Pavo Fable Lilac

Pavo's Fable Lilac is a diamond in the rough. It's a wrap that I epxected to be "ok" and I bought it on a whim, figuring I would try it out and then send it off to someone who actually wanted it. Surprisingly, or maybe not so considering it's PAVO, it has stayed.

Fable has such a great pattern, but I was actually worried it wouldn't work for me. I tend to wear a lot of stripes, especially in the summer, and I figured stripes and geometrics wouldn't work. Well, truth is, they don't- but there's also nothing wrong with tailoring your wardrobe to match your wraps, right? HAH! The weave is amazing- it is simple and sleek with only a slight texture. It reminds me of Gotham on heavy sedatives. Tamed and smoothed out, yet has that same airy weave and spongey feeling when squished in your hands.

I have been yelling from the rooftops about the wonder that is Fable in all shorty carries. A simple ruck is anything but in this wrap. I manage to get the highest and most supportive rucks with this wrap. It is SO easy to wrap with, I think this is definitely at the top of my list for wraps I would recommend to a newbie wrapper. I don't need to spend time adjusting the rails over my shoulders or trying hard to slide passes over, it...get ready...almost seems to wrap itself!

In hand, there is a wonderful amount of stretch- similar to Taj, which has an insane amount of stretch. It's a thinner Pavo, which has been great for the summer weather, and in a size 3 I've been using it for my quick ups in the usual shorty carries. I've found that it has a nice amount of support and cush for my shoulders. It's not the smooshiest or cushiest wrap, but it definitely does well carrying almost 25lbs of baby around.

This is a wrap I'd recommend to almost anyone. It's not for someone who loves thick wraps, or something really dense or thin either. It's has a light, airy feeling in hand and I think it would work well in any size, with babies from newborns up to about 30lbs. The colour is beautiful, but if you find the purple too girly, then go for Slate or Brick.

Another home run for Pavo. I'm thinking I'll need to challenge myself to try something "old school" Pavo soon, like a Parterre- just to see if 1) I can handle it and 2) if they can woo me with any type of wrap.

Pavo Fable Lilac
Size 3
100% cotton
lilac/white

Poe Wovens Harlequin

This will likely go down as the shortest review with the worst photo, but so be it. This was not the wrap for me. I borrowed it for a short time from a friend, to help her break it in. Apparently it was quite the beast brand new. I think I was at least the 4th person to attempt the breaking in process and I barely made a dent. Harlequin is a medium thick wrap, with a fairly dense and coarse weave. There isn't much texture but it is definitely not smooth. It features a black and white pattern that reminds me of a kitchen floor, but also of the comic character it is named after. If you have noticed anything from the wraps I've enjoyed, you'll likely know that a high contrast and beastly, crunchy wrap is not my style.

This was a 3, but I found it wrapped very short. I found the wrap to be quite rough when worn, and it took me so much effort just to pick it up and wrap with it simply because I didn't like the feel or the design.
I did, however, figure out the exact person who would get the most use of this wrap. This wrapper would be experienced and have a large stash. She would like high contrast colours and interesting patterns, and would most likely have quite a few neutrals in her stash. She would be wrapping a larger baby, over 25lbs, and be well versed in many carries so she could make use of this wrap to its full potential.

I was more than happy to give it back to its owner, after making a few doughnuts with it to help soften it up.

Here's our one awful photo because we really barely used it enough to warrant any others.

Poe Wovens Harlequin
Size 3
100% Cotton
Black/White

Pavo Cobalt Cheetah

They may both be Pavo Menagerie wraps, but Cobalt Cheetah and Jade Giraffe could not be any different if they tried. I was really surprised, and amazed by the differences in these two wraps.

Let's dive right in, shall we?
First off- the creamy texture of Giraffe was nowhere to be found on Cheetah- and this was very exciting to me because that's one of the things I really didn't love about J.G (Jade Giraffe). Cheetah has a much drier feel. I think this is due to the design. I don't know if I'm describing this accurately AT ALL, but the managerie wraps have a lot of flat thread in the weave- so the white warp is very visible (this is also why these wraps tend to have more skipped threads I think, although I saw none on either of the wraps I tried). J.G has a lot more white in the giraffe spots, so it feels a lot silkier and smoother, hence the creamy texture. C.C (Cobalt Cheetah) has a much different design, so feels completely different in hand. I'm not sure how well I'm expressing myself, but it truly makes sense to me!

Weight-wise Cobalt is dense, with a medium-thick feel. It has a nice amount of stretch, minimal for a Pavo, but more than most other wraps. I didn't find it to be an elastic type of stetch, like a Gotham has- the "boing-y" type of stretch that bounces back on you, but it was more like a stretch that also has a bit of give. I found it very supportive, and even though the photos in this post were all taken on the same day, I wore this wrap out a bunch of times in many different carries and I really enjoyed it. I found it easy to wrap with. The weave didn't hinder the wrapping process- it was very easy to slide passes over, although if I didn't keep my wrapping tight as I went along it would get loose very easily. I didn't find this wrap very forgiving for a quick sloppy up, in fact, it would definitely not be my quick-up choice in wrap.

I would choose cobalt to go with my awesome outfit, for a walk through my neighborhood to get a coffee and hit up a shop or two. I'd wear this wrap for casual outings, when I would have a safe spot to wrap (ie: not on the side of the road, but rather in a house with a mirror) and probably not for insanely long periods. This is a size 3, and I generally don't use shorties when I know I have a full day of carrying ahead of me.

I'd recommend this wrap to anyone from newer to experienced wrapper, but not the total newbie. It might be a bit much for them. It would suit someone wrapping an older baby- 4 months plus would be my rec, only because I don't feel it would be soft and snuggly enough for a newborn and there are so many other great squish wraps out there. A toddler, on the other hand, would be happy in this wrap. A nice bright blue colour that you don't really see from any other wrap company, along with a very cool cheetah *cough leopard cough* pattern makes this a total hit. Again, I have to say the menagerie are not my favorite line from Pavo. I LOVE that company and the wraps they make, but I think I should stick with the Form line- they almost always blow me away!

On that note, I've got to take a bit of a break from reviewing Pavos. I've noticed they've started taking up over half of my reviews (which makes sense, because my stash is about 90% Pavos) but for the sake of the blog, I am going to try branching out! Stay tuned!

Pavo Cobalt Cheetah
Size 3
100% Cotton

Tekhni Olympos Kingfisher

Olympos Kingfisher came to live here for a very short time on a trade whim. I had purchased 2 wraps in the same design but different colourway and sizes and couldn't keep both so I traded one for this guy. I was Tekhni curious, so when I was offered this wrap I figured, why not?!

I might be a bit biased in my review because I started off not really liking this wrap before I even got it, which rarely happens. When I try a wrap it's because there is something that draws me to it. I may also still be longing for the wrap I originally traded it for, so that may taint my review as well. (Just being completely honest here, folks.)

First impressions of this wrap was: thick, solid, sturdy, minimal stretch. I knew right away that this would not be the go-to summer shorty I had thought it might be. It had a drapery type feel to it, something about this wrap just makes me think of my grandmother. Okay, maybe not my grandmother, because she had epic style. Someone else's grandmother. The colour is just not me. I would say the photo below is the truest to colour, it's a dusty sky blue. Too bland for me, and it doesn't work with the pattern, in my opinion.

I tried this wrap out a few times, in some simple back carries. It does work well for a simple ruck. The wrap is supportive, and can easily support a 20+lb baby. I was using a size 3 and it measured true, at 3.2 meters, but it seemed to wrap quite short. I found it hard to tie off a ruck in front, whereas I seem able to do so in a size 2 if I wrap properly.

I also gave this wrap a try for a bus ride to pick up my older son at preschool. Now this is big. I rarely back carry for errands that are not within 10 minutes of my house. I am slightly paranoid that something will go wrong and then I'll be stuck trying to wrap somewhere I don't feel comfortable. But I took a chance with Olympos and we headed off on the bus. The wrap held up well, although I chose a Shepard's carry, which is proving to be my most hated shorty carry. My son was leaning so far off to one side and this wrap very quickly started to be very diggy on my shoulders. I had to readjust multiple times. Now- I can't be sure if this was a bad wrap job on my part, or if it was the wrap not being easy enough to tighten and adjust.

This wrap definitely has lots of grip. Texture isn't something I would mention, but the thickness of the fabric really gives it a velcro feel.

I can't say much more about it, because I very quickly traded it to another wrapper who was ISO this wrap. I hope she likes thicker, heavier, sticky wraps! If you are someone who gets excited about those qualities, then snatch this one up. Otherwise, take a pass and keep looking.

Have I gotten this ALL wrong? Did I miss something? What do YOU think?

Tekhni Olympos Kingfisher
100% cotton
Blue/white
Size 3

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 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