Fabric and size?

Whilst I am in Melbourne (read: within 150+kms of a half decent fabric shop), today and tomorrow morning, I want to buy some fabric to make a baby wrap for Mack.

I hve been trying to read lots about them, but its rather difficult on my phone.

So, can anyone please tell me what sort of fabric I should be choosing, bearing in mind the upcoming scorcher of a summer, and what size fabric I need. Would a knitted fabric be okay in the heat? (A dry heat) I have read differing measurements, varing from ten feet to eighteen feet in length. What is correct? And width; two feet, or more?

I don't have a sewing machine to hem edges if required, but I am sure that I can ask a friend to do his for me.

I would really, really appreciate some help, Mack is being rather a velcro baby, and it is really hurting my back having to hold him all the time. I do have two baby bjorn style carriers, but don't want to use them. And I don't think I could afford to buy a wrap.

I made a Hab type wrap as did another BB member using a soft, stretch knit, very similar to what the HAB is made of. We doubled up the section that bub sits in by about 50 cms and quadruple stitched - worked beautifully for DS and then got passed on to my SIL for her DS and now DD. Will see if I can find the instructions we used to make it - cost us about $30 and the edges didn't need to be hemmed because of the fabric we used. xox

Oooh I'm interested in this too! Would love to try out a wrap for DS and baby #2 (should they ever eventuate:rolleyes:)

Can't find the link I used because it was 4 years ago, but I do remember it was 5 metres long, a jersey stretch cotton fabric and the width was around 40-50 cms from memory?? Will keep searching for you - I think the HAB tapers at the ends but mine didn't and I didn't have any problems tying it and I was a large size 14 back then. DH found it tight to tie but was able to get away with it just at 5 mts.

PM'd you Netix - I can pm you too Calluna if you like!

Thank you Tanstar! You are the best! I read through the second link (allbeit fairly quickly as we are getting ready to go the museum), and I think it is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much! Xxxxx

No probs hun - I couldn't justify the expense of a HAB once I saw one IRL and the fact that both mum and I know how to sew! Have fun choosing fabric! xoxo

You need Jersey or interlock (can also be labelled as single/double knit) either all cotton or about 98% cotton with spandex/lycra. 5m is safe and you can cut it down the length, (and gift the other part as another wrap if you like).
I found the fabric for mine on a sale table for a few $ a m so it was a bargain. but bear in mind you can get a sleepy wrap for $60 new or $30ish pre loved though.
You are probably going to find a stretchy hot though as you do need 3 layers over baby to be safe.
The other option is a cotton with good diagonal give, like a quality gauze, but that will need hemming.

I made mine out of 4.5m of jersey, 65 or 70cm high. Cost me about $15 from spotlight and the fabric was high enough to make 2. Didn't need to hem it.

Only thing is stretchy wraps are hot, if you look on fb there are babywearing groups where ppl sell second hand wraps, there might be cooler ones for sale?

sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

Another option Netix is a meitei if you sew.
I made a Ball Baby Overall out of 2metres of linen. It's all straight seams and isn't hard.

I remember that Mack was a bigger baby, and I know stretchy wraps aren't so great once they get a bit heavier.

Oooh Kim I made a Mei Tei too - forgot about that, pretty sure those links I pm'd have a mei tei pattern as well!

What kind of material do I need for a mei tai style wrap that is strong enough for a 15kg 3 year old, but is also light weight and breatheable? Is that a ridiculous request? Lol

I'm a bit lost with all the different styles and most of them seem to be geared towards newborns.
I just want the easiest thing to sew (I have NO experience)and suitable for my boy.
Is mei tai the right one??? Soo confused.

Moby wrap? I found a simple no-sew moby wrap...

Thanks everyone, very informative.

Kim; yes, you rremembered correctly. Mack is a big boy. So do you think, if I were to go down the wrap aisle, to make it from gauze? I don't sew, so getting someone to make a meitei could be very difficult (but I could probably manage to get a hem from them).

I have a stretchy I never use. Basically brand new, only used it once. You can have it for free if you want, just pay for postage (which shouldnt be more than $10), or I even have a HAB you can have instead, it is 2nd hand though (first owner was a BB member though). The only thing is stretchies are only good for front carries and the bigger the baby the worse they are (itms).

let me know if making it falls through and we can work something out =).

Thank you TT40, most apreciated! I will definitely keep those in mind. :)

Does anyone know if I would be able to use that iron-on tape for hemming gauze? I will try to get some knitted fabric (probably), and also some woven fabric, since Mack is already over 5kg, and let's face it, he's only going to get bigger, and the weather only hotter.

I am sure I had another question, but I forget now. I typed a reply before, but lost it. :doh:

Homemade stretchys are great - they are cheap and easy to make, However as said earlier they can get very hot, and they are really only good for smaller babies.

Thought I might add that you can get a cheap woven for around the $60 mark - either an amazonia (off ebay) or a kangarou (its a french company). Or check out the BWBSS (baby wearing buy swap sell) page on fb for some help and suggestions. :)
Also most places have regular slingmeets (an oppertunity to catch up with some other mums and try out a range of carriers, get advice and help, etc). You can find out where and when your local meets are on the BWBSS page too.

Netix, sorry mate, I know very little about woven wraps. Will flag for MadB, she's a bit of a guru.
A mei tai is only straight seams though if you can borrow a machine.

Calluna, linen. I live in Central Oz and can vouch for it's wearability in the heat.

not a guru.

I'd look at a cheap woven wrap, if that's what you're after, as Misty suggests. You can get them quite cheap, particularly second hand. It's not going to be much cheaper once you buy suitable fabric at spotlight. You need at least 4-5m of fabric (depending on your size), so you're looking at $80-100 right there, probably. You can get wraps that cheap or cheaper if you look around. second-hand vatanais also often go quite cheap, if you can find one.

If you're buying fabric (wraps or mei tais), you need something bottom-weight (ie, pants, not tops) with one-way diagonal stretch (for the straps of the MT, at least). Stretchy knits are not much good with heavier babies - most people find they're too saggy over 8kg and you can't use them on your back. The diagonal stretch is important for comfort - you want the fabric to mould around you and the baby.

If you're willing to go down the buy new online route but don't want to spend too much, you could try La Pouche a Kangarou :) Mine was about $25 plus postage from France and got here within about a week and a half :)