Oscha Japanese Knots Ooki Cora

The beautiful coral colour was catching my eye every time it came up on the swaps. I'd originally wanted the Rei Coralline, but it was always too pricey at the time. So when I was offered JKOC in a trade and I was pretty excited and I'm so happy I accepted.

First off- the colour. This is not a wrap for someone hoping to blend in. This wrap jumps up and down saying, "look at me!! I'm bright and I'm happy and I'm here for a good time!" Well, maybe not, but that's how I feel when I wear it. These days, with spring barely even here at the end of April, wearing Cora makes me feel just a little bit warmer. She is a bright coral colour, with an ecru hemp contrast. The hemp gives off a bit of shimmer, which just makes the wrap even more beautiful.

This is a tightly woven wrap- thinner, but solid. It doesn't have much stretch or bounce but that is what I happen to love about this. If I use a thinner wrap I want it to wrap easily and stay in place. JKOC does exactly that. There is no adjusting needed, this wrap grips and holds precisely where you want it to. That means- if you wrap like a slob, you will be stuck with a sloppy wrap job. But, if you take the time and wrap each strand perfectly, then you are good to go for the rest of the day. It is a hemp blend, so I think that definitely adds to the supportiveness of this wrap.

This is a size 6 wrap and it's my favorite double hammock wrap when I'm out and about. I can easily get the chest pass super tight, so there's no loose top or bottom rail (a very common issue I see with DH's). The passes slide up easily, so I'm not struggling to get up and over my little guy's back. There is minimal cush and I wouldn't say there is a ton of support on the shoulders, but if you wrap carefully the grip should help with that. You know the "wraps like an ace bandage" saying? Well I think this one wraps like a waterproof plastic band-aid. You know, the one you need to literally pry off after a week and it hasn't budged at all? Yep, to me that's Cora.

This wrap also shines in a FWCC because it does it's job of keeping baby supported, without me needing to take into account all sorts of extra thick wrap fabric. I can spread the passes or keep them bunched under the bum and it's cozy and looks nice either way. 

It has somehow also become the wrap my husband chooses anytime he wears, so I'm not sure if that makes it a "manly wrap" but the pattern is certainly cool enough for him- whatever that means!

I think this wrap would be great for someone who enjoys the actual wrapping aspect of babywearing. (Not that I'm always that person - sometimes I'm the sweaty, swearing type...) It's not a thick beast that will just "wrap itself", instead you can strand by strand tighten and then be rewarded with all day support. If you enjoy feeling like you've been duct taped to your baby- this wrap's for you! (It's a good thing, I swear!)

Yes, here I am pretending to pick a dead flower, for the sake of the blog.

You should skip this wrap if you are scared by bright colours, if you prefer thick, smooshy, cuddly wraps, or if you want lots of stretch.

What are your thoughts on JKOC? Have you tried any of the other Japanese Knots? Do they wrap similarly and would you recommend I give another one a try? Let me know in the comments!

Japanese Knots Ooki Cora
50% deep sea cotton, 50% hemp
Coral/Ecru
Size 6

Back to the beginning...sort of

Today is my younger son's first birthday! Happy Birthday Miles!

I started off wearing Miles in our snuggly, stretchy Maman Kangarou wrap. I wore him out for a walk the day after he was born (which was probably not a good idea, since I will still really weak from his birth, but I ventured out anyway cause I rocked that homebirth- now I needed a croissant!)

Here we are at a patisserie down the street about 30 hours after he was born....

and so began another babywearing journey....We've come a long way little one!

Wraps I want to try - List #1 of 769

These are the wraps that I'm currently itching to try...

Didymos Jade Hemp/Linen Indio. The colour apparently compares to a Spearmint Zebra by Pavo, or the original Grass Hemp Indio. It just looks so summery and fresh! Really want to get my little hands on this guy...

Oscha Raja Morgan. I have this strange pull to this design, even though it's totally NOT my style at all. Now that they've put out a purple version (my favorite colour!) well, I simply must try it.

Kokoskaa Royal Quill Midnight. I hadn't really liked any of the Royal Quill colours that Kokoskaa has put out yet, they all looked a little bland to me. But midnight! Oooh. So mysterious, and sensual. (Yes, wraps can be sensual. Obviously.) So of course this one costs almost twice as much as the others. It's a blend of silk, cashmere, merino and cotton.

Tekhni is coming out with (has already released?) a new line, which will be affordable- apparently priced under 100$. I would love to try this wrap, Arche Sunset. By some accounts, it wraps extremely well. So good for them- babywearing for all!

I'll be on the lookout for these wraps...I never know what I'm going to try out next. That's the fun in being a churner, and being flexible with trying new wraps. I try not to be picky with looks alone- I might miss out on a great wrap that way. But, at the same time, I do tend to wrap with those that I like the look of more so there's that as well.

What are you hoping to get your hands on next? Anything on the way that you're excited about?

Firespiral Albus Twilight Starmap

"A hand drawn map of the stars"...yes please!

I'm into all things astrology and have always had a love for star signs and all things celestial, so this wrap just called my name. It came to me as a visitor, and I would love to one day have my own.

Albus is a blend of merino wool (25%) and combed cotton (75%). It is an extremely soft and touchable wool blend. Wool in wraps just always seems to prove me wrong- I am always expecting something sweater like and scratchy, and up to date, the wool wraps I've tried have all been quite comfortable and unexpectedly silky.

Albus is listed at 240 g/m2, but it feels a bit thicker to me. It has an airy weave, but this wrap begs to be worn on a crisp day. The deep indigo colour, the warmth of the wrap in hand, and the squishy feeling it gives off all lend itself to a jeans and sweater babywearing kind of day.

There is a slight stretch to the weave, but nothing compared to some other wraps I've tried. I tried this in a size 2, and wrapping with a shorty is a good way for me to test the supportiveness of a wrap. My preferred carry in a size 2 is HJBC and Albus did a great job of wrapping neatly and providing great support for my 22lb 1 year old. I didn't have any trouble getting the passes to glide up and over his big cloth diaper butt, which can sometimes be an issue, especially with a shorty.  The tapers compare to those of an Oscha or maybe closer to a Pavo, so there was no trouble tying in the tippy tails and still managing to have a small, neat little knot.

The design on this wrap is just amazing. It isn't kitchy at all in the way the stars are aligned. It almost looks like a Pollock style smattering of stars down the middle of the wrap, just floating in the weave, with a star chart grid coming from both rails. Surprisingly, I prefer the wrong side out (the white wool side) but either side looks amazing when wrapped. Of course, none of my action shots show the white side- that's the nature of my current "take photos for the blog" practice- little to no preparation. ;)

 I would love to try this wrap in a longer size to get a better idea of different carries it might do well in, but my general opinion is that it would be great in any size. It's supportive, yet soft- so it would be great for a new wrapper with a small or newborn baby. I can just imagine wrapping a new baby in this and having them snuggled up on a cool day- ahh! But, since wool is very breathable, you could also take out an older child on a warmer day and be perfectly comfortable. I think the only thing missing from this wrap might be a bit more stretch- if that could just be added on I think this is a wrap that would stick around this churner's house for quite a while.

Tell me your thoughts on Albus, the indigo and white starmap. Were you as impressed with the snuggly and soft qualities as I was?

Firespiral Albus Twilight Starmap
25% merino wool, 74% combed cotton
Indigo/white
Size 2

Oscha Starry Night Vespers

The first time I spotted an Oscha Starry Night on the swap, I knew I had to have one. There are so many different colourways and blends (wild silk, linen, bamboo, hemp) it was so hard to choose. But, since my wrap purchases are a mixture of my wallet and my late night impulse internet browsing, I ended up buying Vespers, which is a 100% cotton blend.

I was so excited when I opened up the package- this wrap has such great colours- they are like no other wrap out there, in my opinion. Oscha describes it as deep indigo wisteria warp with golden yellow coloured cotton weft. It feels thick and solid in hand. Definitely has the feel of a well made, quality wrap, which seems to be Oscha's signature. I have yet to see a flaw on an Oscha.

Admittedly, this wrap was never fully broken in when it lived here. I also think it would probably take a lot of work to get this wrap to be floppy and soft. There is a surprising amount of grip to it, so much that it is actually hard to get a nice knot. It stays in place when wrapped, but I didn't find it very comfortable in some carries. This wrap somehow feels so much thicker than you might expect. It was a very tight weave, and wasn't very moldable.

I had Vespers in a size 4 and I did enjoy this wrap for hip carries, as I like a thicker wrap on my shoulder for a bit of extra cush and support. It didn't exactly shine in a kangaroo or a FWCC TUB, again, because of the thickness of the wrap and the difficulty I had in getting a nice knot, I did not like to tie under bum. In terms of back carries, it wrapped well enough. Support, no significant sag, and overall it was just "ok". It may have been better in a base size- I never tried a double hammock, which is my true test for longer wraps.

I would be very interested to try some other 100% cotton Starry Nights, in different colourways. I've always heard them described as lovely, supportive Oscha cotton, which I guess is true, but this was nearing the "wrapping with a cardboard box" category. I'm sure if I had put in the time and effort it might have turned into something quite nice, but that just isn't my thing. I don't have months to work on breaking in wraps. I always give a wrap a couple of weeks, a few braids, some kids playing with it, running through crib rails or rings, but I didn't put a dent in this, so off it went.

If you like a thick semi-beastly wrap that requires work to break in- Vespers is for you!

If you're looking for thin, floppy, moldability- this one is a no-go.


Have you tried Vespers? How about any other Starry Nights? Tell me about it in the comments!

Oscha Starry Night Vespers
Wisteria/golden yellow
100% cotton\
size 4

Gotham Marble....to dye or not to dye?

I just got this amazing Gotham Marble the other day....what a beautiful natty wrap this is. Look at the details! Marble is the same design as Steel, but there is something magical about seeing it in it's natural state...

At the same time, I have seen so many beautiful marbles and it just leaves me thinking...to dye or not to dye? I'm leaning towards dyeing it. So that bears the question- what colour!?? I had my friend Amanda from Wilkins IT prepare some mock ups of possible colourways for me to ponder. 

What do you think? Anything jump out at you? 

Oscha Liberty Escalus

Liberty Escalus came to me for a little visit from a friend. I couldn't resist getting my hands on this wrap- the design, the colour, the blend. Oooh la la!

Escalus is a cashmere/cotton blend, described by Oscha as "dark blue finest cashmere on a bright rose cotton warp" but I'd say it looks more like a deep eggplant with a hot pink warp. But really, what does it matter? She's gorgeous! Oscha only made 24 of these wraps, so it felt little exclusive to try this one.

In hand this wrap is thin, and tightly woven. You can tell that it will be supportive though, as beautiful as she is, she's also ready to carry babies!

This was a size 5 and I think that anything smaller might not be best for this particular wrap. It really shines in multi-layer carries. I like to feel like baby is literally stuck like glue to me when I'm carrying, so I NEED the wrap to stay in place and not start to make my lower back hurt with any sag. This wrap did well with that- it was very easy to tighten, and the thinness helped with the ease of strand by strand tightening. I did, however, find it to be sightly diggy on the shoulders. Sandwiching the wrap over the shoulders (folding it, so you've got two layers of wrap) would help add a bit of cushion. Once properly wrapped it was actually quite supportive and held in place very well.

There isn't much texture to this wrap, but the grip is still there. I'm not sure what the qualities of cashmere add to a wrap, as this is the first wrap I've tried in this blend, but it gave me a feeling of luxury when wrapping with it. (Maybe that's cause I knew the price??!)

This wrap would be wonderful for a dressy occasion- the colours and design lend itself to fancier carries and I think it would really grab people's attention, if that's what you're after.

I'd recommend this wrap to someone with a larger stash, as this isn't an everyday workhorse type of wrap. Suitable for new babies, until maybe 25-30lbers, but not for long periods of time. It's not exactly a soft and cushy wrap, instead it feels like a fancy scarf. For someone looking for an exclusive, luxurious yet not impossible to find machine woven, you can't go wrong with this Oscha.

Oscha Liberty Escalus
Blue/rose (or eggplant/hot pink!)
45% cashmere/55% cotton
Size 5

Have you tried this wrap? I'm interested in trying another of the Liberty wraps- I love this design!

Natibaby Greece

Throwback Thursday!!!

Natibaby Greece was my first impulse buy. I wanted a cheap size 4 wrap to try out so when I spotted this one on the swap I snatched it up quickly without asking any questions. I hadn't yet learned what qualities to look for in a wrap, or even what my preferences were so I went into this purchase focused solely on my bank account.

When I opened the package and took the wrap out my immediate reaction was, "what the??!" This was probably the thickest wrap I'd seen so far. It was soft and almost puffy, like a cloud. It's a 100% cotton blend and this wrap was already totally broken in. I was almost scared to wrap with it, it just seemed so unmanageable.

Greece had a great texture, one that made you want to run your hands gently over it. I wasn't crazy about the pattern, there was just something missing from the way it was designed. A bit too rudimentary, like something from an ad for a Greek holiday. The colour was also not my favorite; a bright red which, mixed with the white, sometimes made it look a bit like a bright pink. I think if this wrap had come looking a lot different, this one would have stayed around a lot longer.

This was probably my go to wrap for back carries when I first learning. It was really easy to get baby up into a quick ruck. The wrap had a great grip, so pre making a seat and then scooting baby onto my back was really easy. The wrap had a nice amount of support on the shoulders and very easily slid into place. My favorite carry with this wrap was ruck tied Tibetan.

It's funny, in writing this review, I am remembering all of these qualities that at the time, I didn't yet appreciate in a wrap. I found it too thick, and the aesthetic qualities turned me off so much that I missed all the amazing qualities this wrap had. It was literally like wrapping with a cloud. I was able to get the highest and most comfortable back carries with Greece. This wrap also rocked a kangaroo carry, which I usually don't like.

This wrap was great as a mid-length wrap. I think it could also really shine in a base size if you enjoy thicker, smushier wraps. I wouldn't recommend it as a shorty, only because I prefer a thinner shorty- smaller knots and easier tie offs.

I would sincerely recommend this wrap to almost anyone. A great beginner wrap, wonderful texture and ease of wrapping lend itself well to someone just starting out. But it is also thicker and supportive enough to carry on older child in a simple one pass carry. For someone who wants a very thin wrap, this would be a no-go. Otherwise, I'd buy this wrap again in a heartbeat. Maybe in a different color though... Still can't get past that bright red.

Ever gotten your hands on a Natibaby Greece? What did you think?

Natibaby Greece
Red/white
100% cotton
Size 4

Girasol Amitola- Purpura Romana DW

I still miss this wrap every time I see a photo of it, or of me and the little guy wrapped up in it. This was one of my first purchases and one of the wraps that stayed in my stash for the longest so far. I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect rainbow and I really feel like the look of this wrap suited us so well.

I bought this wrap in a size 6 and I think it really shines in this size. It's a thinner wrap, and when I first got it, brand new, it was pretty stiff and crunchy. I've heard of Girasols being soft straight from the bag but this was not the case. At first I found this wrap to be quite diggy and hard to adjust. I used this wrap for many FWCCs and I found it took a long time before it began to be comfy on the shoulders. I spent a lot of time breaking this wrap in. Looking back I probably could have just washed and ironed it a few times and called it a day, but instead I braided, hammocked, and ran it through crib rails until, finally she was broken in. One day I suddenly noticed that the wrap was buttery smooth, like a thin cozy sweater.

One of my favorite things about Amitola PR, is all the different personalities and looks this beauty has. You can wrap one way to showcase the shades of browns and pinks, and then next time wrap with the blues, yellows and greens showing and it would look totally different. The diamond wave added an extra touch to the design, this wrap really went with everything.

In terms of wrapping qualities, I'd describe this wrap as having a great amount of glide, minimally supportive, with little texture. It was easy to adjust, but in my opinion, was not meant for long-term carries or a baby over the 20 lb mark.

I used this wrap for a good 6+ months and once my son hit 20lbs it just didn't do the job anymore. We were doing so many more back carries and it just didn't hold up for me.

I'd really recommend this wrap for a newbie wrapper, I personally think rainbows are a great style of wrap to start with. It's got great moldability, a thinner weight, and is nice for cuddling a newer baby.

To this day my heart skips a bit when I see a picture of an amitola and I pretty much want to buy them all because I think it's such a beautiful design.

Maybe one day I'll own another...

Girasol Amitola Purpura Romana Diamond Weave
39 colours, purple weft
100% cotton
Size 6

Pavo Gotham Steel

Hello, Beast. Lovely, amazing, steely grey beast. Oh, how I have fallen for you!

A wonderful friend let me borrow this beauty and I'm pretty sure she will need to pry it from my cold dead hands if she wants it back.

At first glance, from photos online and from quickly giving it a once over when my friend bought this, I wasn't head over heels. There is a lot of hype currently surrounding this wrap and its sister/brother Onyx. I wasn't sure if I wanted to drink the kool-aid, but one try was all it took.

The texture. The first word anyone utters when describing this wrap is texture. It is a wrap you almost want to stare at with a microscope because the weave is just so awesome. The pattern from a few feet away is equally cool. Aesthetically, I'd say this is one of my favorite wraps. It just looks so effortlessly cool when you're wearing it. It's got an art deco thing happening, it's also a little mod with the dots and the angles of the lines. I am loving the right side and the wrong side equally and it's a wrap I don't even bother choosing a side when wrapping because either way it looks great.

It's listed at 280g/m2 which seems confusing when compared to Hearts and Camellia who are both listed at the same weight. When compared in hand to the other two, Gotham is thicker, more textured, but perhaps less dense than Hearts, but much weightier than Camellia. Even though Gotham is more of a Beast, the weave is somehow still airy. It's a wrap I can imagine loving on a cold winter day, but in a shorter size I could imagine would be a great summer wrap as well.

The size 6 I am borrowing is a PERFECT double hammock wrap. It is solid, and supportive. It supports a lousy wrap job, but shines in a perfect one. I wouldn't describe the support as "cush", it's actually a bit diggy if you have the wrap too bunched up on your shoulders. I think that's maybe due to the weave, it can be a little too thick on the shoulders or if you have it bunched up to pass under your wrappee's legs.

I found it easy to make the seat- my wrappee is the kind who makes the execution of a wrap job very difficult. Once I've got the first pass around we're good. But getting him to stay still while I make the seat is pretty much impossible. Other pros of this wrap would be the nice grip. I rocked a knotless ruck with great long tails draping down in the front and it held really well. Once you get everything where you want it to be it's sort of like velcro with this wrap, it's great. Cons: no small knot with this bad boy. Try tying under bum, ha! You really don't want to be tying in the tails with Gotham- I practically had a place to balance a tray when I did.

I'd recommend this wrap to someone looking for a textured, solid, trendy looking wrap. I think it would be best for someone with an older baby, maybe 6 months and up. I definitely wouldn't describe this as the best newborn wrap. I think it might just be a bit "much" for a new baby and a combination of new wrapper/new baby and Gotham doesn't sound like a great mix, in my opinion.

For someone more experienced, or who loves a good beast, this is the wrap for you. I think it would be great in a variety of sizes, whatever you like best. So, if you don't already own one, go get one. But, good luck finding one! ;)

I'm currently waiting on Gotham Marble, so I'll have a nice comparison review to post in the next couple of weeks.

Gotham Steel
Grey/Ecru
100% cotton
Size 6

Tell me how much you love your Gotham Steel!!

Kokadi Sternewind (Wind Star)

Throwback Thursday!

We're going back to the beginning with this one, folks. I'm pretty sure this Kokadi Sternewind was the first wrap I ever bought! Purchased mainly because it was made on my little one's birthday (Hello Legacy wrap) I didn't really buy this wrap because of it's design, although it did grow on me.

Kokadi cotton is known for being very soft, perfect for a newbie because the texture invites you to touch it and doesn't require any breaking in. I got this secondhand, so it was pretty much like a fluffy kitten when it came to live here.

This was my gateway into the world of woven wraps. It's the wrap I first used to learn back carries, and the one I used the most when my little guy was a newbie. So it definitely has sentimental value (although, I wasn't attached enough to keep it...sorry Legacy!). I'll do my best to give an honest review, which can be hard when you've got so many great memories wrapped into a wrap.

I bought this wrap in a size 6, since that's what "they" told me to do at the time. This probably wrapped closer to a 7 though, since Kokadi's wraps are usually on the longer side (if they are even measured when cut at all!) This meant very long tails, even with carries where I should have been using most of the wrap. This was fine, since the tapers are a bit longer on Kokadis and they drape nicely, as you can see in the photo below with little one on my back. This was another wrap that tied into a nice neat little knot, which is great. Easily tightened and tied off, another a great newbie aspect. When you're learning new carries, the last thing you need is trouble tying off at the end because that can lead to all of your strand by strand tightening slowly getting looser and looser.

Because I was newer at back carries when I had this wrap, it's hard to know just how supportive it could have been. Most of my carries were still a bit too low, which put more pressure on my lower back. I can speak to the ease of getting passes to slide and glide through having tried many other wraps now, this was very easy to adjust. I found this wrap also nice and wide, so making a seat was simple and with my newbie t-rex arms (ever have trouble reaching behind you to grab the wrap? T-Rex!) finding and grabbing the wrap didn't feel like I was going to dislocate my arm.

Sternewind, like all KKD stars, has a right side and a wrong side. I love this feature in a wrap. Not only does it make it feel like you've got two wraps in one, but it also makes it easier in certain carries when you need to make sure you've flipped a rail properly, and the wrong side should be showing.


This wrap would be perfect for a new wrapper with a lighter baby. It is a perfect squish wrap! It's so soft and cozy, it would be snuggle town all day in this wrap. All the qualities I mentioned above (easy to work with tapers, right/wrong side) also add to the ease of wrapping with this.

I probably wouldn't recommend this wrap to someone carrying an older baby and who wants a very supportive wrap. I didn't necessarily find this wrap to be toddler worthy in any way (see photo to the left!) but maybe with some great multi layer carries it would be great. There are not many negatives to this wrap- it holds well, there aren't many adjustments needed after you tie off, it's mildly grippy and wears well. If you're looking for a beastly, textured wrap then obviously this is NOT for you!



What do you think of Kokadi Sternewind? Have you tried any of the KKD stars?

Kokadi Sternewind
Blue/White
100% cotton
Size 6

Didymos April Hemp Indio

I scored a great deal on a Didymos April Hemp Indio (AHI) from a retailer here in Canada. I'd been dying to try out a hemp indio, and I had been looking for something in a green colourway so when I saw this beauty and the gorgeous contrast of the lime green and royal blue I jumped at the chance to own this wrap.

My first impression as I took this wrap out of the box was that of a strarched tablecloth: stiff, crunchy, and thin. It did, however, practically shine and the striking boldness of the colours was simply amazing. The freshness of the green mixed with the bright royal blue were the perfect mix. This wrap is sophisticated, and would probably suit so many different colourings.

I immediately put April into a nice warm wash, followed by a warm toss around in the dryer and immediately she softened up. A fluffy, hempy layer sprang up from the once sleek weave and she was ready to go. If I remember correctly, this was the first size 5 wrap that I owned, so it took a while for me to figure out what carries would work best with April. I immediately noticed that the wrap seemed a little thin for my tastes. The rails were tight and a bit diggy, so even in a FWCC it was a bit uncomfortable tying off. I actually found this wrap difficult to adjust on the passes, but they definitely stayed put once I got them where I wanted them.

Enjoying some April snuggles!

After a couple of braids, and spending some time with my boys in the living room, AHI softened up quite a bit. I think hemps in general need some attention and love to reach their full potential.
They just seem to get softer and more moldable the more you use them.

After a few weeks at our place, April moved on to another home. I simply found I wasn't reaching for this wrap as much as I expected to. Maybe it was the dark, cold Montreal winter that didn't allow me to fully enjoy this wrap or maybe it was because it was simply not smooshy and cuddly enough for what I wanted at the time. I am very much looking forward to trying out many more hemp indios, there are so many colourways and I have heard they all wrap so differently.

I'd recommend this wrap to someone who looking for a thin, supportive wrap. Hemp is known to be more supportive than a simple cotton blend and Didymos is known for their great hemp indios. The colour (as usual, I am raving about the colour!) is amazing. The texture of the wrap is understated, but you can tell it's there. It helps keep a nice grippy knot and this wrap can rock many different carries without any trouble. I'd say it would be great for a newbie. Easy to care for, and with the usual hemp nubbies you don't to worry about babying this wrap.

I would probably not recommend this wrap for someone looking for "cush" or "stretch". I didn't find this wrap had a whole lot of either. If it came in a thicker version I'd be curious to try, as I think that might make it a perfect fit for me.



Didymos April Hemp Indio
55% cotton/ 45% hemp
Blue/Green
Size 5

Thoughts on April Hemp Indio? Did I miss out on a gem? What indio would you recommend I try next?

Girasol Double Rainbow - Creme Weft

Ahhh, my RR...I can't help it, I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to wraps. I see bright colours popping out at me and I immediately think, " I MUST HAVE THAT WRAP!!!" If you haven't noticed yet, the colour of a wrap is a HUGE part of why I am initially drawn to it. This doesn't mean, however, that the more I like the look of a wrap the more I enjoy wrapping with it. In fact, the opposite is true about half the time.

When someone starts off wrapping many people will tell them to buy a wrap that they like the look of because chances are they will use it more often. I 100% agree with this. When you're learning to wrap, sweating and swearing and getting frustrated (right??? C'mon, admit it!), you'll be less likely to want to throw the wrap out the window if you actually like the way it looks.

From the moment this size 6 beauty arrived at my house it was love. Rainbow love. Both my boys loved it, and it made a great play item as well. "Let's sit under the rainbow!" or "Let's have a rainbow train!" It was a great wrap while it lived here.

As for wrapping qualities, I actually really enjoyed this wrap. It came to me already broken in and buttery soft. It seemed to have a thicker feel then some other Girasols I have tried, so I appreciated that. You might not notice right away, but it has 2 different coloured rails, which is great for someone learning new carries, or for a newbie wrapper. There is no confusion about which rail you need to be grabbing for.



The wrap had a perfect amount of stretch, and was quite supportive for a 100% cotton wrap. Gira's aren't normally touted as extremely supportive or toddler worthy, but I carried my almost 4 year old in this wrap without issue for a good 20 minutes (which is a long time for my little man). This wrap rocked a Double Hammock like it was born to do only that. It was super easy to slide the passes into place, and if the chest belt wasn't tightened enough I just folded the top down over itself and voila! Perfect wrap job. Another fun thing about this wrap was you never knew exactly what part of the rainbow you'd end up seeing most of, so it always looked different. One of the major pros of a rainbow, in my opinion.

I'd recommend this wrap to anyone looking for the brightest, most cheerful and happy rainbow ever made. Although that was ultimately what led to this lovely heading off for another home, it was also what I loved about it. It just ended up being a little "too" cheerful for me and my coloring. It's a great newbie wrap. The texture is simple and smooth. It's not too silky, so the passes stay put, but it's not too grippy, so knots are easily tied and adjusted. As I mentioned before, the purple and green rails make it easier to wrap with and it's a just a great, comfortable wrap. Perfect as a summertime, park, going for ice cream kinda wrap.

I'd likely never recommend this wrap to someone who doesn't like rainbows (ha ha). It's not subtle, and it's not easy to tone down. You will be noticed in this wrap!! A more experienced wrapper who is looking for a thick, grippy, textured wrap would probably know right away that RR won't cut it. On the other hand, someone looking for a very thin, airy rainbow might find this one a bit too thick for their tastes as well.

This is a wrap I might actually own again someday. If I could find something more muted with the same wrapping qualities I'd add it to my stash without hesitation. A great everyday solid wrap. Did I mention Girasol's are handwoven? Though they are nothing like a boutique handwoven, it's the closest I'm going to get in the near future!


Girasol Double Rainbow Creme Weft
Multi coloured/ creme weft
Size 6
100% Cotton

What do you think of Girasols in general? Love 'em or hate 'em, or are you somewhere in between?

Mild geekery...Pavo Espalier Camellia

 Well hello there, mysterious Camellia....

 

This just arrived yesterday. The texture isn't anything to write home about, but the look at the detail of the weave. The background has what looks like parquet and the ecru coloured warp sort of skips along over top. It's genius. It's a thinner wrap, but still stretchy and it looks like it's going to be just lovely. 

Here's a shot of it stacked between Oscha Ooki Cora Knots and Pavo Hearts Crush. Obviously the colour is not similar at all to Cora, but the two Pavos have a similar feel, side by side. Both have a dusty colour to them; Camellia in a rose shade and Crush in a creamy salmon-esque shade. I really can't wait to get baby up in this one and stay tuned for a full review soon. A few more reviews coming before this one gets its turn in the spotlight.                                                     

Update: Sadly, Camellia's time here was cut short.  She is being sent off to a new home across the country. We'll have to wait for the arrival of her sister Espalier Lilac for a full review. Camellia was traded for something new though, a brand I've never tried... But brings me closer to my quest to "Try ALL The Wraps!" 

Oscha Strato Rosaline

I recently borrowed a friend's size 2 Oscha Strato Rosaline. This lovely wrap is described on the Oscha website as "deep blue mohair with wool, and deep purple cotton warp...mmmmmm! This fabric is remarkable as the mohair/wool yarn is so silky and fine...not at all mo-hairy! Just mohair soft. 25% mohair, 25% wool, 50% cotton."

 You can tell right away that this wrap contains a blend of wool, as it has that signature wooly roughness to it. It's not a bad thing, as it definitely does add to the texture and grip of the wrap. I wouldn't necessarily call it silky as Oscha does, but it certainly has a luxurious feeling to it.
I really like the way Strato wraps. There is a surprising amount of stretch, if you tug on the diagonal you'll see just how much give this wrap has- it's actually quite amazing. As with most Oscha wraps the colour is dead on. I'm not sure where the "blue" comes into play from their description, as I see only shades of purple when I look at this wrap, but they are my favorite shades. So rich, deep, and a perfect contrast.

Because this is a size 2, it's more limiting in terms of the carries I was able to try. I can't seem to rock a shepard's carry in a 2, but I managed to get both my guys into some very comfy rucks and a HJBC with a CCCB with the little one. There are no diggy rails with this wrap, just comfort and cushiness. It's more supportive because of the blend- and comfortable support is key with a shorty. Although Oscha's tapers are not very long, it seems to finish off with a great tight knot which is a great quality for me, as I'm usually tying in the tails in a shorty. 

I also tried this wrap using sling rings, which is a new technique for me. It made a wonderful no-sew ring sling, and it also really showcased the beauty of the wrap. Have I mentioned Rosaline also rocks a rebozo? Well, she does! 

I'd recommend this wrap to pretty much everyone. In fact, I think I even convinced a stranger on the internet to buy one I saw for sale, that's how much I've enjoyed this one. I will probably hide it when my friend comes over to reclaim it. I think Oscha hit the mark with this one. I can see this wrap shining as a shorty or a longer wrap. I'm interested to see how she fairs in the humid summer here in Montreal. The true test of a wrap...

I probably wouldn't recommend this wrap to someone specifically looking for a thicker, beastly type of wrap or someone looking for a soft and smooth wrap. Rosaline is neither of those things. She shines perfectly as the beauty that she is.

What do you think of Strato Rosaline? Love this wrap as much as I do? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Oscha Strato Rosaline

Deep Purple

25% mohair, 25% wool, 50% cotton

Size 2

Oscha Orion Maya

Artistic Window Shot ;)

Like the self processed wrap churner that I am, Orion Maya wasn't here for a long time but I tried my best to enjoy her when she was!
I bought a size 3 off the swap ( The Babywearing Swap on Facebook to be precise) and I had heard great things about this wrap from friends who tried it out before.
My first impression when I opened the package was " this cannot be wool!". I thought I'd be duped. It was thin, silky, and not at all how I imagined. I can't testify to how the wrap feels brand new, as I bought it used, but I would imagine it couldn't be too far from what I experienced. Any wool wrap I have felt before seemed so much scratchier and thicker. A quick search on Oscha's website led me to their description, which was of a lighter weight, airier blend. Okay, well I definitely agreed with that.

It does look great in a CCCB!

I have to say, I tried so hard to love this wrap, I really did. The colours are so striking, probably some of my favorite colours on any wrap I've owned. The silkiness of the blend was also amazing. The weight was just too thin for me. I tried many different carries with this wrap: front, hip, simple ruck, a reinforced carry, and there were none that made me feel comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time. I sold it within a month. It may have been that my attempts were not good enough. A few friends mentioned I was crazy for selling it. I found the rails to be diggy and unless I was very focused on tightening each strand, my son seemed to droop more and more with the middle of the wrap never seeming supportive enough. It was perfect, however, for a fast carry at home if I needed to get something done because I found myself reaching for it often because of the texture and colours. It was just SUCH a gorgeous wrap!

I've been in contact with the mama who bought it from me and she has had nothing but rave reviews which just reinforces how subjective the whole wrap industry can be. It isn't even indicative of one company, because there are Oscha wraps that I have loved. I found this wrap too thin, and not supportive enough for my needs.

I'd recommend it to someone who wants a thin wool. This one is an easy to wrap with beauty for quick up and downs with an older child and I think it would wrap wonderfully for a baby under 15lbs or in a longer size, where most of your carries are multi-pass. It does tie off in a very small knot, which is key for me in certain carries when the knot ends up near my face. Nothing like a big old knot in the face, right?
I wouldn't recommend this to someone wanting a very supportive, thicker blend. I wouldn't describe it as grippy at all, so if you're looking for that, keep on looking.  The colours can only take this wrap so far! After over a half hour I just don't think this wrap holds up for someone carrying a larger child. I'd be interested in trying a different wrap in this colourway though.

Have you tried Orion Maya? What did you do think? Do you agree or disagree with my review?

Oscha Orion Maya
Aqua Blue/Teal
40% wool, 60% cotton
Size 3

Pavo Crush Hearts

I was finally drawn in to the excitement and buzz surrounding Pavo Textiles/Pavo Form and made my first purchase - a size 5 Crush Hearts. I was giddy when the box arrived, and opened it up to find a sweet wrap envelope with my new wrap tucked neatly inside.
Crush wasn’t the softest wrap fresh out of the box, but not the crunchiest either. I have felt new in box wraps that were like sandpaper- this was nowhere close. The fabric had a nice weight to it, it almost felt like a soft pair of jeans. Still a bit stiff, I took the time to look it over carefully- SO beautiful. The colours were true to the website and it definitely had that stretch and thickness I had heard so many rave about.
The first few times wrapping were easier than I expected. My wrappee is almost a year old and weighs just over 20lbs. We’ve been back wrapping for about 6 months and I’ve been babywearing since his brother was born almost 4 years ago.

Early morning snuggles in Hearts

This wrap is definitely one I would recommend to a newbie. It’s easy to adjust, doesn’t slip out of your hand as you tighten passes, and is very forgiving if you don’t have the best wrap job. (Although, because the rails tend to be a bit stiffer, you can spot a sloppy wrap job more easily, in my opinion.) It might be a bit hard for some to manage if they’ve only wrapped with thinner cotton wraps, but I prefer a wrap with a bit more bulk so this was perfect. It took a few tries to get the hang of getting passes to slide in back carries, but after a week or so of a braid here and a coil there it started to really glide well. One of my favorite things about this wrap is that it feels like a second skin when you take the time to adjust each rail, especially in my favorite carry, double hammock. My little guy looked happy and comfy and I didn’t need to constantly adjust the shoulders, which happens with certain wraps. The slight diagonal stretch also helped in adjusting without feeling that strained, digging on the rails and I was able to tie my DH in front with a 5 which almost never happens!

My 4 year old's current fave

I wouldn’t recommend this wrap to someone looking for a ton of texture or lots of grip. For someone who enjoys a more beastly wrap, I’d say this might feel a bit tame. It reminds me of a thicker, tighter weave Girasol. It is soft, easy, and comfortable.  Once the wrap is “broken in” it feels almost creamy. A wrap to wear with your favorite t shirt and jeans.
This was definitely an amazing gateway wrap, as I’ve since ordered a few more Pavos that I am anticipating loving to wrap with as well.

Thanks Pavo!


Have you tried and loved Crush Hearts? Did a different Hearts call your name? Tell me about it in the comments!


Pavo Crush Hearts
Ecru/Creamsicle
100% cotton
Size 5