I started making baby carriers after Korben was born because, frankly, carriers are really expensive! I didn't understand why until I started making my own. A lot of time and effort goes into making something safe to carry your most precious cargo. It really isn't complicated or intricate sewing, its precision. Everything has to be secure and well-made. I started with mei tais because I just liked the look of them and I found a free pattern. My first carrier was a robot print mei tai that has now been loved by many families, and has been passed on.
I really wish I had taken a full picture of it
I made quite a few mei tais with different variations of design. For ComicCon 2013 I made a mei tai with a contoured, padded waist, foam in the straps, rainbow legs-out padding, and appliqued space invaders. I LOVE the rainbow of space invaders, and this happens to be one of the most comfortable carriers I've ever made.
I made quite a few ring slings which are very useful and functional, but kind of unremarkable. I tried the SBP pleated shoulder and it wasn't for me. Jan's standard gathered shoulder is what I prefer and I've slingified wraps, table cloths, and just plain muslin with sling rings and a plain old gathered shoulder.
Then Sew Toot came on the scene and I gave the Little Pick Me Up a try. I made a preschool size for Korben because he was still asking to go up and I didn't think I really had anything strong enough to carry a viking-sized 3 year old. So, I let him choose his fabrics and I placed an order with strapworks.com
Its amazingly comfortable! And the construction was not difficult at all. Like with mei tais, SSC's require precision and very strict attention to detail, but the actual sewing is not difficult. So I cut right into my Mexican cambaya fabric I had been saving and made a baby size LPMU for Maya. The cambaya rainbow fabric really looks like legit wrap fabric and everyone at the Paxbaby Birthday party thought it was a wrap conversion. But it's actually really thin acrylic that I bought for $2/yd. I interfaced it with a sturdy cotton and it has a heavy cotton duck inner layer. So the cambaya is just for looks, but it's a show-stopper for sure!
I actually ended up selling my Tula because we like this better and use it everyday, usually a couple times a day.
I did try my hand with an onbuhimo. Many years ago I found the Baby-roo huckepack and I wanted one SO bad. I loved that there was no waistband and that it had what looked like fluffy, padded straps. Everything about it looked so cool and comfy for back carries. But, they were practically impossible to get in the US. So I looked into making my own onbu. I found a free pattern for a ring onbu and my first one left quite a bit to be desired for.
Then, last year Sew Toot came out with the Barefoot Bucklebu pattern and I bought it right away. I literally whipped up my first one in about 2 hours and I LOVED it as much as I though I would love the Baby-roo huckepack. So, I purchased a Boba kanga print stuff sack and took it all apart and made my bucklebu boba hack. I tried to frame it just like the Boba SSC's, because I've always liked that look and I was sad when Tula stopped doing it. I left out the chest strap and its ok, but it would have been even better with one. This is the only way I do back carries now. It so easy to pop her up on my back, and I don't have to make Korben wait too long while I do a double hammock or some other very involved back carry.
I even took the kids on the their first hike with Mimi in our buckle bu!
I have so many more carriers either swirling around in my head as design ideas or already cut out and waiting construction. But I can see our baby wearing days are winding down, and I have mixed feelings about it. I love to see my two little people grow up and become independent out in the world. But I'll always love to have them close to me.
