Pavo Pavo Taj

So. I lied. Remember that thing I said about taking a break from reviewing Pavo wraps? Let's just act like that never happened. I can't stop, it's like an addiction, closely rivaling my addiction to chewy, sugary candies...

Pavo's Pavo Taj (not a mistake, the wrap is actually called Pavo, and the colourway is Taj) is my newest love. I'll be honest though, I got this wrap in a trade and really only started reaching for it for the sake of this blog. I figured, I'll use the natty wrap a few times, get a good idea of the wrapping qualities, write the post and then we'll call it a day. I have even had the wrap up for sale already, although the listing has been pulled now.

I think Taj came into my wrapping life at just the right time. Summer is upon us here in Montreal and there is nothing better than grabbing a wrap that goes with any outfit (trust me, it is hard to match wraps to ikat print dresses) and knowing that you'll look fresh, be comfortable, not too hot, yet supported for whatever the day brings.

Taj reminds me a lot of the Gothams. There is a definite texture similarity, although Taj is a little more subtle. I get lost in the pattern, much more than I ever did with Marble. I often find myself with this wrap on my lap in the car and I like to trace the pattern and just stare at it. I sound completely insane, but if you're reading this blog chances are you're crazy, too. The stretch is amazing, drawing back to the similarities of the Gothams. It has a lot of bounce, in hand and when wrapped. I find this adds to the comfort of wearing, since it doesn't feel like the wrap is moving against me. The only drawback with wraps like this, I find they need to be readjusted after a while due to the bounce starting to cause a bit of sag. I don't mean within minutes, but for longer carries, like 30 minutes + you might need to stop, untie, tighten and re-tie. No big deal, but something to mention.

Other big pluses for this wrap include the awesome grip. I love how I can tie in the tippy tails and it holds like duct tape. Really, this wrap has many of my favorite features: airy weave, medium weight, some texture, good grip, and nice stretch that translates when wearing as well as wrapping.

Drawbacks to this wrap would be: many people are not crazy about the design (cough vaginas? cough) but on Taj I just don't see it. Natty wraps tend to scare a lot of people off, I happen to think it works well on this wrap, especially for summer, though I do have plans for a transformation in the next few weeks. I would probably recommend this to someone who has tried Pavo before, I feel like this isn't a shiny, bright new thing, but rather something a more experienced wrapper could appreciate. It's on the drier side, so for someone who likes smooth, silky wraps, this might not be the best. I almost want to say it's a middle of the road, something for everyone Pavo wrap, but that makes it seem less special than it really is.

Pavo Pavo Taj
Size 4
100% cotton

Pavo Etini Trinity

I'll call this one "The Shortest Love Affair That Never Happened"

I think the first time I ever heard about Pavo was on the swap. The word Etini kept showing up in every second post and I had no clue what people were talking about. Is this a brand? Is this a sub-brand of something else? What the heck is an Etini?!

When I found out my friend actually owned one, I went over to her place to check it out. She, at the time, had a Poinsettia and I was not impressed. First off, a red wrap. That's a big X in my books. I also found it looked quite grandmotherly, and it was very heavy with too much detail to the weave. I soon forgot about that wrap, and she sold it and that was that.

Fast forward a few months later and Trinity is released on St Patrick's Day. The same friend scored one, and recently it made it's way to my house for the sake of blog research.

I chose a sunny park day to try it out.

 First off, I think this is definitely the thickest, most difficult wrap I have ever used. Wow. I was expecting a thicktini, but I was SO not expecting this! This is a completely different Pavo. To be honest, I'm STILL not sure what to think. There are so many people who rave about these wraps that I thought for sure I would fall in love, but alas, there was no love for me and Trinity. (Except the colour, which was to die for! Absolutely stunning. So bright, a wonderful green. I'm not a fan of Etini Holly, but Trinity is my jam for sure.)

I found it took a lot of effort to tighten enough so that it was comfortable. My husband actually said, "wow, he looks so happy back there, it's nice and loose and he has all sorts of space." Um, thanks, but that's not exactly going to be good for my back.

This was also a size 4, and I found it wrapped closer to a 3 because of the weight. You'll see in this delicious shot (money shot!) the beautiful ginormous knot it made. Hello, trinity! Still love that colour. But, the weave and the design. Please don't throw stuff at me, but it is SO not me. I find it very fancy and formal, and the weave, with all the skips and loops, is just too much. I am a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal and this requires a little more effort. Also- grandmother's drapes? This totally reminds me of a luxurious textile my Nana would have had in her house. Pretty, but let me have my youth.

I will be honest, and say I only had Trinity for 2 days before she was whisked away and sold by my friend. I would like to get my hands on a thintini to try it out, because I think I *may* be able to handle one. I'd love to get a coal and dye it a fun, bright colour. Stay tuned. It'll probably happen.

Artipoppe Supernova Eos

Ah, the joys of having babywearing friends who generously lend me wraps to try out! I very happily borrowed this AP Supernova Eos to see what the AP craze was all about. I, unfortunately, (fortunately? I'm never sure) can't BUY all the wraps, hence the title of this blog, so I'm sort of stuck to churning within a certain price point when it comes to my own wraps. I am, however, open to trying wraps at any price. ;)

First impressions: Aesthetically, I really liked the subtle star pattern. Stars can be overdone sometimes (see: Kokadi stars) but this is a simple, sparse pattern. The colour of Eos is also more muted and sophisticated, which is works well with this design. It's like the wrap version of a J Crew cashmere sweater. I have no idea how to explain what I mean by that, but I'm sure someone reading this will understand. This wrap is a blend of 47% egyptian cotton and 54% wool. In hand it reminds me a little of Oscha's Braid Mallo- you can tell it's a wool wrap as it feels dense with a slight scratchy, wooly texture. This wrap has a medium stretch on the bias and I'd say, without knowing the weight, that it's about 270g/m2 but that's just a guess. I would describe it as medium weight, fairly tight weave and not nearly as soft as I wish it was.

I think it would be better if I never knew the price of a wrap before wrapping with it, because it's hard not to have high expectations for a higher priced wrap. I have to be honest, this doesn't wrap as well as I would have expected. There is literally no bounce in this wrap, which I don't normally mind, (check out my review of Oscha JKOC) but on top of that I find this wrap a bit saggy. If you look in the photo below you can see what I mean. I can wrap a pretty mean DH and this one just did not work. I had to undo and bounce the little guy back up and re-tie but even then, sag city. I think this wrap needs to be very carefully tightened. There's no getting away with a sloppy wrap job. That is sometimes a benefit with certain wraps, but with this one I find it a negative. The wrap has a dry feel, and although the passes move easily into place, it just feels a bit stiff. When you add that to the texture of the wool blend it isn't a clear winner for me.

I think this wrap would be great for a precise, experienced wrapper who is carrying a baby under 25lbs. Those who like a tight, sturdy, bounce free wrap- this would probably be a good choice.
I wouldn't recommend this wrap to a newer wrapper or someone going for a cuddly, cushy, forgiving wrap for their bigger baby.

I'm definitely looking forward to trying another Artipoppe because I'm sure this company must have a wrap I will love... Right?? What do you guys think? Have you tried an Artipoppe Supernova Eos? Any other AP wraps that I should try?

Artipoppe Supernova Eos
Ecru/Rosewood brown
47% Egyptian cotton/ 53% wool
Size 4

Pavo Gotham Marble

I have to start off by saying, the photos in this post completely suck. I haven't had the time in the last little while I do more than simply toss baby into a wrap and then go, so I'm often wearing outfits I don't want anyone to know I own, or I'm a complete mess so....sorry Marble! You deserved so much better than these photos!

Marble was an impulse buy, as I'm not usually drawn to natty wraps. But, I knew I wanted to own my very own Gotham so I scored this direct from Pavo's stocking. It seemed it wasn't a very highly anticipated wrap, but as the reviews started coming in I think those who missed out started to regret snoozing on this one.

First impressions- Marble is gorgeous. Pavo decided to start using mercerized cotton in their Gothams (and some or all(?) of their Form wraps) with Marble and the shimmer is just so great. It adds a real luxury feel to this wrap, although texture wise it is much more of a cozy, workhorse.

In hand it feels thinner than Steel, and I wasn't quite sure what everyone meant about it turning into a "smooshy marshmallow" after one wash and an iron, because to me it still felt quite scratchy. I tend to be a bit of a princess with softness though. I really like soft wraps. Texture is a big thing for me, I prefer my wraps to feel a bit creamy with a slight texture. Marble was not in the marshmallow category for me- until I wrapped with it. Then I "got it". It has a solid softness on the shoulders. There is no diggyness and the texture, which is apparent in hand, doesn't bother my shoulders like some other wraps would. I had a size 4 and my go to with a 4 is a ruck tied Tibetan. When I did a knotless tie, which you see in the photos here, there was a dry grip in the tails. They just held like duct tape. I loved it! A great amount of support, a slight bounce (which is exactly what I like), and that signature Pavo stretch (which is something I swore I would never say in any wrap review, but there it is.)

The only downside to this wrap: I wish it were a little softer in hand, and perhaps even a bit thicker like Steel. For those hoping for an airy, soft wrap, this likely won't work. It's not that Gotham isn't those things, and I'm sure with time it does get super soft like most wraps would, those just aren't the star qualities. This wrap works for long haul carries, it supports like many wraps just don't, and it has that awesome Gotham style. I debated for a long time about dyeing it, but ultimately this wrap moved on to a new home because I have yet another Gotham coming to live here, as well as a few other special lovelies.

Here's your chance Marble lovers, use the comments to rave about your favorite Gotham!

Pavo Gotham Marble
Ecru/Natural
100% Cotton
Size 4

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

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