Printable View
I know Bx has made one & am hoping she'll pop in.......
I have some linen that I'm unsure of what to do with, so thought a Mei Tei might be the way to go. The questions I have though is, would it be an appropriate fabric to use? I've never seen a Mei Tei IRL so I'm not 100% sure whether it will be ok or not.
I used crepe, 2 and 4 layers thick. Linen could probably be perfect. What's your email addy and i'll send you my little How To... The links in the how-to-email-the-mods forums just jams up my explorer trying to open outlook...
Bx
Thanks Bec, the one I have looks a bit complicated!!
Email is sarah_h@bellybelly.com.au
Okie dokie, i've sent it. Let me know how you go.
Bx
Lucky Bec came in, I was going to tell you how to make a mean Singapore Sling AND a Mai Tai but you're talking about babies
*slinks back to the kitchen to mix up a Long Island Iced Tea in embarrassment*
LOL LuLu, maybe I'll take you up on that offer in a few months ;)
Hey Bec! Mum and I want to make a Mei tei - I have found a pattern online but was wondering if you still have the instructions on the ones you have made??
If you are wanting to make a mei tai - some good places to start are:
thebabywearer dot com
(US based babywearers site/forum)
sleepingbaby dot net forward slash jan forward slash Baby
(really good resources from a pro sling maker)
christmasevetwins dot blogspot dot com forward slash 2007 forward slash 10 forward slash make-scandi.html
(the best instructions for making a scandi style MT)
and come and pop into baby carriers downunder:
groups.google dot com dot group forward slash baby-carriers-downunder
HTH
Oh, and forgot to add, the most common fabrics to use are:
- cotton drill / brushed twill for the straps and panel centre. You do need a bottom weight fabric for the straps as they will take a lot of beating.
- quilter's cotton for the front panel (or any decorative fabric of choice)
- polar fleece for strap padding
- sometimes dupioni silk or minkee is used for the panel inner (the bit that goes against baby)
- sometimes baby cord is used for straps, but this isn't recommended by some makers due to concerns against integrity when weight bearing
- there is a type of MT called a Ball Baby Overall, there are instructions on the jan andrea site, which uses wrap style straps - this uses decorator weight fabric.
Depending on the weight of the linen it may need reinforcing. A lighter weight fabric is more suited to a wrap style MT which spreads the weight out over a much wider strap area.
If you join baby carriers downunder there are lots of DIYers who would be more than happy to help out!!
Gem!! Hear me - gem!!!! :) Seriously - thanks heaps Suse! I have checked a few places out but have been totally overwhelmed! Will try a few tonight and see how we go! What does bottom weight fabric mean? Is that like a heavier type canvassy material so it is strong??
Canvas, cotton drill or brushed twill are all bottom weight. Drill & twill are a bit softer and more malleable than canvas, making the carrier more comfortable. Basically you want the softest heavy weight fabric you can find, as it will make the straps more comfortable. Brushed cotton twill is lovely.
ETA: denim works well too!
Oh, and just remembered something else - linen makes a beautiful ring sling - medium weight for a single layer and hanky weight for a double layer. Lovely and breathable for summer. Sakura Bloom make beautiful linen slings but they are really exxy.
Sarah, may I ask where you got your linen from. I'm on the hunt for some for a ring sling and have not been able to find good linen (that does not cost the earth) in Australia. I found good Irish linen on fabric dot com if anyone's looking, but shipping from the US is a bit of a pain.
I actually found it on ebay!
Cool, thanks! Will keep my eye out for some!
ANYONE who wants the instructions, just post or PM me an email addy to send it to. :)
I used lightweight crepe for mine and it works fantastically, i recently made a new one with padded straps as DD is getting heavy. I used exactly the same fabric, in a different colour (blues/grrens instead of pinks/purples) and i used 3x thicknesses on the straps and 4x ticknesses on the seat. To pad the straps i used....wait for it...old stained terry flat nappies! They're inside so you can't see the stains, they wash GREAT because they're nappies, and they don't sweat like fleece because they're cotton. :D
Bx
ETA - i'd like to make a ring sling or 2, but where to get the rings? I found a company in the US but it's pretty pricey!
Bx - the best place to get slingrings, is, surprise surprise... slingrings dot com
Might be the place that you found. Their aluminium rings are great, weight tested to something utterly ridiculous, but really really light. And they come anodised in some great colours too.
Otherwise, I've heard of people using metal rings from the hardware store, but I don't think that these are as light.