How to Make Baby Slings and Mei Tais
Use Free Sewing Patterns to Sew Unique Baby Carriers
Apr 21, 2008
Baby slings, baby carriers and mei tais are extremely popular at the moment. Carrying babies in these slings is also known as baby wearing. Baby slings or baby carriers are readily available from stores and on the Internet, however they are also straightforward to sew at home, requiring just a few sewing skills. There are many benefits of sewing a baby sling or baby carrier yourself and these include:
- Complete Quality Control: You are in complete control over the materials used and how the baby sling or mei tai is made. For instance you may chose to use organic fabrics and threads. You also know that no corners have been cut in the making of the sling, and that every stitch has been made with love and care.
- Color and Style: Perhaps you want to make a number of baby slings in different colors or different fabrics. Sewing your baby sling yourself means that you can be as creative as you wish, and sew a range of slings for lucky baby.
- Customize: Sewing your own baby sling also means that you can customize the sling to you and your baby – or make a special sling so that the father can carry the baby too. This is particularly useful for people who have special requirements.
Free Baby Sling and Baby Carrier Sewing Patterns
The Internet offers a wealth of sewing information and there are many free baby sling patterns available online. These offer full sewing instructions as well as information about how the baby should actually be carried. It is worth taking a look at a number of these websites and tutorials to learn more about the sewing process before starting. There are also some great websites that explain basic sewing stitches and techniques and these are useful for beginners.
Buying Fabric to Sew a Baby Sling or Baby Carrier
Fabric for baby slings needs to be firm and strong. The best fabrics are those that are woven rather than knitted as this stops the sling from stretching. Lengths of suitable fabric can be found in craft and sewing stores, other interesting fabrics include upholstery textiles or even saris, which can make a stunning alternative. The Internet is also a good source of fabric and buying fabric online can be an interesting option.
Tips for Sewing Your Own Baby Sling or Baby Carrier
- Buying good quality and sturdy rings is essential and it is therefore important to seek out rings that are suitable for the task. There are specialist suppliers of rings for baby slings and these are worth investigating further. SlingRings.com, for instance, have a range of rings plus lots of information on their website about making slings.
- Buy fabric which is both strong and soft. Many cottons are excellent for this as they are also easy to clean.
- Consider making a small sling for an older sibling, so that they can join in by wearing a special doll or toy.
- Add pockets to your sling, these can be useful for storing all sorts of things when wearing baby in his sling. When sewing your own baby sling you can add padding or additional support as required.
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