Be Carried

Released 11 January by Linuschka Hamburg

Blend: 48% peruvian pima cotton 52% tussah silk

Length: 4.8m

Width: 0.66 m

Weight: 951 g

GSM: 308 (Slingofest) 951/3.168 = 300 (my measurement after wash and use)

Recoil/bounce: almost none

Grip/glide: quite grippy

Cush: subtle

Wrappee: 21 months, 12.5 kg

This review has been hanging with me, giving me a bad conscience for a while. There was never a true first encounter, as it was already released and it had been to multiple testers and I’d even touched it before I had it in my living room. And its very similar sister Bolero New Life was already a loved member in my stash. But when it was time to send it off to the next tester I had sold New Life and decided to buy Serenity instead. I never did, life has it’s own ways. But I’ve been afraid to write this review. I might end up buying it. The struggle to try to not buy every wrap you love is real!

The wrap has a vintage floral pattern, one of my favourites in the wrap world. Base is a natural white with pattern in a dark brown colour. There’s light blue, tan brown and dark brown tussah nubs throughout, texture all the way. Weave is rather dense, but not dense like Hubertine’s if you know what I mean. Air is absolutely able to pass. It was well loved before it got here, hence it’s lovely floppy and soft, but I hear they are soft and moldable from the first wash and iron. It folds up rather small and is easy to bring around.

Wrapping Qualities

This wrap is rather thin and lightweight despite a GSM above the medium range. It is soft, gentle and thin enough to carry a squish in. It has the typical nubby tussah surface. This surface gives the wrap an extraordinary nice grip. The grip makes the wrap more suitable for experienced wrappers, I’d say. Bonus is that it stays in place when you’re finished wrapping. It also has the typical sturdiness of silk. If you’re looking for bounce and recoil, you have to look elsewhere. Due to this, I think it’s very suitable for long hikes with a heavy child. Too much movement in a wrap while being active makes my back tired faster. I used this for my then 21 months and 12.5 kg boy. My shoulders were always happy. No sag!

My go to carries with this wrap was a classical double hammock. Or a front wrap cross carry. What I like the most with this wrap is that you don’t need to focus on holding tension. It won’t slide. You will never need more than a single knot. Your shoulder straps won’t slide. Not even on a slippery cashmere sweater. Basically it keeps the wrap job for miles and miles and it’s perfect under a babywearing jacket, because when it’s cold you really don’t want to take off the jacket to adjust the wrap job.

What’s better is that it’s very hard to catch any of the threads by mistake. I think you’ll have to work very hard to actually get any pulls. Toss it around, lay it on the ground. Sit on it. No problem. It can tolerate it. It’s the perfect workhorse and it can be washed in the machine at 30 degree with a low spin.

It’s neither warm nor cool. It’s the perfect all round beater. If you only plan to own one wrap or two throughout the year and the WQ’s suit you, this is your wrap. It’s been two months since I sent it off, first Bolero New Life and then this. I still miss it. I think I will be on the lookout for this one. The Linuschka tussah Bolero’s definitely has my heart ❤

Who would love this:

• Lovers of badass grip
• People allergic to bounce and recoil
• Those looking for an easy-going wrap, low-care wrap that works in all climates and all purposes
• People who like medium to thin wraps

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Cush- and bounce lovers
• Sloppy wrappers
• Those who don’t deal with organic patterns
• People who like medium to thick wraps

Thank you so much Oxana Shmatova for letting me test the wrap for a generous amount of time. And thank you Tale Hendnes for offering your awesome photographing skills ❤

Unreleased wrap from Linuschka Hamburg

Blend: Blend: 40% bio cotton 25% egyptian cotton 35 % japanese silk

Length: 4.08 m

Width: 0.695 m

Weight: 1178 g

GSM: 342(prewash) 415 (after wash)

Recoil/bounce: quite some

Grip/glide: very grippy

Cush: tons!

Wrappee: 21 months, 12.2 kg

First encounter:

When I first took this out of the bag, OMG. It was like cardboard. I managed to check it out, drape my self in it to see if the colour was good on me (yes it was) and than fold it to do stash shots with it. But seriously, it needed a bath as soon as possible. After a bath and gentle temperature ironing it was completely changed. It’s still quite thick, but very soft, mouldable and incredibly spongy. One side is soft grey with colourful confetti. The other side is warm, light blue. The weave is a triweave, yet with a single cloth (as opposed to Ipomee Velvet Sunset that has double). The design is minimalistic and has a crisp coolness to it, due to the spaciously placed “buttons” into a rather uniform background.

Wrapping Qualities

It is thick and heavy, with some bounce, extremely cushy and forgiving. As it’s so soft right away, I’d say no breaking is needed. I’m sure you will experience a change after a lot of use, but I didn’t use it enough to see that change myself. The grip in this wrap is superb. I love it! Nothing ever slides back. It means even though wrapping and tightening it is a little workout, you will harvest all your hard work.

I used it most of the time in a simple ruck tied in front, sometimes in a pirate carry. Pirate carry was hard for me to handle though, probably because I’m a meticulous wrapper and more comfortable with thinner wraps (though I must admit I’m no expert with this carry to begin with). I used it in a front wrap cross carry tied under bum, that was very comfortable and sturdy. Only a single knot is needed, even for a toddler. Also, I tried Poppins hip carry. That was super comfortable, LO was weightless, even if the wrapjob was less than perfect.

This wrap works best with bigger babies and toddlers, due to its thickness. It’s a prison, actually. Your loved one will have trouble popping the seat. I’d also say it suits an experienced wrapper more, due to grip and weight. You will need to work for tightening and double passes. But then again, if you don’t manage to tighten well or layer multipasses properly, you will still experience excellent comfort. I would also advise you to order a size over what you normally go for, as it wraps short.

Who would love this?

• Lovers of thick, cushy and forgiving wraps
• Fans of badass grip
• Confetti lovers

Who would be more lukewarm to this?

• Precision wrappers
• Tiny people (both bebes and parents, narrow shoulders can only accommodate a certain amount of fabric)
• Those who don’t like bounce and stretch.

I’m very grateful for getting to try this wrap, thank you Oxana Shmatova :* And thank you Tale Hendnes for taking photos of me and bub, it always turns out great and kind of flattering ❤ Your’re a magician!

I mentioned how winter makes me question my pile of silk and other fancy constituents and that I hate that. Yesterday another factor slipped into the equation. LO walked the entire way home from day-care. While I very much welcome that as a mother, I see his eager steps and curious and proud face and melt inside, the babywearer in me dies just a little. Now that I nearly perfected my collection!

I have thin to medium thick, yet some cushy and lovely grippy wraps in every length and level of care. Something for hot days and sickness, something for hour-long walks in the woods, something endlessly soft and comforting for lulling LO to sleep. Some of them are, or at least used to be highly sought after. And a couple of ringslings for quick fixes.

I know I have to rationalize somehow, but I’d rather just postpone it…