Artipoppe Made in China Jamin'

I had the chance to try out this stunning Artipoppe wrap courtesy of a wrap fairy (hi wrap fairy!!) At first, I wasn't quite sure what to think about this. The design is way outside of my comfort zone and the colours are very dramatic. Technically, they are probably both exact matches for an autumn like me, but I don't tend to gravitate towards such rich colours. The design, which is reminiscent of an Asian textile that you might see in the home of an avid traveller, is quite beautiful but for me, a tad fancy.

I must admit, I am slightly hesitant about trying APs. First off, I generally can't afford the price tag on most of them, especially this one!, but the fibres used are often too high maintenance for the way I like to enjoy my wraps. This particular blend is cotton, silk, merino and cashmere. I just....don't even know where to start. I barely wanted to wrap with this for fear of getting food on it, or using it outside, or god forbid, any small child doing any small child like things to it. So, that is a serious negative for me.

On a more positive note, it does wrap quite beautifully. I do love blends, and this one didn't disappoint. It is quite thin in hand, with a very tight weave. It reminds me of 2 birds or JKOC- a taut feel, with minimal stretch, but extremely supportive when wrapped. One must be careful when wrapping with these types of wraps, because it's very easy to bunch up the wrap in the wrong spot and be left with diggy shoulders or a tight spot under the baby's legs.

I used this in a few different carries. Although I rarely do FWCC anymore, I put the little guy up and it was quite lovely. Not much cush or snuggliness to it, but we felt very secure, and since he is bordering right on 25lbs, it's definitely a plus to feel zero sag. In a DH, it was the same. We felt very tight and secure, and although you must pay attention to your tightening rail by rail, the passes are easy to glide over the bum and this was an easier wrap to work with. There is no texture to speak of with Jamin, and I would describe it as a thinner wrap.

I'd recommend it to those with the cash and desire to own fancy wraps with lovely blends, who also enjoy supportive, thin wraps.
This is not for those who have messy children, or small budgets, or those who desire lots of cush, bounce or grippy texture.

Artipoppe Made In China Jamin'
Size 6
50% cotton, 30% merino, 15% silk, 5% cashmere

Pavo Gotham Camellia

Yes, another Gotham review. ;)

I'll make this one quick, cause we all know how much I loved Steel and how much I wanted to love Marble, but barely had the chance.  Sweet Miss Camellia has been mine for quite a while now. For some reason, I haven't been wrapping with this wrap this much and I think the reason is the length. I bought a 6 but ended up with a long 7, so it's a whole lot of wrap for me. In the middle of summer, with a very impatient toddler- I really don't need 5 and half meters of fabric. But, it has not been churned and that speaks volumes.

When I picked up Camellia at my parcel place, I opened the box in front of a non-babywearing friend and started shrieking and being giddy and ridiculous. She gave me a look that made me realize how insanely deep I have fallen down the rabbit hole. A trucker in the parking lot was staring at me, but finally gave me a thumbs up after I wrapped the entire wrap around myself. Ahem. Camellia is just THAT beautiful. It's a mercerized Gotham and even now, after washes and being dragged around, it still shines. It suits the pattern perfectly (although nothing will top Onyx). Just look at the picture below: shimmer and shine and that colour. A perfect pink. Not too bright and not too muddy or dusty.

Wrapping wise, it reminds me a lot of Gotham Steel, except thinner. It doesn't have that same spongy feeling, but it is just as airy and supportive. I really feel like Gotham is a great wrap for a newer wrapper because of the forgiveness of this wrap. It pretty much holds up with any old wrap job, no matter how terrible. It's got great bounce without any sag, and it holds well with the great textured grip.

Seriously Pavo. Gotham is THE Form wrap. I truly believe that everyone should own a Gotham. All colours of the rainbow should be released and they should make sure every single person who wants one, gets one. Just not mine, cause I'm not giving it up. Cold, dead hands.

Pavo Gotham Camellia
Size 6
100% cotton

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

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

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?