review – Be Carried

Review: Levate Leaves of Ginkgo Echina 6

February 1, 2019February 1, 2019Tagged babywearing, becarried, ginkgobiloba, hiking, Levate, levatewraps, pattern, review, textiledesign, toddlerwearing, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

This lovely wrap visited us some 10 months ago. Unfortunately I didn’t get to publish the review until now. Now I finally got the time to edit the text I wrote and choose a few pictures. Disclaimer: I did not have skis on my feet nor do I recommend anyone to have that while babywearing.

Blend: combed cotton 92%, wool 8%

Length: 4.88 m

Width: 0.675 m

Weight: 1020 g

GSM: 320 (data from Slingofest) 310 (wash and one use measured by me)

Bonce/recoil: Rather little

Grip/glide: More glide than grip

Cush: Subtle

Wrappee: 2 years and 9 months & 15 kg

First encounter:

How I love this pattern! It’s one of my favourites, really. Ginkgo Biloba, the only remnant of a group of really early trees. They’ve actually found 270 million years old fossils of this old three, but its heydays were a little later during dinosaur times. As a wild tree, it’s extinct today. There are separate male and female trees, but they generally don’t plant female trees because the fruit smells terrible. Lovaloom and Minako also use Ginkgo Biloba leaves as pattern inspiration, but Levate really has their own take on it. It’s little more abstract due to both size and transparency. It’s designed by the young Danish textile designer Maria Rokkedah, woven in UK and hemmed in Denmark. More botanical inspiration; the herbal flower Echinacea inspires the colour of Echina. It’s such a lush and warm soft pink paired with ecru, which may look good with a lot of different skin tones, even my winter skin!

Wrapping Qualities:

It arrived here in loom state and I was worried that I had to work a lot with it to like it. But no, after wash and ironing it was already floppy and moldable. It’s soft and sleek and almost silky to touch. Still, it could be that my toddler broke it in rather rapidly and my experience with heavier wraps has cluttered my vision.

I used this wrap in variations of Double Hammock and Front Wrap Cross Carry. I also wrapped a Ruck Tied Tibetian on my man. It was a breeze to wrap with, thin in hand and with more glide than grip. It created an effortless Double Hammock. It’s such a gift when you’re busy in the morning or if you have a toddler that might change his mind about being wrapped while you’re wrapping.

It has a subtle cush and it’s rather low in the stretch department. It’s not completely mute, but I’m not sure you’ll feel bounce or stretch in it until your kid is heavy enough. I think the pattern adds to the floppiness; if you’re familiar with Linuschka Owls, Lollik Vinger, Minako Ursus or Oscha Zorro you know what I mean. The pattern gives the fabric guidance to yield before it’s completely broken in. Very clever!

As briefly mentioned it has a smooth and cosy surface. You’ll have no trouble wrapping on naked skin and you’ll have to be very wool sensitive to have a reaction to it. I would wrap my kid in it without clothes without any hesitation and that can’t be said about all wraps. It’s densely woven which means it’s not bulky either to wrap with or to bring around. Also, it doesn’t get pulls very easily.

As lovely as this wrap is, it’s not for everyone. For me personally, the downside is the lack of grip. It doesn’t bother me in a Double Hammock, but in a Front Wrap Cross Carry I feel like I’m slipping while wrapping. Probably because I’m used to more grip, to keep the passes from slipping. To seal the deal you will need a double knot. Also, at this stage of wrapping, with a +15 kg kid it’s not the thin in hand wraps that wow me anymore. They work just fine, no doubt about that. I just prefer thicker and cushier wraps with a little bounce. Though, with use the wool will fluff up and maybe I will get hooked in our next encounter? And with a big baby or smaller toddler, you probably won’t share my opinion.

If your baby outgrown the elastic wrap and you’re curious for a woven wrap that will last a long time, this is a great choice. I’d say this is super for a beginner. Also, It’s great for a more experienced wrapper, and it’s perfect for practicing new skills.

Who would love this:

• Those looking for an easy wrap job

• Lovers of densely woven wraps that are thin in hand

• Team pink

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Someone looking for easy care wraps

• Those who prefer thick wraps with lots cush

• Grip-lovers

Thank you Levate; Hansotto Kristiansen and Nina Feldthaus for sending this wrap to for testing. It was a blast and I love to expand my wrapsperience :*

Do you love it? It is still possible to buy at https://www.levatewraps.com/shop/

Anmeldelse: Angelpack Max

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018Tagged angelpack max, babywearing, Bæreglede, review, soft structured carrier, toddlerwearingLeave a comment

Erklæring: Jeg er ikke noe selemenneske. Jeg foretrekker sjal. Denne anmeldelsen må sees i lys av det ❤

Første møte:

Sweet! Den kommer i en liten minisekk du kan ha på ryggen når minimennesket løper rundt. Lurt! Om jeg bare klarer å pakke den slik igjen kommer den til å ta veldig liten plass i veska. Det er supert, det er kjedelig å bære på masse når man ikke bruker vogn eller bil. Fargen er en passe mørk grålig grønn, praktisk. Den bør gli inn i de fleste garderober og er faktisk litt i motebildet om dagen.

Bærekvaliteter:

Midjebeltet er sjeldent digg. Det gnager ikke det spor. Med dobbel, dog noe tung justering får du tilpasset det perfekt og det er bredt. Støtten er god i korsryggen. Jeg pleier å kjenne det i korsryggen etter en stund i seler og noen ganger i meh dais, her var det ikke antydning til det. God støtte og stødig.

Skulderstroppene og bryststroppen har jeg dessverre ikke bare positive ting å si om. Bryststroppen er smal og selv om den er lett å justere så finner jeg aldri en sweetspot. Skulderstroppene har fløffy padding, men den er for myk, den klemmes helt flat med de 15 kg jeg bærer på, slik at jeg i praksis, en smule overdrevet, bærer med syltynne stropper og det var ikke så deilig, synes jeg. Jeg jobbet litt med innstillingene for å se om jeg kunne finne en sweetspot, det ble litt diggere når jeg ikke klarte å stramme så mye. Mulig det er her kilden til problemet ligger for meg og at det ikke hadde vært problematisk ved videre tilvenning.

Skulderstroppene kan stilles to veier ca 50-50 opp eller ned for å stramme og slakke. Jeg liker å slakke ut stroppene helt mellom hver gang for at det skal bli enklere, i følge meg, å hoppe lillemann ned godt i selen. Det er ikke sikkert det føles klønete etter hvert å stramme på to steder istedenfor på en, men sånn føltes det den uka denne selen bodde her. Dersom den nederste er løsnet helt ut er det helt umulig å få tak på enden slik at jeg får nok moment til å stramme. Men det kan være pølsefingrene mine. Ellers er den litt treig å stramme, det var muligens en kombinasjon av kald temperatur (øker friksjonen) og at sela er helt ny. Tror den kommer til å gli bedre i strammemekanismen etterhvert.

Jeg registrerer at sela også er en smule mindre enn den vi pleier å bruke (Ankalia Up Toddler) og dermed vanskelig å få vinterdresskledd unge helt nedi uten hjelp på ryggen. Foran gikk akkurat det helt fint. Men da skulle stroppene krysses på ryggen… Haha, jeg har sjeldent følt meg mer hjelpeløs. Jeg måtte faktisk få hjelp av forbipasserende begge gangene for å krysse dem og klipse dem på. Jeg tror det hadde vært enklere om jeg gikk mer jevnlig på yoga og om jeg hadde mindre klær på meg. Dog var det veldig behagelig å bære poden foran med denne.

Jeg må innrømme at dette ikke ga mersmak for meg og det var nok skulderstroppenes strammemekanisme som spolerte. Jeg foretrekker en enkelt strammemekanisme framfor to. Om det strammes opp eller ned er ikke så farlig. Kryssing av stroppene ved magebæring kunne jeg nok ha vent meg til dersom jeg kunne slakket ut skulderstroppene mer og enkelt stramme dem igjen. Men en annens tull, er en annens gull, så ikke vær redd for å prøve. Det er bare på den måten man kan finne den selen som er bra. Alle er forskjellige ❤

Takk til Bæreglede og som sendte denne selen til meg for at jeg skulle få teste!

Review: Sjala Rowan Carmine 6

November 5, 2017November 5, 2017Tagged babywearing, review, Sjala, toddlerwearing, woven wrap, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

This lovely wrap will be released tomorrow November 6th 10.00 CET by draw to purchase at sjala.nu ❤

Blend: 56% organic cotton 37% cotton 7% cashmere

Length: 4.91 m

Width: 0.66 m

Weight: 1052 g

GSM: x (prewash data fra Sjala) 325 (etter vask og bruk)

Bonce/recoil: The perfect little recoil ❤

Grip/glide: A bit more glide than grip

Cush: subtle

Wrappee: 2 years & 14 kg

First encounter:

I first saw this lovely red wrap in a sneak peek from Yvonne (Sjala’s mother <3). I loudly expressed my love for reds, she heard me and sent me this wrap. It’s a rather pure red with bluish tones paired with salmon pink. Because of the mixture of colours, salmon pink is not prominent. I perceive it as bubblegum pink.

It’s actually soft already in loom state, but after a bath and some ironing, it’s almost fluid with a beautiful drape. It’s rather densely woven, but it feels like velvet. Especially the red, which I think is the organic cotton. You could use it a comforter. It feels medium to thin in hand, I was surprised when I measured the GSM to 325.

Wrapping Qualities:

First up was a sloppy morning front wrap cross carry, when LO refused to go to day-care. Want to see trams? Up you go. A little detour on our way to day-care and he was happy. It felt so nice on my shoulders, even in poor execution. Rowan Carmine very easy to wrap and tighten. Actually, it delivered one of the easiest double hammocks I’ve made in a long time. I’m used to more beastly and grippy wraps, so I’m really pleasantly surprised when this happens. It has lovely glide on the red side. If you choose to have the pink side out, it offers more grip. And yes, as all Sjala wraps it does have flipped rails for you to choose the side you prefer.

My favourite carries are front wrap cross carry and double hammock variations (I’m a two trick pony 🙄). I like wraps than allow me to have a tight wrap job, but still allow movement in terms of a little bit of stretch/ bounce/recoil. This wrap has that little recoil, which allow the carry to be tight but feels organic. I thought it would be too thin and deliver too little grip for my likings in a ruck. But I had to try it. It worked really well. I carried for 30-45 minutes in a Tibetian finish with a knot and it delivered both cush and sturdiness. I wish I could have put it to my ultimate test; a day full of hiking in the woods, but the timing was off. If I were to try it, I would have the pink side out to deliver maximum grip for my heavy load.

Because it’s so easy to wrap with I would actually recommend Rowan Carmine to everyone. Both beginners and experienced wrappers would love it. It’s not too thick for tiny babies and it’s not to thin for heavy toddlers. It would double perfect as a shorty and a scarf if you’re into big scarfs. But it not bulky, it will fit in your handbag too. It’s an ideal wrap to learn new carries with, because it’s so easy to mould and tighten. And it’s heavenly for double hammock. Love it. I think it would shine in every size. And it needs no breaking in to feel great. I bet it would be even smoother with time, if that’s even possible.

Just to pour in some cold water in and to keep my objectivity, I need to mention that I don’t think I would reach for it on long hikes with my big kid or when I know I will wrap ugly outside tons of slippery winter clothes. I prefer wraps with more grip for those jobs.

Despite the cashmere, I perceive it as easycare. Yes, I wash all my wraps in the machine in a handwash cycle. It’s not pull prone and it has saturated colours. I will have no problem taking it everywhere and to wrap my toddler everywhere.

Who would love this:

• Lovers of the perfect red ❤

• Those who like medium thick wraps with a hint of cush and a little recoil

• People who don’t like to break in wraps

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• People who prefer completely mute wraps

• Those who prefer lots of grip and cush

• Those who think that wraps that you don’t need to break in are boring

Thank you Yvonne Fransson Duran, founder of Sjala, for making such exquisite and lush wraps, I really appreciate it :*

Review: Bærelykke Sovestøv 3

September 20, 2017September 21, 2017Tagged babywearing, Bærelykke, handwoven, handwoven wrap, Innslag, review, toddlerwearing, woven wrap, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

Blend: Cotton

Weave: Pebble

Length: 3.53 m

Width: 0.67 m

Weight: 836 g

GSM: 380 (data from Bærelykke) 353 (after wash and wear)

Recoil/bounce: Not much

Grip/glide: Grippy

Cush: A hint

Wrappee: 2 years 13 kg

First encounter:

I spoke with the lovely Christina Eng Hauge from bærelykke (baerelykke.no) at the Norwegian National Babywearing Convention 2017 (Nasjonalt Bæretreff). She showed me this soft coloured wrap, told me about it and asked me if I’d like to test it. Of course! ❤ Innslag, an experienced weaver in the heart of Oslo, have woven Sovestøv in collaboration with Christina. Despite her level of experience, this is her first babywrap. It’s one of the first two made and there’s still warp left for two-three more wraps, which are woven as we speak. The warp is made up by cotton in a natural white, soft warm light yellow and medium grey colour with white weft in a pebble weave. The occurrence of yellow threads increase from one side to another, leaving one long end almost white. It is rather densely woven for a handwoven, but still airy. I can’t wait to give it a go!

Wrapping Qualities:

I know some people who touched Sovestøv during the convention said that it was densely woven and rather mute. It kind of is. During the first ups I tried double layer carries, pirate and Sheperds carry. I probably didn’t succeed very well because the carries weren’t very comfortable or cosy. I was a bit disappointed, because I really wanted to love it, having been made here locally. So I gave it a break for a few days contemplating whether to be upfront and just give it back again. During these days, I sat on it whenever I sat. Not folded nicely, but in a crumbled mess. That’s my favourite way of breaking in new wraps, aside from using them, of course. Densely woven wraps can be tough when it comes to breaking in.

When I used it again, only in one-layer carries this time, it was a huge success. It was comfortable and sturdy. I used front wrap cross carry tied at shoulder and ruck tied in front. Even in poor execution the result was nice on the shoulders. And it stayed in place.

Sovestøv has rather little stretch. It’s very grippy, at least at this stage, before it’s more broken in. The second layer is hard to tighten. Bonus is that you rarely need more than a half-knot. Actually, I prefer it in single layers. I would recommend it to lovers of simple ruck. It gives you a fuzz-free ruck, if you have shoulders to accommodate the fabric. With Sovestøv, I prefer a ruck with a candy cane chest belt with a bunched legpass, rather than the reinforcing layer. Like that, the shoulder straps don’t slide down the shoulders.

I love tactile middle markers. I’ve been wrapping a lot in the dark and I’m used to feeling my way to the middle markers. Also, I like to keep my eyes at the running toddler, with tactile middle markers I can multitask. So even though the golden thread that marks the middle in one of the sides is gorgeous and cute, I don’t find it very practical. May I be that bold to suggest simple soft leather mid marker? On both sides, preferably? Because I really don’t like it when I choose the wrong side. But it’s quite easy to sew on one yourself, if you’re like me and misses it.

Despite the light colour, this is as easycare as it gets. You can wash it properly with enzyme detergent to remove stains and I would be impressed if you can produce a pull. It was a pleasure to test it and I’m sure it will receive lots of love on its way, as it’s a very likeable and easygoing wrap.

For the remaining warp, I would find it interesting to see some wool mixed in, to give it some more stretch. Maybe weave more loosely, with a different cotton to make it softer. And I would love to see twill weave! I love the cush it introduces. Though I’m really no expert in handwovens; I’ve just dipped my toe slightly into it. I follow Innslag and bærelykke with excitement ❤

Who would love this:

• Lovers of easycare wraps

• Those allergic to bounce and recoil

• Grip-lovers

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Those who need two middle markers

• Wool seekers

• Those who prefer wraps with glide

Thank you Christina Eng Hauge from bærelykke, for lending me this wrap to expand my wrapsperience, I really appreciate it :*

Thank you Inga Greipsland for taking photos! :*

Review: Levate Leaves of Ginkgo Mallard 3

September 7, 2017May 11, 2018Tagged babywearing, Levate, review, woven wrap, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

Blend: 80% cotton, 20% linen
Length: 3.45 m
Width: 0.67 m
Weight: 692 g
GSM: 300(prewash) 299 (after wash and wear)
Recoil/bounce: Not much
Grip/glide: balanced More grip
Cush: A hint
Wrappee: 2 years 13 kg

First encounter:

It is a densely woven wrap with a complicated pattern, picturing Ginko Biloba leaves, an evolutionary early three with especially beautiful leaves, it has actually existed over 200 million years! One side is the most perfect teal colour according to me, with white pattern. The other side is soft white, with teal pattern. The wrap feels medium to thin in hand, it’s cool to touch and feels quite smooth, despite the subtle relief of the pattern.

Wrapping Qualities:

This is a sturdy wrap. There’s not much bounce or recoil, still there’s the obligatory diagonal stretch to make it comfortable. There’s plenty of grip, but not so much that I find it impossible to position the second layer in a multi pass carry. There’s a slight hint of cush, I think it must be the beautiful and intricate pattern that delivers it.

I used it in a simple ruck tied in front, pirate carry, Poppins, Robins and a sheperd’s. It’s the perfect ruck wrap, rather mute and grippy as I like it. Sheperd’s was the most comfortable. I did find it hard to tighten the toprail though, as I usually do with densely woven, sturdy wraps.

Levate Teal Proto is a true easycare wrap, which can endure just about anything. You can drag it through the woods, sit on it, use it as a towel and of course wrap dirty day-care kids with it. I don’t think it will get pulls easily, despite the complicated pattern. Also it’s supportive without being bulky, and can easily be brought in a handbag to be ready to save tired, small feet.

I would not recommend this wrap to beginners or squish wrappers. But it’s perfect to support bigger babies and toddlers. Any size would be good. Choose your favourite size when this comes up for sale!

Who would love this:

• Lovers easycare beaters than can endure anything
• Fans of intricate patterns
• Those who appreciate a densely woven wrap
• Those allergic to bounce and recoil

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Wool seekers
• Persons in need of cush and bounce
• People that hate to break in wraps

I can’t begin to express how much I appreciate to be testing this prototype. I love the pattern and I love that it’s Nordic and made with a northern grown material (linen). Thank you Levate; Hansotto Kristiansen and Nina Feldthaus for making this prototype! I’m exited to follow you in the months to come. And thank you Bendikte Lende, who let me into the Norwegian tester tour when I sneakily asked for it to expand my wrapsperience :*

Edit: Check out https://www.levatewraps.com/shop/ as this prototype now is released!

Review: We Are Wovens Mixite Breeze 6

September 5, 2017September 5, 2017Tagged babywearing, carryme.no, MIxite Breeze, review, toddlerwearing, We Are Wovens, woven wrap, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

Blend: Combed Italian Cotton
Length: 4.8m
Width: 0.61 m
Weight: 1018 g
GSM: 300 (prewash) 342 (after wash and wear)
Recoil/bounce: Some diagonal stretch
Grip/glide: balanced
Cush: Subtle
Wrappee: 2 years 13 kg

First encounter:

I received this after it had traveled for a while. It is so soft! And that’s quite special, because it is rather thick and densely woven. You learn to appreciate truly broken in wraps after a while of trying a lot of wraps. This is. But from what I hear, it’s not that hard or time consuming to break it in. It must be the high quality, combed Italian cotton.

Visually, this has two very distinctly different sides. One is natural white; the other has a strong teal colour. The pattern is the same on both sides with reversed colours. It is a geometrical pattern. The wave is dense and doesn’t appear to be prone to pulls. It is rather heavy in hand but medium thick and smooth to touch.

Wrapping Qualities

I used this in a double hammock, front wrap cross carry and a ruck. It is very easy to wrap with, despite its thickness. 300 GSM is after all rather heavy. Level of grip is low; second passes glide easily. You’ll have to concentrate at keeping tension when wrapping. There is a nice little diagonal stretch in this wrap. It has a subtle cush, and it feels very nice on my shoulders. It’s very mouldable; wrapping with this wrap is very easy. It’s perfect to learn new carries with.

There’s only mid marker on one side. If you’re a meticulous wrapper with a running toddler you need to keep an eye on, are visionally challenged or if you wrap a lot it the dark that might annoy you. The hems are rather wide. I love wide hems; I find it very comfortable because it makes it less prone to dig into your shoulders. They are not reversed, unfortunately. Reversed hems would be nice on this wrap because it looks equally good on each side.

I think it’s a bit too thick for a squish, but if you are experienced and the wrap is broken in you’ll make it work. The wrap is soft enough, that’s for sure. If you’re a beginner with wovens and your baby just became too heavy for the elastic wrap, this will work well for you in a base size. If you need a wrap to practice ruck with, this would be perfect in a base -2 or 3. Actually this is a wrap that works for all ages, if you’re after that. With a heavy toddler you’ll just might want to use two layers.

Who would love this:

• Lovers of honest cotton wraps
• Fans of geometric patterns
• Those who prefer a little bit of stretch

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Those who need two middle markers
• Blend lovers
• Those who prefer subtle or organic patterns and low contrast

Thanks to Erle Jansen at Carry Me for providing me with this wrap to expand my wrapsperience :*

Review: Lollik Vinger Driftwood 6

August 28, 2017November 13, 2018Tagged babywearing, Eva Louise Hauge, Evalou, Lollik, review, toddlerwearing, woven wrap, wovenwrapsLeave a comment

Blend: 81% Egyptian cotton / 19% Linen

Length: 4.74 m

Width: 0.63 m

Weight: 972 g

GSM: 320 (prewash) 325 (after wash and wear)

Recoil/bounce: Yes

Grip/glide: a bit more grip than glide

Cush: Some

Wrappee: 2 years 13 kg

First encounter:

Wow! It’s so soft. Is this really linen? Dark warm grey and natural white in a complicated pattern, called Vinger. That is Danish for wings, which the incredibly intricate and cleverly made pattern envisions. It is both abstract and naturalistic at the same time, balancing a fine line. A Danish textile designer, Eva Louise Hauge (Evalou), designed it. She is also a former babywearer. As the pattern gives the wrap a 3D effect, the grey really pops out from the white; I perceive the weave as airy even though it’s rather dense. The nubs are scarce and in a way it feels a bit more like cotton. It is very floppy, even right after a wash (I had to wash it because I soaked it in sweat while hiking). I’d say this is a linen wrap for those who normally don’t like linen. But I have to add; this wrap had travelled long before it came to me. It was well broken in.

Wrapping Qualities:

I have used this wrap in a front wrap cross carry, double hammock variations, Poppins hip carry and kangaroo. My favourites were double hammock variations and kangaroo. Maybe this is because the wrap is rather stretchy, and these carries benefits from the stretch. My sleep refusing toddler could wiggle and bend himself almost out of it when in a front wrap cross carry during evenings. So I was a bit reluctant when I took Vinger Driftwood as the one and only wrap for a daylong hike in the woods. There would be no way back if it didn’t work and I would be annoyed from re-tightening or aching if it didn’t work. Luckily it worked like a charm and proved all my dark suspicions wrong. I had to re-tighten only once in the beginning, it felt super comfortable the whole time and I didn’t ache anywhere else than my feet. Huge success. Also, It dried very well during our one-hour break. It must be the airy weave.

To sum up the qualities as I perceived them; floppy, lovely drape, light feel, medium thin in hand, a bit more grip than glide, nice stretch (not to much for a long hike) and a little bit of cush. It’s supportive for a toddler (better in multiple layers), but will also fit for a baby when broken in (though not my first choice for a newborn).

The wrap is cool and airy, perfect for warmer climates. It’s truly easycare, and not pullprone despite the complicated pattern. I would not hesitate to bring linen blend Lollik Vinger as only one or two wraps during a holiday or to have it as part of a minimalist stash, if you find yourself prone to that.

I only have one downside to mark. The midmarker is lovely, but it’s only on one side. If your’re a meticulous wrapper with a running toddler, are visionally challenged or if you wrap a lot it the dark, that might annoy you. When you pick the wrong side, it will take one or two minutes extra to find the right starting point. My toddler would be out of sight by then.

Who would love this:

Lovers of easycare wraps
Fans of intricate patterns
Those who prefer a little bit of stretch and a hint of cush

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

Those who need two middle markers
Wool seekers
Those who prefer silent wraps

Thanks to Lollik for making such a lush wrap and Laila Pettersen for including me in the Lollik tester group to expand my wrapsperience :*

Review: Sjala Rowan Dew on Grass 6

August 22, 2017August 22, 2017Tagged babywearing, review, Sjala, Sjala Rowan Dew on Grass, toddlerwearing, woven wrapLeave a comment

Blend: 12% linen 88% cotton
Length: 4.77
Width: 0.645
Weight: 988 gsm
GSM: 277 (from Sjala) 988/3.08=320 (measured after wash and wear)
Recoil/bounce: Slim to non (besides obligatory diagonal stretch)
Grip/glide: Slightly more glide than grip
Cush: Subtle
Wrappee: 2 years, 13 kg

First encounter

I first saw it on a picture Yvonne (Sjala’s owner) sent me. Wow! Bright green. Not what I expected. Up until then all the Rowans had been monochrome, dusty pastels or something in between. This was surely something else. It’s a bright, clear green, like leaves in the spring, before the chlorophyll has truly settled. This is paired with a crisp, light grey. Actually, crisp is a keyword here. I don’t want to scare people off, but this is a rather densely woven wrap with linen. They come crispy. And they want to be tamed. But it’s fun, though. A toddler might come in handy. They usually love hammocks and swings too.

The Rowan pattern is one of my favourites in the wrap world. If you live in the Nordic countries, it’s impossible to not have some kind of relationship to Rowan shrubs and trees. They are everywhere! With their finned leaves and red berries, they are quite decorative, I’d say.

Wrapping qualities

I used this wrap for almost a month without sharing the colour or blend with anyone in the babywearing world. That was so hard, I wanted to show them all. I used in a front wrap cross carry, double hammock variations and ruck. I took it hiking. I took it to the beach. I used it as a hammock, blanket, towel and even used it for toddler proofing when we found ourselves in a cabin on a cliff, more or less. This wrap never disappointed or made me worry.

Once I walked an hour with my toddler in a front wrap cross carry. I didn’t feel any discomfort anywhere. There’s very little stretch, just a tiny little obligatory diagonal stretch. The sturdiness makes it an ideal wrap for hikes. Personally, I think silent wraps are kickass ruck wraps. I used it in a ruck tied Tibetan on several occasions. It was rock stable and really comfortable. But it needs to be properly tightened and positioned, I think. It would be really interesting to try it in a pirate carry, with a supporting layer you will probably get close to weightlessness as you do in a double hammock. The glide makes second passes a breeze, but you need to focus on keeping tension before you tie a double knot. Yes, double knots are in order here. There’s some grip, the Rowan pattern delivers it well, but this one has much less grip than Hurricane and Metal at the Disco. Cush is not part of the deal here, at least not yet. A lot can happen when wraps break in, which I find it very exiting. During the last days I had this wrap with me, the cotton started to become flossy and soft. The wrap began to loose its crispiness. It felt much more mouldable. I think it started to get tamed. I’m so exited to get it back after the other mamas have beaten it into submission.

I’m debating with myself whether to call this wrap medium to thin or medium to thick. I mean; it’s not thick at all. While truly medium by weight, it feels thin in hand due to its dense weave. So it folds up rather small. It will not take a lot of space in your handbag while you run off after your toddler or in your nursing bag.

This wrap is suitable for a bigger baby or toddler, a least initially, before it breaks in or if you’re not an experienced wrapper. It might be okay to use on a squish in the end, but it will not be my first choice. Also, because of its sturdiness, it’s easy to tighten too much and loose the naturally curving spine you would aim for.

I had the pleasure of having this in a size 6, which is by far my favourite size if I have to choose just one. No wonder, that was perfect for me. But this one would also be a great shorty. With this one’s low care level it would be a perfect wrap for a holiday or just the everyday companion that you never need to worry about. It is pretty impossible to get pulls in.

Who would love this:

• Lovers of silent and medium thick wraps
• Lovers of fresh and crisp colours
• Those who can appreciate an easycare beater

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• People who prefer grip to glide
• People that hate to break in a wrap
• Those who prefer cush and bounce

Thank you Yvonne Fransson Duran for making this exquisite lush wrap and sending it to me Huge thanks to my photographing boyfriend ❤

Review: Risaroo Celiese Mimosa 5

August 18, 2017August 18, 2017Tagged babywearing, babywearing evening walks, review, risarooceliesedream, risaroowovens, toddlerwearing, woven wrapLeave a comment

Blend: 45 % Tencel 55 % Cotton

Length: 4.56m

Width: 0.73 m

Weight: 960 g

GSM: 289(prewash) 288 (after wash and wear)

Recoil/bounce: No

Grip/glide: Glide

Cush: Subtle

Wrappee: 2 years, 13+ kg

First encounter:

The wrap is soft mustard yellow on one side and ecru (off-white) on the other side. Pattern is dots of different sizes connected with curved and straight lines. It’s soft right out of the bag and it got even softer after wash and iron. This one you really want to use as a blanket and a comforter if you ever find yourself devoid of one. You’ll just want to pet it.

Wrapping qualities:

In hand it has medium thickness and it’s mouldable and floppy after the first wash and iron. This one needs no breaking in. It has a sturdiness, not much bounce to trace here, despite the obligatory minimum diagonal stretch.

I used it in a front wrap cross carry, ruck and double hammock with a candy cane chestbelt. It is really cosy and snuggly in a front wrap cross carry, soft, supporting and very easy to tighten. It’s also super for quick rucks and it feels quite soft on the shoulders, despite its relative thinness. I actually preferred to ruck with it, for some weird reason (I’m not really a plain ruck person). I think I like to ruck with wraps that have little stretch, like this one. When wrapping a double hammock, passes glide easily; you will need to focus on holding tension. It’s incredibly easy to tighten. The level of grip is very low, you will need a double knot to seal the deal. Forget about knotless finishes. The sturdiness makes it suitable for long hikes. But, if you carry something rather heavy like me, the lack of grip can compromise the wrapjob over time as it slips out of place; it needs to be adjusted every now and then, which can be annoying. At least that’s what I experienced. It could be that I didn’t manage to tighten it properly across all its generous width, because it’s really wide (73cm). But then again, with a smaller baby this might not even be an issue.

Tencel is a type of viscose. It’s a fibre created chemically from cellulose, a left over from the wood industry. It’s said to be a fibre for warm weather. I’m not sure if I agree. To me Tencel feels warm to touch, kind of like flannel. Flannel is nice and cosy. Think thick flannel shirt, soft and floppy, very nice to the skin. This one you really want to wrap with naked. It’s easycare, not pullprone, but it seems to be prone to pilling, not unlike flannel. I imagine it would be easy to use for a beginner. It would be lovely for a smaller baby too, but its width and thickness might feel intimidating for the smallest ones.

Who would love this:

• Lovers of glide as opposed to grip

• Those who hate breaking in a wrap

• Tencel-fans

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

• Grip lovers

• Tencel-haters

• Those who like narrow wraps

Thank you Erle Jansen at Carry Me for providing me with this wrap to expand my wrapsperience :*

Review: Löft Bishnu Grey ringsling

August 16, 2017August 18, 2017Tagged babywearing, Löft, Loeft, review, ringslings, toddlerwearing, woven wrapLeave a comment

Release April 21-2017
Blend: 40% cotton, 30% silk and 30% cashmere

Cush: Subtle
Stretch/bounce: Yes
GSM: 380
Width: 0.75 m
Wrappee: 2 years, 13+ kg

First encounter

It is the most perfect cold medium dark grey, resembling steel. It’s the result of black and white threads, which you can see if you look more closely. And boy is it soft! I know this one has travelled Sweden before it came to Norway so it must be very broken in. But I hear from Löft and other wearers; it’s indeed soft from the start. If you live in a warmer climate, I wouldn’t worry about the blend, as the weave is very loose and airy. Nor does the cashmere itch. It’s just kitten belly soft. But it does get pulls easily. About the thickness: it’s not at all heavy or thick. I’d say medium thickness. I have not measured the GSM myself, but I find it odd that the fabric is measured to be on the heavy side.

I am not very familiar with handwovens, but visually I see this has a larger herringbone pattern, Löft calls it Chambray herringbone. The long ends are not hemmed. The rings are shiny black and the shoulder is straightforward gathered. The sewing is beautifully done.

Wrapping qualities

I should say a few words about ringslings and us before I proceed. Not everyone click with ringslings and it would be hopeless to listen to my judgement without knowing. I love ringslings. I got my first ringsling when LO was six or eight weeks old and we’ve been heavy users of ringslings until the use declined abruptly at 18 months age. We’ve had several and still have a few that are more or less permanently here, despite the low level of use. I use ringslings for short ups, typically on our way to or from daycare. If LO wants to walk, which he often want these days, I find it sweet to just be ready with the RS on me in case he wants to be carried, walk the wrong way repeatedly or have a meltdown. It happens.

Bishnu Grey is really easy to thread and tighten. It’s not very long; so the tails won’t bother you. I didn’t try anything adventurous with it, like back carries, ruck or DH traditional, I never do. Just plain centred front carries, its better for my back with a heavy load than a hip placed carry.

It carries my toddler quite well, but it does have a slight slippage, and I have to retighten. The shoulder is very comfortable and it is easy to distribute the fabric evenly. The edges dig a little, probably because they are more rigid than the more stretchy inner parts. It’s not uncomfortable to carry my toddler to daycare with it, but I know there are better options for a heavy toddler, without slippage and hard edges. We wore little clothes at the time of testing; we might not even feel the edges dig with more clothes on.

If you carry something lighter than me (13+ kg), this will be awesome. Also if you are new to ringslings or woven wraps, this is a great choice. For some ringsling enthusiasts the greatness as a scarf is more important than sturdiness. This one is a lovely scarf!

I think a few changes to it could make it better for heavier children if I may be that bold to suggest. Matte rings; Fabrics with glide benefit from matte rings as opposed to grippy fabrics, that work better with shiny rings. Hemming the long sides; I know it’s not very common to do so with handwovens, but I think I would be softer for the child’s knee pits if the fabrics folded. Also it would make the ringsling narrower, which would be a nice bonus, as it’s quite wide (0.75m).

Löft is a Danish based company arranging ringslings to be woven and sewn by women in Nepal and northern Thailand. Materials are natural, the production is without harsh chemicals and wages are fair.

Who would love this:

Those that need a ringsling that doubles perfectly as a scarf
Those craving that perfect grey colour that match everything
People that hate to break in a wrap
Beginners and persons with a lightweight child

Who would be more lukewarm to this:

Those looking for a careless easycare sling (afterall it’s cashmere and it gets pulls easily)
Those who prefer a ringsling with more uniform stretch/bounce along the width to accommodate the weight a heavier child

Thank you Löft for arranging this lush sling to be made and Nena Solheim Varga for sending them to me ❤