Be Carried

Sjala brand ambassador

A few weeks ago I got to know that I am the Norwegian Sjala ambassador. That’s kind of awesome! The other ambassadors in other countries are people that I know of from the babywearing community, and think highly of. It’s really humbling to be in such a great company, and I feel honoured to be chosen.

What’s the best about it? I’m a really huge fan of Sjala. I feel really connected to their design, materials and way of thinking due to their Scandinavian or shall I say Nordic roots (the founder is partly Finnish).

Ever since I started to embrace the huge wrap interest that came as a result of my cute, little velcro baby, I started to try a lot and I was amazed by how different wraps can be. I tried to describe it, in my head and to babywearing friends. I had a few testers visiting, which forced me to write it all down to communicate it. I found that I actually like it a lot and that it actually resembles how I work as a scientist, describing rocks (though that is a bit more tedious and way more detailed).

Now I will receive a few wraps some time before the release, I will get to use it, photograph it and send it out on a little tour. Of course this is all secret stuff, nothing is published before closer to the release. I will organize the tester tour in Norway and all the testers need to be secret about it too, until I say so 😉

For a week or so, I’ve had my first secret wrap here with me. I’ve taken it on adventures and picked up my baby from day-care with it. The blend and colour is still a secret, but I can reveal that it is a Rowan. And the colour will surprise you. Stay tuned for an advertisement for testers! Also, thank you Maria Vatne Photography for taking these pictures of bub and me in Sjala Rowan Hurricane.

Minako Lilac Cotton Gems review

Unreleased from Minako

Blend: 64% egyptian cotton 36% bio cotton

Length: 4.34 m

Width: 0.66 m

Weight: 826 g

GSM: 288 g/m2 (my measurements)

Recoil/bounce: Just a little

Grip/glide: slightly more grip than glide

Cush: yes!

Wrappee: 23 months, 12.5 kg

First encounter

I was so curious about this one! Minako’s first all cotton Gems. They’re nothing like any cotton you’ve met, I’d say. Of course I don’t know what kind of cotton you’ve met, but I’ll do my best to describe in the following. The colour is slightly dusty cool lilac on the right side. Think of lilac shrubs. The wrong side has a bluish medium grey colour. Both sides have widespread woven-in cute gems of different sizes. As the contrast is rather low here, the pattern is not very visible. This one has travelled a lot before it came to me, so I cannot tell how it was initially, but the wrap is now very soft, mouldable, floppy and cool to touch. You can tell it’s airy, by looking at the weave. It’s not dense, nor very loose. But it is on the coarser side, and I like watching the lilac weft and the grey warp. The warp is thin, regular and uniform, while the weft is chubby with little thickenings on it, coming and going. This is no ordinary cotton! It’s kind of nubby. I love nubby ❤

Wrapping qualities

Lilac Gem is incredibly easy to wrap with. It’s medium thick. It’s easy to tighten and put in place. You don’t need to hold tension as your life were dependent on it, it won’t slip. But it’s not hard to layer either; you would quite easily be able to manage that second pass in a double hammock or pirate carry. Hence, it has a slight overweight of grip over glide, making it very widely likable. It’s floppy like a blanket. Yes, the wrap is most likely very broken in due to its travel, but the rather loose weave makes me think that the mouldability was there quite initially. Interestingly it has a heavy drape. It adds an unexpected luxury feel, like the very luxurious Minako Ursus or a lot of AP wraps. Not what you would expect from an all cotton wrap!

It has a tiny bit of stretch, but vey little, like most Gems I’ve met (Sierra, Rusty, Amber, Gneiss/TOAK). I think it makes them very suitable for long hikes. That, together with the cush for days makes the wraps easy to choose when you know you’ll be wearing the toddler or baby for a longer period of time. It’ll be very nice on any picky shoulders. This extraordinary cush originates from the weave, all the Gems are woven with a double cloth, what is most often called triweave. Gem Lilac will be suitable for all ages, it will not feel overwhelming on a squish, I think. Also it’s not very hard to use for someone in the beginning of their wrapping career, though not my top choice for neither situations.

I used it in a double hammock, front wrap cross carry and a ruck. All perfect. I tried it in a reverse coolest hip carry too, but I’m no expert at that 😉 It was comfortable despite all the slack. I couldn’t loosen the slipknot in a smooth way for successful transfer after, but I’m not sure I can blame the wrap for that 😛

I’m not sure when Minako plan to release this, but I hope it’s during this summer, because it will be a nice addition anyone’s summer stash, including mine! It’s cool to touch, airy, has easy-going happy colours, is super-easy care and does not feel like cotton.

Who would love this:

• Cush lovers

• People that are afraid of “delicate” fabrics

• People that hate to break in wraps

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• People who prefer glide more than grip

• Those who prefer warmer colours

• Those who aren’t fans of the Gem pattern (weird, yes. But I know a few)

Gee, it feels artificial to try to find out reasons why people would not like it. It’s very easy to like!

Thank you Elena Moskaleva for making these exquisite, lush wraps and sending them up North. And thank you Beathe Hodne Manger for organizing the wrap tours and for being so extremely patient with me while I had the wraps for a tad longer than agreed. That meant a lot to me ❤

Review: Linuschka Bolero Serenity 6

fullsizeoutput_7a54 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

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

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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!

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-30 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

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!

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-2 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

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.

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-26 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

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.

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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 ❤

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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

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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

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-5 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

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 ❤

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-12 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

Review: Linuschka Boutons nameless 4

Versjon 2

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

Top: Dahlia Us Everywhere Middle: Boutons Nameless Bottom: Ipomee Velvet Sunset

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.

fullsizeoutput_6069 — Top: Nameless Boutons Bottom: Ipomee Velvet Sunset

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.

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-54

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.

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-55

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.

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-60

Who would love this?

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

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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.

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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!

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Review: Woven Wings Tin Man 6

I’m not a huge fan of geometric patterns. I’m all about the organic and romantic. With Woven Wings I’ve been ecstatic over those gorgeous droplets and stockinette’s. So I never tried a Woven Wings Geo before. The Geo blends always left me drooling, though. Finally, Woven Wings HQ sent me this; I have one to get to know better!

Unreleased wrap from the Oz Collection

Blend: 39% egyptian cotton 37% ethical merino 24 % linen

Length: 4.82 m

Width: 0.595 m

Weight: 762 g

GSM: 266 (after wash)

Bounce: some diagonal

Grip/glide: more glide than grip

Cush: subtle

Wrappee: 21 months, 12.2 kg

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First encounter:

It is classically black and silvery grey, a subtle contrast for the pattern to show, but not take over your outfit. One side has a grey base with black pattern and vice versa. You can use either side, because the hems are flipped. It will work equally well in both formal events and casual everyday life.This wrap is lovingly soft and floppy, medium thick and feels light to manoeuvre. I’m not sure how long the wrap has been travelling, but it has gotten lots of love and feels broken in to me. The wrap seems like a breeze to wrap with and I cannot wait to give it a go.

Wrapping Qualities:

I took it for neighbourhood strolls, daycare runs and a really long hike in the woods. I’d say it shines in every occasion. It’s very comfortable in a double hammock. The wrapping process is effortless and quickly executed. So easy to tighten. It will stretch and give you a pretty and tight chest pass, but it will not recoil to give you a bouncy feel. Normally I don’t like double knots (it’s wrong, I know), but with this one not having the badass grip I normally go for that is necessary. Luckily the knots turns out small and pretty. It’s thin in hand yet has a hint of cush. It does have a tiny bit more glide than grip. I wrapped an emotional toddler in an emergency kangaroo (easy breezy) and I lulled him to sleep in a front wrap cross carry, both very comfortable.

I was a bit reluctant before I took it hiking, because a long hike with a toddler is no easy task for a wrap. I have my favourite hiking wrap and I rarely take others. A great hiking wrap for me, is nice on the shoulders, equally nice in double hammock, ruck and front wrap cross carry and cannot be pull prone. I don’t like too much bounciness as it leaves my back sore (too much core exercise, huh?). I like grippy too. But I figured it’s the ultimate test, and I’m too much of a geek to not have it tested. Off we went. I used a regular double hammock most of the time, and my son expectantly took a long wrap nap. He didn’t even wake up when we arrived a destination for lunch.

After lunch I let him walk some, but being too much of hazard in the wilderness, I had to wrap him up quickly in a ruck with a tibetian finish. I didn’t plan to, but I walked for quite a bit with this ruck. It felt very nice. Later I tried a double hammock with a candy cane chestbelt too, that was actually the most comfortable carry, I think. All in all, I’d say that Tin Man was up for the task. No regrets bringing him.

This is one of those rare wraps that work equally well for both a squish and a toddler. It’s thin and soft, but strong and cushy enough for a toddler. Even in one layer only, in a simple ruck, it felt nice on my shoulders. My shoulders aren’t very sensitive though (I think). If this would have a tad more grip, it would actually be the perfect wrap for me. But most people aren’t such suckers for badass grip like I am, therefore I think a lot of people would really love it! Also, it doesn’t matter if you are new to wrapping or experienced, it will actually be very nice as a first woven wrap or the 50th.

Tin Man will be small in your handbag, perfect for lovers of long and thin wraps, even though you might carry it around (toddlerhood). I think it will fit into my hip sack, actually. Also it will be stylish, soft and snuggly as a scarf. A person replied on my Instagram saying that to her and her 9 kg baby, this was the perfect ruck wrap. That’s understandable.

Because of the linen, it is cool to touch, but the merino adds a little warmth and fluffiness. It’s highly breathable and not very densely woven. This will work equally well in both warm and cold climates. The wool does not prickle or itch (nor am I very sensitive). It’s perfect for lovers of thin wraps. Argh! It’s perfect for me actually. Without the geometric pattern and a dash more grip I would totally go for it. When will it be released?

Who would love this:

Monokrome lovers (yes you!)
Lovers of strong thin-to-medium wraps
Beginners
Keepers of minimalist stashes and all-round wraps
Someone who aim to master new carries

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

those who prefer thick and carpet-like wraps that forgives the sloppiest wrap jobs
those who are terrible at keeping tension while wrapping and therefore prefers wraps with badass grip (toddler prisons)
Lovers of light and bright colours

Thank you Woven Wings, for sending this to me ❤ And my friend Inga Greipsland for hiking along with her big camera and taking pictures ❤

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Minako Ursus

Coincidence has made it so that I, a bigtime Minako lover suddenly find myself with no less than two Minako Ursus wraps a home. This is due to huge generosity in the babywearing community. Gotta love that. Ursus is the latin family name of bears, which in a very subtle and abstract way is in the pattern. It’s the first time I try it. I’ve been sticking to the Gem pattern because I’ve always had a huge crush on that, geologist and all.

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Top one is brand new, straight from Russia with love, Ursus Lacy. The blend is 42% Egyptian cotton, 36% Tsumugi silk and 22% Irish linen. My toddler and I are breaking it in for another mama. It has had a first bath here and had to be ironed. OMG it’s so boring to iron silk. It is the slowest process ever. But it does make a difference, so I bear it. Pun not intended, initially!

The second one, Ursus Polar comes from a loving home and has been travelling for some weeks. The weave is well set and it’s broken in. Ursus Polar lends its name from the king of the Arctic, Ursus Maritimus, better known as Mr. Polar Bear. The blend is 42% L.S. egyptian cotton, 36% Japanese Tsumugi silk (space dyed) 16% mulberry silk and 6%babycamel. What a mix! The colour composition is from pastel babyblue, navy and black. But the appearance to me, is grey and black, with a subtle play of colour; blue, yellow and purple. It reminds me of the optics that occur in oil when the sun hits it.

I’m not a huge fan of the pattern astatically, though it’s growing on me. Still, I love what the pattern does. It provides loads of grip, cush, some diagonal stretch and a heavy drape. I like the fact that there are bears in the pattern, but you can’t see them unless you look very carefully for them. It’s really abstract. The designer of this, Yehrin Tong, also made Oscha Raja and Zorro. You can easily see the resemblance. If you are a Raja or Zorro lover, look out for Ursus. It comes in a lot of exiting blends blends.

Thank you Beathe Hodne Manger and Nena Solheim Varga for expanding my level of wrapsperience ❤

Review: Linuschka Ipomee Velvet Sunset 7

Wrappée: 21 months, 11.5 kg

Length: 550 cm

Width: 67 cm

Weight: 1064 g

GSM: 280 (pre-wash) 289 (after wash)

Recoil/bounce: Low

Grip/glide: A tiny bit more glide than grip, but not at all slippery.

Cush: yes!

Blend: 35 % organic cotton, 35 % tussah silk, 24 % mercerized and mulesing free merino wool and 6 % silk (mulberry I presume)

First encounter:

The wrap is a true chameleon in different lightning, but the colour to me is an intense bright violet blue combined with colourful nubby tweed in a lighter, dustier shade of blue. The latter is with soft tussah nubs that appear in shades of clear royal blue, spring green and purple. While this is my perception of the colours, and maybe yours too, this interplay comes from a combination of black warp with two different wefts; purple merino/silk and purple/royal blue/green tussah silk. It’s very interesting how different colours work together in a woven wrap!

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-13 — Photo: Tale Hendnes

It is soft right out of the box. Don’t be fooled, it is in loom state and it will need a bath and preferably some ironing. Though, do not worry a second about breaking in this wrap. It’s not necessary. It will probably fluff up and become even more floppy because that’s natural with a baby wrap. But it’s perfectly soft, mouldable and floppy from after the first wash and iron. And you will probable want to cuddle with it when your loved ones are asleep.

Wrapping Qualities

It is very easy to wrap with. It is easy to tighten and it does not feel thick in hand despite a GSM in the upper range. It moulds easily and is easy to manoeuvre to the right position. No sweat or tired arms here. I don’t find this wrap very grippy, maybe because the tussah nubs are so soft that they do not provide the usual tussah badass grippiness. Due to this, it’s easy to position the second layer in a double hammock, pirate or shepherds carry and will be very suiting also for a non-experienced wrapper. But it has grip enough to keep the wiggling toddler in place until you decide it’s time to come down. The wrap is sturdy, with just a tiny bit of bounce. Even you’re allergic to bounce or recoil, you can cope with this. It feels thin, yet cushy, a combination that should be impossible. I think it’s the airiness, delivered by both the double cloth weave and the double weft together with the thin threads that make this possible. It’s equally fitting for both squish and toddler, even in one layer, though more comfortable with two.

Pile of fluff: Velvet Sunset, unreleased Linuschka Boutons and Dahlia Us Everywhere

Do not worry about the upcoming summer. This is a woollen wrap you can cope with using in summer temperatures. It is so airy. It calls out for lovers of strong colours and confetti, especially blue and purple. I recommend this wrap for picky shoulders, lovers of bright blues or violet and those who prefer an effortless wrap experience.

Huge thanks to my beautiful friends Inga Semmingsen and Tale Hendnes for modelling and photographing and general awesomeness.

Foto Tale Hendnes-2-17 — Photo: Tale Hendnes Caption: Inga Semmingsen and her beautiful wrappée