox.

Benefits of a Slipknot Finish

The slipknot is a basic sliding knot similar to the single windsor knot in a necktie.  The principle is that the knot is able to secure the carry but can be adjusted to get in and out of a carry with ease.  Many of the breastfeeding friendly carries finish with a slipknot, allowing baby to be lowered into the feeding position and adjusted back up without the need to retie the carry.  The slipknot also allows strand by strand tightening which makes precision in some carries easily accomplished.

The slipknot is used in front back and hip carries and always at the shoulder where the knot can be monitored for slipping.  I recommend against placement of a slipknot in any location that cannot be continuously monitored such as under baby’s bum or at the hip.

Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo

Safety Considerations

The slipknot is used in front back and hip carries and always at the shoulder where the knot can be monitored for slipping.  I recommend against placement of a slipknot in any location that cannot be continuously monitored such as under baby’s bum or at the hip.  Finishing in the center of the chest with a slipknot is also a possibility as seen in Shepherd’s Back Carry.  The success of the slipknot holding in place is impacted by the fiber content in your woven wrap.  A slippery wrap with high silk content may slip, loosening the carry.  Handwoven wraps often produce an extremely large slipknot that can be difficult to tighten.

Simple Hip Carry finished with Slipknot at the shoulder

Tying a Slipknot

The slipknot often starts with one tail over shoulder and the other passed across the chest.  The wearer holds one tail in each hand.  The tail over the shoulder is shorter and is the stationary tail held in place while the tail across the chest is longer and is the working tail, making all the passes.

Starting with one tail over shoulder and the other in a chest pass

1.   The stationary tail should reach roughly about to your waist or the top of your pants.  The working tail makes the chest pass and is longer as it will make all the passes.  Hold the stationary tail in place with your non-dominant hand and allow all the work to be done with your dominant hand on the working tail.  Pass the working tail over the stationary tail.
   

   Passing the working tail over the stationary tail for the first pass

2.  Continue holding the stationary tail with your non-dominant hand.  Now pass the working tail up through the space above the chest pass.
   

   Second pass, the working tail is threaded through the space above the chest pass

3. Bring the working tail down over your wrist holding the stationary tail.  This acts as a place holder and allows you to find the open space to secure the slipknot.
   

   Third pass over the working tail

4. Now pass the working tail under the stationary tail.  You can now see the knot begin to take form.  There should be a loop over your hand holding the stationary tail.
   

   Next pass is under the stationary tail

5. Guide the working tail through the opening created over the top of your hand on the stationary tail.
   

   Pass the working tail through the opening

6. Pull the tail through the opening and tighten by pulling the wrap across your body toward your other shoulder.
   

   Finishing the slipknot

7. Slide the slipknot into position at corsage height on the shoulder.  Holding the stationary tail in one hand, push up on the slipknot until the desired height is reached.
   

   Sliding the slipknot into place

8. Precision tightening of the carry is possible using strand by strand tightening of the wrap through the slipknot.  Guide the slack around through the passes to the shoulder where the slipknot sits.  Now gently pull, stand by strand, until the carry is tightened.
   

   Stand by strand tightening is a benefit of the slipknot

9. That’s it!  Now you’re hands free with a knotless finish.  No large knot pressing on my chin or against my neck.
   

   Completed Slipknot in position at corsage height

Getting out of a Slipknot

Now that you are all secure and baby is hopefully asleep in a wrap nap, you have to get out of the slipknot for a successful transfer.  This is easily done by sliding the slipknot to loosen the tension in the wrap.

1.   Release the tension by pulling down on the knot and sliding it along the stationary tail.
2. Next slide the stationary tail out of the knot.  You will want to start holding tension on both tails at this point as the carry is no longer secure.
3. Tension is released and you can now begin to unwrap the carry.

The slipknot is meant to help assist the wearer in securing the carry while providing the ability to move the knot and adjust while being worn.  If you prefer to work along with a video take a watch of the tutorial embedded below.  If you prefer to watch it directly in YouTube click the arrow pointing right in the upper right hand corner.