Baby Sling Tutorial

I've been looking online at baby slings, and I've decided that they would come in very handy for carrying baby around with me and keeping my hands free. However, commercial baby carriers cost upwards of AUD60-and I've seen some really nice handmade ones for about AUD40 too-also more than I've willing to spend for something which I can make myself. So I made one this arvo (Aussie slang for 'afternoon') out of a red cotton print given to me from that nice church lady this morning. I had thought to make one with adjustable straps, but I wanted something quick today, so I only made a fitted sling, non-adjustable, and to my measurements. So Wyld Man probably won't be able to use it.

The red fabric that I had was of a 45 inch width, which was perfect folded in half for the project, since you'd need the sling to be reversible and double sided. In total, I used about 1.5 metres of fabric.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Red cotton print"][/caption]

First, I loop a measuring tape over one shoulder and under the opposite arm loosely, maybe adding about 3-4 inches of wearing ease into that measurement.  Imagine that the tape measure is a sling, and decide how loose or tight you want it to be.  Mine came to 47 inches in length.

I drew a pattern on the newspaper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="It looks like a misshapen kite. "][/caption]

On the left end is a gentle curve-that's where you want the baby's bum to sit. The width of the widest end is 45 inches divided by two-just fold your 45-inch fabric lengthwise.  On the right is the strap that will go over your shoulder-that straight line is cut on a fold-and can be any width-I made mine about 7-8 inches wide. And the length of the pattern is that measurement over the shoulder and under the arm divided in half-mine was 47 x 1/2 inches=23.5 inches.

I added a seam allowance of about 5/8 inch all around the pattern except for the shortest line on the right-that line is cut on the fold.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="My pattern all cut out with seam allowances"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="426" caption="I pressed the fabric before cutting"][/caption]

I folded the fabric lengthwise once, and then again in half crosswise, so that I had 4 layers of fabric. I laid the pattern onto the fabric, with the "CUT ON FOLD" line placed directly on the fold of the cloth.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Pinning my fabric onto the pattern before cutting out"][/caption]

And then my scissors came out. Snip snip.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The fabric all cut out"][/caption]

Here, I have 2 pieces of fabric folded on the left end, and with curved raw edges on the right end. Time to sew!

I separate the 2 pieces of fabric, put them right sides together, and pin all alongside the long edge.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Right sides together and pin"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sew a seam down the 2 long edges of the sling, but not the curved edges."][/caption]

This is because we want to turn it inside out later.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here, I'm pressing the seams flat and open"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I turn the sling inside out, and press the outside edges flat"][/caption]

Time to sew the curved edges together.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here, I pin fold the sling, and bring to two curved edges together and pin"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sew a seam down the curved edge."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Press the curved seam open with a folded towel underneath."][/caption]

I find that a folded thick towel is an excellent substitute for a tailor's ham.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Just put your fist under the towel to form a curved surface to iron a curved seam, like a princess seam"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Enclose the first curved seam with another seam from the opposite side."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Stitch the standing seam down to one side."][/caption]

This is called a flat-felled seam, whereby a seam is sewn on one side, then turned over, with another seam sewn on the opposite side to enclose the first seam, and then the standing seam is stitched to one side. This forms a very strong seam.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The finished baby sling"][/caption]

A one-hour project.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="That's the rhino-in-a-nappy in the sling. Front view."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Back view"][/caption]

Baby Rocker Makeover

Somebody at my mother-in-law's workplace gave her an old baby rocker to give to me. I liked that you could put a baby in there and rock it to sleep, as well as set it up so that it stays stationary. However, this is what it looked like-

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="It looked rather old and stained."][/caption]

The fabric was sewn into the frame of the rocker, so couldn't be taken out and washed.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I wasn't crazy about the dirty teddy bears"][/caption]

But it was a good brand-Mother's Choice, and a freebie is a freebie. So I decided to give it a facelift.

I had some really soft cotton that I picked up at the opshop that I decide would look really good as a cover.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Some blue cotton fabric from the op shop"][/caption]

I also went to Spotlight today and picked up a metre of prepacked polyester wadding.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Polyester Wadding"][/caption]

But before I did anything, I wanted to make sure that the fabric would look right on the rocker.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A mock up of what the final product will look like."][/caption]

Looks just fine. So, I proceeded to make a pattern with newspaper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Using newspaper to make a pattern."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Marking all the spots on the newspaper"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting out the fabric with the newspaper as a guide and adding seam allowances."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Laying the wadding on newspaper."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting the wadding without seam allowances"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Pressing the fabric flat to prevent puckers when sewing."][/caption]

I planned to sew the wadding onto the wrong side of the fabric, and then turning it inside out. So-I pinned the fabric rights sides together, with the wadding on top of the wrong side.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Pinning the wadding on the wrong side of the fabric"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed directly onto the wadding all around the sides."][/caption]

However, I left a hole in one of the short sides for turning the cover inside out.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The Hole"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I anchored the four ends of the wadding unto the fabric before turning inside out"][/caption]

Then I proceed to pull the fabric and wadding through the hole.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="This is what it looks like the right way up. See that little hole?"][/caption]

I'm going to close it up with iron-on hemming tape.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Inserting hemming tape into the hole"][/caption]

Iron-on hemming tape is a fusible adhesive which bonds 2 pieces of fabric together when heat is applied. It is usually used for making invisible hems. I only discovered it in Adelaide-I'm not sure if I've come across it in Malaysia.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Ironing the hole with the fusible hemming tape in it."][/caption]

The original rocker seat has a strap sewn unto it to hold the baby in. I wanted to transfer it to the new cover. So I cut it off. Snip snip.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cutting off the safety strap"][/caption]

I wanted the cover to have a quilted look, so...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here I transfer all the markings from the newspaper to the cover. "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed along those markings to define the seat of the cover"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I sewed a curvy line down the length of the cover"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Here I used the quilting bar to guide the second line of stitching"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The quilted look"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sewing the safety strap on with a bartack stith"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I handsewed snaps on black tape on all four corners to anchor the cover into position."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Tadaa!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I also made a little padded holder for the straps. "][/caption]

This was a very quick and rewarding project-no precision needed, yet the finished product looked quite professional.

Here's a before and after picture.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="581" caption="BIG improvement!"][/caption]