Fabric Choices:
More about the fabrics used in commonly in pouches and ring slings.
More about the fabrics used in commonly in pouches and ring slings.
Copyright 2006: Sweet Things Baby Slings, LLC.
The world is full of marvelous fabric. And, with the markets and China and India opening up, the United States is currently being flooded with fabrics such as silk and hemp that were previously much more expensive. There are so many fabrics to choose from that my approach has been to dive in and experiment to see what I like best for pouches and ring slings. Also worth looking at are these tips on shopping for fabric:
Let's start with cotton calicos. Used in DIY pouch kits and as part of ring sling tail accents.
I use calicos three ways: as a decorative panel for ring slings, paired together for lightweight cotton pouches, and as a lining piece for the super pouches. What I like, and what everybody likes about calico, is how very decorative it is. I also appreciate that it is lightweight and almost always all-cotton, so it breathes well. Calico can be found in various qualities.....chain stores such as Wal-Mart and Jo-Ann's typically carry several lines of calico that vary mostly by quality of fabric. The lowest quality calicos feel a bit rough to the touch and the weave looks "airy" when held up to the light. Better and best quality calicos (the best of which are often found in specialty quilting stores) feel smooth to the touch. When held up to the light, the weave is tight. The fabric has a good drape to it.
I use calicos three ways: as a decorative panel for ring slings, paired together for lightweight cotton pouches, and as a lining piece for the super pouches. What I like, and what everybody likes about calico, is how very decorative it is. I also appreciate that it is lightweight and almost always all-cotton, so it breathes well. Calico can be found in various qualities.....chain stores such as Wal-Mart and Jo-Ann's typically carry several lines of calico that vary mostly by quality of fabric. The lowest quality calicos feel a bit rough to the touch and the weave looks "airy" when held up to the light. Better and best quality calicos (the best of which are often found in specialty quilting stores) feel smooth to the touch. When held up to the light, the weave is tight. The fabric has a good drape to it.
About twills and denims. Used in ring slings and pouches.
Denim and twill are part of the same fabric family....denim is actually a twill. Both are found in various mid to bottom weights....I prefer no heavier than 7-8 oz/yrd and no lighter than 6oz, the exception being some of the brushed poly blend twills and chino-type twills that you can sometimes find with a real strong, tight weave. Those are marvelous and very strong for their weight. Cotton twills, cotton blended with poly, and either of the two with a bit of lycra added for stretch are easily obtained. I use twills for ring sling bodies and for the super pouches. Some people greatly prefer stretch twills (with 3-5% lycra). For me, it's a toss-up. I can take or leave the stretch for most sling situations and find that with older toddlers, I actually prefer no stretch to my sling.
Denim and twill are part of the same fabric family....denim is actually a twill. Both are found in various mid to bottom weights....I prefer no heavier than 7-8 oz/yrd and no lighter than 6oz, the exception being some of the brushed poly blend twills and chino-type twills that you can sometimes find with a real strong, tight weave. Those are marvelous and very strong for their weight. Cotton twills, cotton blended with poly, and either of the two with a bit of lycra added for stretch are easily obtained. I use twills for ring sling bodies and for the super pouches. Some people greatly prefer stretch twills (with 3-5% lycra). For me, it's a toss-up. I can take or leave the stretch for most sling situations and find that with older toddlers, I actually prefer no stretch to my sling.
About linen & linen blends. Used both in ring slings and pouches.
Linen has been around a long time....the ancient Egyptians wove beautiful cloth from linen, so fine, that modern machines have yet been able to reproduce it. Because the linen fiber is so durable, it is possible to have a lighter cloth that is stronger than a similar weight made from cotton. This is very appealing to people looking for strong sling fabrics with less bulk.
Linen is infamous for wrinkles and also for often being rather stiff until laundered several times to "break it in." Blending linen with strong, softer fibers such as rayon or tencel "softens" the linen and makes it a bit less prone to wrinkles. You also find linen blended with cotton. Linen/cotton blends are just about my favourite fabrics for ring slings....the cloth is strong, lightweight and becomes sooooo soft.
When it comes to slings, the wrinkle issue isn't such a big deal. I always take my linen type slings out of the dryer when they're just a little damp and then hang the sling or drape it over a chair. Most of the wrinkles will pull out. Adding a few towels to the dryer as you dry it also helps reduce wrinkles.
Linen has been around a long time....the ancient Egyptians wove beautiful cloth from linen, so fine, that modern machines have yet been able to reproduce it. Because the linen fiber is so durable, it is possible to have a lighter cloth that is stronger than a similar weight made from cotton. This is very appealing to people looking for strong sling fabrics with less bulk.
Linen is infamous for wrinkles and also for often being rather stiff until laundered several times to "break it in." Blending linen with strong, softer fibers such as rayon or tencel "softens" the linen and makes it a bit less prone to wrinkles. You also find linen blended with cotton. Linen/cotton blends are just about my favourite fabrics for ring slings....the cloth is strong, lightweight and becomes sooooo soft.
When it comes to slings, the wrinkle issue isn't such a big deal. I always take my linen type slings out of the dryer when they're just a little damp and then hang the sling or drape it over a chair. Most of the wrinkles will pull out. Adding a few towels to the dryer as you dry it also helps reduce wrinkles.
About flannel. Used for our DIY pouches.
Flannel is a brushed, lightweight cotton (once in a while you see it in wool.) The brushing treatment to the fabric pulls up the fibers, making it feel soooo soft. If I understand correctly, the brushing treatment also weakens the fabric's integrity somewhat....making a flannel that is the same weight and density as a calico the weaker fabric of the two. You have to be very careful picking out flannel fabric.....I commonly see very weak, loosely woven flannel on store shelves. When possible, choose the quality quilter's weight flannels. Like calico, flannel should never be used as the sole fabric layer of a sling.
Flannel is a brushed, lightweight cotton (once in a while you see it in wool.) The brushing treatment to the fabric pulls up the fibers, making it feel soooo soft. If I understand correctly, the brushing treatment also weakens the fabric's integrity somewhat....making a flannel that is the same weight and density as a calico the weaker fabric of the two. You have to be very careful picking out flannel fabric.....I commonly see very weak, loosely woven flannel on store shelves. When possible, choose the quality quilter's weight flannels. Like calico, flannel should never be used as the sole fabric layer of a sling.
Used in our ring slings and occasionally in our pouches.
About poly brocades, satins, peachskins, moleskins and the like.
Polyester is amazing stuff. There was a time when it was all the rage (oh, my grandmother and her polyester slacks), touted as the miracle, care-free fabric. Well, it certainly hold up well. But, it also is notorious for being woven into fabrics that don't breathe well. Think about it. You can hold up any one of the fabrics mentioned above and not see a single drop of light come through. In terms of slings, this means that polyester slings can be quite hot to wear, especially in the summer when you or your baby need to sweat to cool down. Yick. I do not recommend polyester slings for newborns in a cradlehold, ever. What I do think polyester is great for is as tail accents on ring slings; a polyester brocade is quite flashy and a lighweight moleskin just begs to be touched. I've met a handful of peachskin/moleskin polyester ring slings and pouches that are truely fun: the fabric can be nearly weightless to wear, drapes beautifully, is quite strong and the colors are so vivid!
About poly brocades, satins, peachskins, moleskins and the like.
Polyester is amazing stuff. There was a time when it was all the rage (oh, my grandmother and her polyester slacks), touted as the miracle, care-free fabric. Well, it certainly hold up well. But, it also is notorious for being woven into fabrics that don't breathe well. Think about it. You can hold up any one of the fabrics mentioned above and not see a single drop of light come through. In terms of slings, this means that polyester slings can be quite hot to wear, especially in the summer when you or your baby need to sweat to cool down. Yick. I do not recommend polyester slings for newborns in a cradlehold, ever. What I do think polyester is great for is as tail accents on ring slings; a polyester brocade is quite flashy and a lighweight moleskin just begs to be touched. I've met a handful of peachskin/moleskin polyester ring slings and pouches that are truely fun: the fabric can be nearly weightless to wear, drapes beautifully, is quite strong and the colors are so vivid!
First and foremost, the internet is full of good information about fabric. Here are a few of my favourite links:
FabricLink (just about anything you need to know.... VERY comprehensive) & how to
identify fabrics by doing a burn test! Great fun but, you know, don't go crazy and make sure you're safe and all.
FabricLink (just about anything you need to know.... VERY comprehensive) & how to
identify fabrics by doing a burn test! Great fun but, you know, don't go crazy and make sure you're safe and all.
Slings and the fabrics they are made from:
Cotton fabrics:
Cotton lightweights:
Cotton midweights and heavyweights:
Linen fabrics:
Silk fabrics:
Used primarily in ring slings and occasionally in pouches. When I first saw a silk ring sling, it struck me an especially bad idea....seemed like it would be a maintenance nightmare. And the price tag! Seemed expensive. That didn't stop me from drooling all over the beautiful fabric, though. Talk about gorgeous!
Here's the breakdown for you:
Most silk slings you see are made from silk brocade, charmeuse, or, most commonly, dupioni. 100% silk slings generally cannot just be thrown in the laundry again and again, which is a shame if you have a young collicky infant. However, you can spot clean silk and hand-wash it, so it's not like you can't clean it. Handwashing in the sink with a touch of Woolite or your favorite shampoo is easy to do, and because many silks such as dupioni are so lightweight, they air dry quickly.
Some people choose to have their silk dry-cleaned, but I'm not sure about having drycleaning chemicals next to a baby.
I think silk is more fragile than cotton or linen, but the fabric is so beautiful and comfortable to wear, it's definitely worth considering owning one as your "look at us" sling. Believe me, you will be noticed.
One last thing....silk is no longer as expensive as it was a few years ago, so it seems you can find good silk slings at a more reasonable price.
Here's the breakdown for you:
Most silk slings you see are made from silk brocade, charmeuse, or, most commonly, dupioni. 100% silk slings generally cannot just be thrown in the laundry again and again, which is a shame if you have a young collicky infant. However, you can spot clean silk and hand-wash it, so it's not like you can't clean it. Handwashing in the sink with a touch of Woolite or your favorite shampoo is easy to do, and because many silks such as dupioni are so lightweight, they air dry quickly.
Some people choose to have their silk dry-cleaned, but I'm not sure about having drycleaning chemicals next to a baby.
I think silk is more fragile than cotton or linen, but the fabric is so beautiful and comfortable to wear, it's definitely worth considering owning one as your "look at us" sling. Believe me, you will be noticed.
One last thing....silk is no longer as expensive as it was a few years ago, so it seems you can find good silk slings at a more reasonable price.
For slings, never ever use the cheap quality calicos or flannels. Be especially careful with bargain bin/table calico. Even with the best quality calicos, I won't recommend using just one piece for the body of a sling. If you use a piece on the tail panel of a ring sling with a pocket, protect the top of the pocket fabric with a piece of bias tape. Always layer calico with another piece of something.
Here is my conclusion: I think that a sling made of two-ply calico really shines in the summer because it is so lightweight and breathes well. For the same reason, 2-ply calico is wonderful for newborns. Slings of this type fold up real small for the diaper bag and glove compartment, too, which makes them very handy to have around for quick trips and minor babywearing emergencies. They will not, however, hold up as well over time as a comparable sling made with a layer of a more "heavy duty" fabric such as linen or twill. Given that a piece of high-end calico can cost just as much as a piece of good twill, many people opt just to go with a twill sling in the first place and use the calico as an accent. Another note: slings made from 2-ply calico also aren't very supportive when it comes to holding heavy babies and can "dig in" to your shoulders and baby's legs; you almost always want to add a padding to the rails.
Here is my conclusion: I think that a sling made of two-ply calico really shines in the summer because it is so lightweight and breathes well. For the same reason, 2-ply calico is wonderful for newborns. Slings of this type fold up real small for the diaper bag and glove compartment, too, which makes them very handy to have around for quick trips and minor babywearing emergencies. They will not, however, hold up as well over time as a comparable sling made with a layer of a more "heavy duty" fabric such as linen or twill. Given that a piece of high-end calico can cost just as much as a piece of good twill, many people opt just to go with a twill sling in the first place and use the calico as an accent. Another note: slings made from 2-ply calico also aren't very supportive when it comes to holding heavy babies and can "dig in" to your shoulders and baby's legs; you almost always want to add a padding to the rails.
Two little notes:
Most people think that polyester added to a twill makes it breathe less, but on the other hand, it ensures less wrinkles. A sling with ~30% poly/70% cotton, I think, breathes fine.
You often see pouches made from a single layer of twill. I find that lining the twill with calico or flannel makes it much more supportive for carrying heavier babies.
Most people think that polyester added to a twill makes it breathe less, but on the other hand, it ensures less wrinkles. A sling with ~30% poly/70% cotton, I think, breathes fine.
You often see pouches made from a single layer of twill. I find that lining the twill with calico or flannel makes it much more supportive for carrying heavier babies.
Tencel & rayon fabrics:
Used both in ring slings and pouches.
Tencel and rayon belong in the same category because both are made from cellulose, or wood pulp. Both are noted for incredible beauty and drape; tencel in particular is found in many different types of weaves and weights. I currently am head-over-heals in love with tencel gabardine, a tight twill-weave that sort of "flows with you" as you walk, is soft with a sueded feel to it, and wicks moisture well. Because you see more and more of these two fibers on the market, I'm providing this link to give you a better understanding. Tencel is also known as lyocell.
Tencel and rayon belong in the same category because both are made from cellulose, or wood pulp. Both are noted for incredible beauty and drape; tencel in particular is found in many different types of weaves and weights. I currently am head-over-heals in love with tencel gabardine, a tight twill-weave that sort of "flows with you" as you walk, is soft with a sueded feel to it, and wicks moisture well. Because you see more and more of these two fibers on the market, I'm providing this link to give you a better understanding. Tencel is also known as lyocell.
Polyester fabrics:
About cotton sateen. Used in our ring slings.
Cotton sateen is more and more popular every day for baby slings. Usually you find it in a mid-weight, blended with a touch of lycra to give it a bit of stretch. Cotton sateen, I think, is beautiful fabric. The weave is extremely tight with a satin finish that makes it look more luxurious than twill. Consequently, it is indeed more luxurious than twill and costs more. I offer it for ring slings whenever I catch it on a good sale. I do not care for it much for single layer pouches for carrying heavy toddlers unless you line it with something not stretchy.
About cotton gauze. Used both in ring slings and pouches.
Favored for summer slings because gauze has a more open weave than say, a twill, and because it is lightweight. Probably not as durable as twill, but when it's 90 degrees outside, who wants to wear anything hot and heavy? For pouches, it's generally lined for more stability.
About cotton duck and canvas. Used in our pouches.
Sturdy and rather stiff, duck and canvas can make a remarkably supportive pouch sling. Usually lined with a lightweight, softer fabric.
Cotton sateen is more and more popular every day for baby slings. Usually you find it in a mid-weight, blended with a touch of lycra to give it a bit of stretch. Cotton sateen, I think, is beautiful fabric. The weave is extremely tight with a satin finish that makes it look more luxurious than twill. Consequently, it is indeed more luxurious than twill and costs more. I offer it for ring slings whenever I catch it on a good sale. I do not care for it much for single layer pouches for carrying heavy toddlers unless you line it with something not stretchy.
About cotton gauze. Used both in ring slings and pouches.
Favored for summer slings because gauze has a more open weave than say, a twill, and because it is lightweight. Probably not as durable as twill, but when it's 90 degrees outside, who wants to wear anything hot and heavy? For pouches, it's generally lined for more stability.
About cotton duck and canvas. Used in our pouches.
Sturdy and rather stiff, duck and canvas can make a remarkably supportive pouch sling. Usually lined with a lightweight, softer fabric.
Click on any of the photos on this page to see larger images with more discussion.
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