Oscha Okinami Noir

Let's start with a little imagery, shall we? Picture yourself: you live in urban Montreal. The streets, and therefore sidewalks, are covered 2 feet deep in heavy snow. You find yourself needing to make a trip to the grocery store and there's no way you can dig out the car- so, you wrap baby snugly against you. Both of you are dressed for the elements: sweaters, wool hats, mittens and the works. You pull your heavy winter boots on and head out into the cold, blowing wind. Baby barely flinches because he's already nuzzled his head into your chest, staying warm through the dense layers. Noir is the wrap you choose. It's the only option for a day like this- it acts as a second pair of arms, cuddling and holding your baby, pressing your bodies together so you can make it home warm and content for a quiet winter afternoon....

Except, it's July. So, this above scenario never happened, but it's now a dream of mine. The current weather in this city does not lend itself to Noir. The dark colours, the thick grizzly fibers that scratch against bodies wearing minimal clothing....let me just say, this isn't a beach wrap!

The Okinami pattern is stunning, and one that I've coveted for a long while. It is VERY dramatic in this colourway- even more dark and brooding than his brother Zen. In person, I still loved the design as a textile, but I don't know how much I enjoyed it as a wrap design. I think you truly don't get the full impact when it's wrapped.

In hand this wrap is dense and scratchy. It has an almost sandpaper texture- I didn't find it very pleasant at all. For beast lovers out there- here's one. Except I don't think you could tame Noir. He is who he is, if you know what I mean. I think this wrap would be great in very specific situations, like the one I described before. But for daily wearing, it wouldn't be for me.

When wrapped I felt like baby was duct taped to me. The support was incredible, and surprisingly, I didn't find it that difficult to get a nice wrap job. A FWCC was lovely in this wrap, but when I tried a DH with a CCCB, the scratchiness against my chest was too much.

I feel like this wrap would be great for an older baby, well into heavy 3 year old territory. I cringe thinking of a newborn in this wrap, it feels like it might chafe their soft little skin right off. Maybe if baby was safely dressed in a full fleecy suit, then I *might* use this for a new baby.

This wrap is definitely not for everyone. It's mostly not for me, other than the great support and the very dramatic look that I might like every 20 times I wear. This wrap would be perfect for someone who enjoys interesting blends, is used to the texture of a real wooly wrap, and who isn't afraid of a beast.

 Oscha Okinami Noir
15% silk, 45% cotton, 40% wool
Size 5

Oscha Roses Caprica

What is it they say about Oscha linen? I'm not sure, but if I had to guess I think it would be, "AWESOME!!" or something along those lines.

I have this lovely wrap in a size 6 and I just can't get enough. It was broken in when it arrived, but I gave it a nice bath and a steam iron to get it nice and fresh, and also to smooth out any creases. This wrap is a 50/50 cotton linen blend so it is definitely prone to creases. (Like your love 'em/hate 'em pair of linen pants that you can't actually sit in for fear they will be a wrinkled mess 2 minutes later.)

In hand I found this wrap to be soft, on the thinner side compared to the ones I have been using lately, but probably better described as medium, with a minimal stretch and a slightly dense weave. It is a VERY deep and bright red, which is one of my least favorite colours, so it took me a while to even pick this wrap up to try it out. Red roses....hmmmm. I just wasn't quite sure what to do with that. Do I dress it up? Or will I look like I'm trying to hard, like a babywearing mom off to the prom? Or should I dress it down, but then it won't exactly go with running shoes, will it? In the end, I took one for the "team", in this case the blog, and just wrapped with the damn thing.

Well. The wrapping qualities certainly make up for the fact that I am just not a red roses kind of gal. I found this wrapped very similarly to JKOC, in that it is sturdy and almost backpack-like. This wrap is very easy to use- the passes glide well, it's thinner and easier to tighten, and there isn't too much bounce, so once you're wrapped up nicely you're good to go. There's no worrying about needing to stop and readjust or bounce and tighten. I wore my 25lb one year old around the house, on neighborhood walks, in front and back carries, and never an achy shoulder or sore back. I even found that I didn't need to make a super tight knot, somehow the carry just held itself...? Magic? Somehow this wrap manages to be fairly slippery when wrapping and then grippy once wrapped. I swear, I had not been drinking before wrapping.

I actually prefer this wrap to Cora, even though they are so similar, because it's softer and has a more luxurious feel to it. It is somehow thin but cushy. I can't say I see this being a great summer wrap, maybe because of the length- it's a long 6 so there's a lot of fabric to deal with. I am pretty sure cotton/linen should be a good choice for hot weather, so I will definitely give it a try on a hotter day and see how it goes. (Whenever those days arrive...ahem)



I wouldn't recommend this wrap to someone who is looking for texture, there is none. I also wouldn't recommend for someone looking for a thick, looser weave. This is dense, yet thinner in hand. It does, however, wrap like a thicker wrap would so then again, maybe it would work for a lover of thick wraps who isn't looking for fluffiness.

One thing I will say- if you don't like deep red, either stay away from this wrap or just look at anything but the wrap while you use it. I would definitely go out of my way to find this exact wrap in a different colourway for sure. Why does that always happen to me and red wraps?!? 

Oscha Roses Caprica
Wine red cotton/silvery natural linen 50/50 blend
Size 6

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

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

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!

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