Aunty e Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 So I bought a pattern and some rings, and then kind of ignored most of the pattern, because it wasn't that great. If I make another, I'll use one of the free unpadded ring sling patterns on the internet (loads of them about) I think. But anyway, I'm quite pleased with this one, so here's a how to. Fabric at 2 metres long and 33" wide, polyester wadding (50" long and 10" or so wide, cut in half lengthways) and two rings for ring slings. You can get them on ebay or lots of places online, but make sure they're properly tested etc. The fabric needs to be reasonably thick and you will see both sides, so if it has a duff side, you might want to consider lining it. Dupion silk would be a FAB material for this, and might be my next sling...anyway, I'm using some leftovers, because it's striped and I figured it would make the first one easier. It did. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling007.jpg First, if you haven't got an overlocker (and I couldn't be bothered to get mine out of the cupboard) turn the edges over half an inch and hem them to give yourself a neat edge. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling009.jpg Measure six inches in from the long edge and either draw a nice straight line in pencil or use pins. I have stripes to guide me handily, so I've only popped one pin in. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling008.jpg Then measure eight inches down from the short side and pop another pin in on the first straight line. Stitch the new edge of the fabric (which you just hemmed remember) onto the pencil or pinned line until you get to the eight inch pin. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling010.jpg Then fold your first length of wadding over until it's about two inches wide (I folded mine into three) and fold the hem over it and keep sewing, encasing the wadding. Sew all the way to other short end - you should have about twenty or so inches of unwadded edge at the other end. This will make the tail eventually. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling011.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling013.jpg Repeat for the other long side. Then, from the start of the wadding (eight inches from the top), fold both sides into the middle like so. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling016.jpg Then stitch them down, squidging the wadding under the presser foot, so that you get a nice pad for your shoulder and a bit of shape for the shoulder area. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling017.jpg Now, to insert rings. This is where it got a bit tricky for me, as I was using a really lightweight machine (my other one is in for repairs). You're meant to fold the outside corners of the short edge (the one that is eight inches from the wadding roll and the shoulder pad, not the one which is going to be your tail) into the middle, then again, and then again, so you end up with a bit that is about 2" wide. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling018.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling019.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling020.jpg I did this, and then realised there was no way I could sew through this many layers of fabric with this machine, so I threaded my rings over the end (both of them), folded the fabric over, and then fanned it out to stitch it. It was around this point that I realised I should have overlocked or hemmed the short edges first, but it was too late by now. I tacked some tape over it later to hide the raw edges. I stitched over twice, but if I'd been using the good machine, I'd have done it a couple more times for luck. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling021.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling022.jpg Then, I hemmed the tail and stuck some bias on it. And then some pretty bows. And a couple of buttons. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling026.jpg http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/Ringsling027.jpg Essentially you fold the short edge of the tail end like you folded the shoulder end (corners into the centre, then again, then again) and thread it through both rings, and then back through only one. You pop it on, and then pull the outside edges to draw it up around baby once baby is in. TA DA! http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f225/AuntyE/rockingchair002.jpg It doesn't really work on me, as the bump is REALLY in the way, hence waiting for OH to get home to model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 You have been busy! Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 the cat doesnt look entirely sure about the whole thing loving the ring sling though dont think ive ever seen one before cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 How fab - looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 fab work. Now, you need to get your MeiTai sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Nero wasn't all that happy about it, no. Which is odd, given how much he enjoys the swinging crib Little rotter. There are some good online instructions for MeiTais, I particularly like this set http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/man-tai.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 ooooh, Ive seen someone using one of these we have been to Warwick castle today, and there was a lady with a little baby - and she was using one (it wasnt as nice as this one though ) little baby looked very happy in it - and mum looked happy with it too cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 ooooh, Ive seen someone using one of these we have been to Warwick castle today, and there was a lady with a little baby - and she was using one (it wasnt as nice as this one though ) little baby looked very happy in it - and mum looked happy with it too cathy x What colour was it? I ask as the baby forum I use has a 'I've seen a babywearer' thread where people post when they see someone using a baby carrier. If you tell me what colour, and whether its a ring sling or an Meitai I can ask if its one of our members I have 4 Meitais, 4 Ringslings and 3 Wraps. I love using them, it means I have my hands free when trying to shop, eat, housework etc and Howard gets to snuggle and sleep whilst being close to me. Arthur, who is 3 still likes to be carried occasionally too, usually when he is tired and he nods off within moments of being 'slung'. Babywearing ROCKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I've just discovered that 2 friends, sisters actually, are both expecting....within about 10 days of one another !!! As they aren't due til Feb/Mar, even I could manage to make them a sling each ! One already has 2 young boys & the other one runs a stables & riding school so both would find them useful I'm sure. I wish I'd had one of these (or several Ygerna ) when my 2 were tiny...bit big now and certainly not a good reason to have another Thanks for these instructions aunty e Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 ooooh, Ive seen someone using one of these we have been to Warwick castle today, and there was a lady with a little baby - and she was using one (it wasnt as nice as this one though ) little baby looked very happy in it - and mum looked happy with it too cathy x What colour was it? I ask as the baby forum I use has a 'I've seen a babywearer' thread where people post when they see someone using a baby carrier. If you tell me what colour, and whether its a ring sling or an Meitai I can ask if its one of our members it was blue it looked like it was just a normal cotton, but mum was using it as a bit of a "snugglezone" for baby to help baby to sleep (I think ) it did look really confortable cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
