Come sew your own!

Mark you calendars!  Monday October 10 from 6:30 to 9pm at the Rigby Library we will be hosting a Make it Monday sewing lab to celebrate International Babywearing Week!  If you have some sewing skills and a sewing machine, you are invited to come sew with us!  We are requesting a $2 donation to help cover the cost of the library space.

Kimber, who created the Ball Baby mei tai, will have pre-cut Ball Baby kits available at the event.  A kit will be $10. It is JUST the fabric all pre cut and in a bundle.  They will be available that evening.  You might want to bring a few different colors of thread, or something neutral.



A BBO mei tai in action


So you've never made a carrier before?  That's okay!  There are lots of FREE patterns for pouches, mei tais, ring slings, wraps, and even soft structure carriers at Sleeping Baby Productions.  (PLEASE keep in mind that these are patterns offered for free for PERSONAL USE.  No selling, please!)

pouch, stretchy wrap, ring sling, stretchy wrap, pouch.

The single most important factor in a baby carrier is SAFETY.  And the two most important things for you to do are find a safe pattern and buy the right fabric and other supplies (like thread or rings).  Quilting fabric is NOT appropriate for the weight bearing parts of the carrier.  Canvas or a sturdy twill is what you need for straps and body fabric of a mei tai.  A sturdy linen or similar fabric is lovely for ring slings.  If you want to make your carrier a pretty one, you can buy that pretty fabric and use it to accent your carrier.  Also, we recommend you pre-wash and dry the fabric.  That way you can wash your carrier without worrying that it will shrink and get all funky.

Locally the best place to find awesome canvas is Home Fabrics in Idaho Falls (solids are in the back).  You can also find decent fabric at Walmart and Jo-Ann's.

If you are making a ring sling, don't go to Jo-Ann's or any other craft store and get craft rings.  You MUST buy rings that are specifically made for baby carriers.  You can find those here at slingrings.com.  They are super reasonably priced and safety tested, etc. Lots of manufacturers use these exact rings and they come in MANY colors. (And we can't in good conscience let you use un-safe rings!)

Ring sling

What you need to bring:
--The printed pattern you plan to use
--Fabric, rings, padding, etc. necessary for your particular pattern
--Sewing machine in good working order
--Iron and ironing board or pad
--Thread (Good thread!)
--Scissors
--Other notions that are necessary for sewing
--$2 donation to cover the cost of the space

What we will do:
--Help you make sure your carrier is safe
--Answer questions you may have along the way
--Provide some yummy snacks

We know that you probably have kids and all, but we do ask that you only bring non-mobile babies.  There are lots of sharp things involved in sewing and we would really hate to see a baby get hurt!

Come join us for a fun evening out!  (And if you have any questions, email Heidi--mrs_donnelly at hotmail dot com)

FREEHAND!

Last year for the conference the Freehand family came and brought us one of their BRAND NEW soft structure carriers.  I was absolutely intrigued by it, but was pregnant and had an uncooperative toddler.  So I didn't get to try it.

Plus, everyone hogged it and it was checked out constantly.

Then a couple months ago the Freehand family visited us again.  And they brought another soft structure carrier.

But alas, I still didn't get my hands on one because they were all suddenly checked out again. 

But then I got to run the Rexburg meeting this last month.  I called Jentri when we were done to drop the carriers off at her house and report on the meeting.  I was so disappointed that the Freehand hadn't come back and I couldn't borrow it! 

"It's at my house," she said.  "I haven't gotten it back in the bag.  That's my fault."

I may have squealed in delight.  I finally managed to get my hands on the Freehand!

Let me tell you, this is a great carrier!  I don't have an infant any more, but it's super impressive for my toddler and preschooler!

Super light weight. Great support, even for my three-year old!  We took it on a hike on Sunday.

The Little Mister in it.  He's one and pretty chunky.

I found it pretty darn comfortable for the hike down and back--about a mile total.

He seemed pretty comfortable and content, too.

Here's the three year old.  She got tired of walking and the husband had the one year old.

Now the base on this is pretty narrow, but the way the straps come out of the base they provide some pretty awesome support so the bigger kids aren't hanging in the carrier.  I think it's brilliant!  (The Freehand mei tai has a similar design with the triangle extension of sorts at the base.)  Again, super supportive and comfy for me!

Awesome carrier.  Awesome company.  Awesome Freehand family that you can feel good supporting.

Happy Babywearing!

International Babywearing Week, October 10-16th 2011

International Babywearing Week is fast approaching and there are some great contests! Check em out and enter! Spread the babywearing love!

 

Google Doodle Contest

Winner could get their doodle on Google.com during IBW2011

Deadline: October 1, 2011

Doodle must be original artwork by the entrant or a team of entrants
A team of entrants must submit the artwork together.
Winning doodle will be submitted to Google.com. It is up to Google.com to accept the winning doodle
There must be a minimum of three entrants for prizes to be awarded
Limit of 3 entries per person or team

Email entries to: ClanTower@gmail.com

Please include:

• DOODLE in the subject line
• Your first and last name (include all team members, please)
• Email address
• Mailing address
• And don't forget to attach your entry! 

Best babywearing blog post or series by an individual

Deadline: October 1, 2011

Entry can be a single blog post or a series.

Blog entry must be an original piece on a personal blog.

All photos must be the property of the blogger OR the blogger must have permission to use the photos.

There must be a minimum of three entrants for prizes to be awarded.

Entry must be babywearing related.

Entries must be published between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011.

Email entries to: ClanTower@gmail.com

Please include:

• PHOTO CONTEST in the subject line
• Your first and last name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• And include links to your entry!

Best babywearing blog post or series by a business

Deadline: October 1, 2011

Entry can be a single post or a series

Blog entry must be an original piece on a blog maintained by a business.

All photos must be the property of the blogger OR the blogger must have permission to use the photos

Entry must be babywearing related.

Entry must be published between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011

There must be a minimum of three entrants for prizes to be awarded

Email entries to:ClanTower@gmail.com

Please include:

• BUSINESS BLOG in the subject line
• Your first and last name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• And don't forget include links to your entry!

Photo contest

Deadline: October 1, 2011

Limit of three entries per individual

Photos must be the property of the individual OR professional photos may be entered with permission of the photographer

The contest is open to professional photographers

By entering the photo contest you are granting Babywearing International permission to use the photo for official BWI business.

Photos must be taken between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011

There must be a minimum of three entrants for prizes to be awarded

Email entries to:ClanTower@gmail.com

Please include:

• PHOTO CONTEST in the subject line
• Your first and last name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• And don't forget to attach your photo!