Cotton Ring Sling

Here's a blue cotton ring sling with a panel and pocket in a greenish geometric pattern


The colour is a bit truer to real life in this picture. You can also see the contrast thread I used to bring out the colour in the panel.

How to use a ring sling (Newborn carry)

Using a Calinou Creation ring sling is really simple, but as with anything it takes a little practice. Here are some pictures that will explain how to use one. In the beginning it is always good to have a partner to support you, and if you don't have that, make sure to use a mirror to be certain that your carry is safe.

Common sense is a must! If it doesn't feel quite right or safe, try again. A safe carry is comfortable for both wearer and baby.

Make sure that the fabric in the sling isn't twisted through the rings, and to make things easier for yourself, spread the fabric out evenly through the rings before you get started

The newborn carry is great for... well.. newborns. It's easy and discreet to breastfeed while slinging - what a bonus!

You start by putting the sling over one shoulder with the rings at the top of your shoulder. The rings will move down as you tighten it. I put the sling on my left side and I am right handed. You could change shoulder every time, but I think most people find a shoulder that feels more comfortable for them.

Hold on to baby with the opposite arm to the one with the sling on it. Throughout all stages you need to support baby's head and neck - as you would no matter what you were doing with a newborn. Baby can face away from the rings or towards them.


Ease him into the sling and make sure there is fabric between him and your body so there is no risk of him falling out. Pull the tail to tighten the sling, pull the top rail to tighten the top of the sling and the bottom rail to tighten the fabric between your body and the baby.


Make sure that baby has good airflow at all times! He should neither be facing the sling fabric or be covered by your breast at any time. It's a good idea to wear baby quite high on your torso - this is more comfortable for the wearer and it makes it easier to check on baby


Enjoy snuggles on the go! Yay!

How to use a ring sling (Tummy to Tummy carry)

Using a Calinou Creation ring sling is really simple, but as with anything it takes a little practice. Here are some pictures that will explain how to use one. In the beginning it is always good to have a partner to support you, and if you don't have that, make sure to use a mirror to be certain that your carry is safe.

Common sense is a must! If it doesn't feel quite right or safe, try again. A safe carry is comfortable for both wearer and baby.

Make sure that the fabric in the sling isn't twisted through the rings, and to make things easier for yourself, spread the fabric out evenly through the rings before you get started

You start by putting the sling over one shoulder with the rings at the top of your shoulder. The rings will move down as you tighten it. I put the sling on my left side and I am right handed. You could change shoulder every time, but I think most people find a shoulder that feels more comfortable for them.

Then you take baby and rest her on the shoulder as if you were burping her


Then you ease the fabric over her bottom and lower back right up to the arm pits (or above if baby is happy enough to be carried with arms in)


You then tighten the fabric by pulling lower and upper rails. Baby needs to be seated in the carrier so that the fabric goes all the way to her knees. Her knees should be higher than her bottom so there's no risk of falling out of the carrier.


If it feels like the baby is still quite far from you, you might need to tighten the top rail more. As you do that, baby will sit snugly against your torso and you will not need to support her back with your arms.


For snuggle factor it's still lovely to hold your arms around her, though, and her head is always temptingly close to kiss. From this point of view she sees the world from where you do and it's so easy to communicate about all the stuff you see and experience throughout the day.


This carry, called a Tummy to Tummy carry, can be used when your baby is strong enough to hold her head up.

Arms in or out depends very much on the baby, her age and her mood. It's super easy to adjust the sling as you go and as she changes her mood. Ring slings are also great to use when they reach toddlerhood and want up and down constantly, as they are so easy to put on and take off.

Another Skirt

Here's another reversible skirt, funky elephants with rainbows


and purple with dots

Reversibles - and lots of them

I love stuff that is reversible! As I am getting ready for Mathilda's Market, I am making lots of different sizes of everything. Here's a unisex safari sunhat


And skirts - this one is stripy on one side

and flowery on the other


This one has sort of geometric flowery pattern on one side

And my favourite Hellokitty fabric on the other

This week's creations

A cream linen ring sling with a pocket


And a pair of over-all shorts with car appliques

Mixed Baby Carriers

Since having had Iluka I have been very interested in baby carriers and I have made a few myself. Here are some of them:

This one is a Japanese type carrier called an onbuhimo.


It's worn on the back.


Here's a pouch, a simple carrier that needs to be just the right size to be comfortable. It used to be the right size for us, but Iluka grew bigger and now it's not as good anymore.


This is just a piece of cloth, really, that I made a short wrap out of (a shortie)


And another simple piece of cloth, about 4.5m long, made into a wrap

Trousers and Over-Alls

Over alls are great on boys and girls - in fact, they are just fantastic for any little person who wants to explore everything around them!

However, I have found that trousers are often too long for a while and then they're suddenly too short. So I decided to put elastic at the bottom so even as my daughter was growing into them, they weren't too long and getting in the way, so she could use a pair for much longer. The three pairs of trousers below have elastic at the bottom








This pair has a decorative panel at the bottom, so elastic wasn't such a great idea. But then they are super cute to compensate.

Skirt

Here's a fabulous reversible skirt! I love the fabric with the owls - it's one of my all time favourite fabrics, I think.



So this is the other side of the skirt. Et hop, if there's an accident on one side of the skirt, you just flip it over and you have a completely new and clean skirt.

Ring Sling Baby Carrier

I have been making lots of ring slings since I re-took up sewing. I love ring slings, their simplicity (to use and to make) and their versatility. I make them with a simple pleated shoulder, which makes them comfortable to wear and easy to use, and I add a decorative and useful contrast panel on the tail of the sling. This panel has a pocket included in the centre, which you can use if you want to or leave if you just like the fabric the panel is made of. The corners on the bottom of the tail is rounded, which makes it fall nicely when worn.

This one is made of Dupioni Silk - a lovely fabric for ring slings! It's strong, breathable, fabulous looking and easy to care for!


This one is made from 100% linen, a similarly great fabric for ring slings! This photo shows the panel and pocket. For this one I experimented with a different shoulder, but I wasn't that fond of it and went back to the pleated sholder


And then there's a double layered cotton sling




I have gathered inspiration from different places and come up with the design that I find most comfortable to wear, pretty and useful. Inspirations include:

Slyngebarn (Danish Website)

and

Sleeping Baby Productions (US website)

Sleeping Baby Productions has some great information on how to make your own sling, and I encourage you to do so! I have used Janet's information, but I have changed the way I pleat my slings a bit to something I find better to wear. But that's all down to personal preference, really. I have created the panel and the pocket myself, as I find that they add something unique and useful to each sling - and that makes each of my slings completely unique.

Hats

I have a great pattern for reversible hats and I have a super cute model to show them off :o)

This is my most recent creation, and the one with the funkiest fabric. I love that Latin American inspired one with the skulls and flowers!

Monkey Bags

This funky monkey laundry bag is just adorable in my opinion! It has an opening at the front for easy access and the straps make it easy to find a great spot to hang it.


The head is attached with velcro so the bag can be popped in the wash when needed.