Interstitial Handwovens Slice of Summer

DISCLAIMER: This wrap is my very first custom wrap, so I'll probably be kinda biased and protective of it since I helped create it ;)

Slice of Summer was woven by a local Montreal weaver named Colette Simon, of Interstitial Handwovens. She's been weaving for about 7 years, so when I contacted her about making me a baby wrap she was first shocked this market even existed, and then excited to try something new.
We worked together to design this wrap based on a bunch of extremely random inspiration photos and my True Autumn palette that I sent her. (....don't ask....) I wanted something summery and fresh. Something that would be reminiscent of the grass, the air, and the feeling of summer in the late afternoon. It turned out beautifully. I was able to tweak her colour choices a bit and she was able to tell me what would look awful and she has a great eye for blending colours and making things pop.

The wonderful thing about finding a "new" weaver in the same city as you is that the wrap is ready in the blink of an eye. I got to pick it up in person and it's just so much more personal.

At first glance: this is a 4.3m 100% cotton wrap. It is a thin-medium wrap, with a gsm of 269 (approx). I asked Colette to make it slightly dense, but still light enough for summer. In hand it is soft, moldable and ready to wrap with. The weaving is impeccable. Not a knot or flaw to speak of. My only issue was with the selvedges. She wove them so they would be as moldable as the wrap, and that resulted in some uneven areas. She's hemming the rails so they will aesthetically be perfect, while still keeping a nice floppiness to the wrap. I have seen her latest wrap on the warp and the selvedges look flawless. So, I think it was just the type of thing that comes up when weaving a new item.

The wrapping qualities that I like are the secure and supportive feeling when wrapping. It reminds of a hemp or linen blend because it has that kevlar feeling, like baby is literally attached to my back and we are "one". It has minimal bounce, just enough to be comfortable but not so much that it pulls on my shoulders or starts to sag. It has so far rocked a FWCC as well as all sorts of variations of DH and a simple ruck (with very long tails).

I feel like I haven't found its weaknesses yet, but I'm thinking this: There could be more stretch to this wrap. I feel like I need to take extra care to tighten the chest passes to make sure that nothing is loose. Otherwise, the only things I could think of that might be negatives would be the lack of texture, although that may just be a handwoven thing, and the weight. This wrap may be too thin for some, if you are looking for a super thick cushy wrap, this isn't the one. It's definitely not thin by any means, but it is low profile and the qualities that shine are the support and the grip of the weave, not a marshmallowy, spongey effect.

The colours have such a warming effect- this would be perfect for anyone with a warm complexion like me, and I think they will translate well into the other seasons, despite being called "Slice of Summer".

I am SO excited to see what else comes out of this studio- Colette's talented weaving and her desire to take colour to another level is going to introduce some amazing new stuff to the handwoven world.

Interstitial Handwovens
Size 4.3m
Greens, Blues, Pinks with light Grey weft
100% cotton

Didymos Natural Hemp India (NHIndia)

 Perfect for a newborn or a toddler. Somehow that sentence gets worked into every single wrap review I read these days and I don't get it. Not every wrap can work for every size baby. It just doesn't. But, with NHIndia it DEFINITELY does!

This wrap. Wow. I'm impressed and also slightly embarrassed that it took me so long to try another Didymos. I caught this wrap on a little travel around the country and although visually it was not love at first sight, the wrapping qualities are just awesome.

In hand the wrap is heavy and thick, in a spongy not dense sort of way. This is also a size 7, so picking it up means you are holding a LOT of wrap. It defines marshmallow, in my wrapping dictionary. It is smooshy on the shoulders, feels like a warm hug when wrapped around me, and there is a perfect (read:slight) amount of bounce while still being supportive. I think this may be what some people mean when they describe Pavo's Marble, but to me NHIndia is the epitome of marshmallow.

I took the little guy out for two nice morning walks with this wrap. We literally glided down the street as one, and even though it was halfpasttoofreakingearly in the morning and my wrap job was not the best, I adjusted nothing. My shoulders felt like clouds were placed on them, even if the babe was not even high enough it didn't seem to matter. This is a very forgiving wrap.

Downsides to this wrap: You know I always like to list the negatives, right? Well, as much as I think this wrap is totally squish worthy (I would LOVE to snuggle a new baby in this) it wouldn't be my first choice for a brand new wrapper. Let's say, ideal for a second baby wrapper. ;) It's thicker than many people might like and not the easiest to wrangle, especially in a long size.

Another thing I didn't love is the design. Wait. That's not what I mean. I actually really adore the India design, I've always had a thing for these elephants and peacocks. They remind me of the souvenirs my grandmother would bring back from her travels; a little necklace inside an intricately designed little bag with golds and purples and reds woven in. This natty wrap just does nothing for this amazing design (which was designed by Pavo's Erin Arnason- a little geekery tidbit that pretty much everyone knows, but for some reason makes me more in awe of her). You need to really squint to examine what exactly is woven onto this wrap, otherwise it just looks like a bunch of random squiggles.

Lastly, I wouldn't consider this a great hot weather wrap. Even though it's July, I wrapped with this inside or in the morning and I found it cozy and warm. On a hot day this would be at the bottom of the list for me. It would just be way too much. There are hemp wraps out there that would be as supportive, maybe not as cushy, but definitely lighter weight.

I'd recommend this wrap to almost anyone. I'd say skill level of intermediate to expert, and from 3-50lbs. I'm sad this isn't mine, but I will be on the lookout for a smaller size...and it would make a really great dye blank!!! Bring those animals out to play!

Didymos Natural Hemp India
50% Organic Cotton , %50 Hemp
Natural
Size 7

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

Artipoppe Two Birds Ink

Two Birds is a design that I have seen in countless stash shots, and all over the internet wrap world. I think you can't really exist in the online wrap groups without recognizing this pattern. So, I was pretty excited when Ink, an Egyptian cotton and linen blend, came to visit me recently.

First thoughts- I love linen blend wraps, so I knew that we would probably get along. There is something about linen that has a sturdy, taught type of support that I really like. Most linen blend wraps that I have tried have not had as much stretch as other all-cotton or other fibers do, so I find you need to be more careful when wrapping, to ensure that the rails are tight and the tightening is done well so that you end up with a comfortable wrap job. Two Birds is no different.

The size 2 that I was trying measured a bit long, which I tend to like. The added length means that I don't need to break my arm to get a rebozo pass around my back. One issue I had with this wrap was the width- it is very narrow, measuring in at only 25 inches. I find this entirely too narrow for me. I much prefer a width closer to 30 inches, that way I have plenty of fabric to make a proper seat. This caused a lot of issues for me and I can imagine it would be for anyone with a seat popper, or older baby who moves around a lot while wrapped. I HAD to do unpoppable carries or I would start to feel the seat sliding out from under my little guy's bum. Even in a rebozo carry inevitably the seat would start creeping out.

On a more positive note, I found this wrap very supportive, and even though it is what I would consider a thin-medium wrap, there was no diggyness and even with a chest belt I felt comfortable. Ink is the kind of wrap that holds in place very well. Despite almost no real texture, there is a great grip. This is a major plus for when using a shorty, as I tend to do carries like rebozo or tied-at-shoulder variations where any slipping at all can cause serious issues.

Pros: supportive, passes glide well and stay in place, colour is awesome (is it purple, is it blue?), great grip, and in a longer size would definitely be toddler worthy (25+lbs)

Cons: too narrow, linen requires constant ironing and care so as not to cause permanent creasing (although, if you find ironing therapeutic like I do, then by all means!), if you love thick or textured wraps this is not for you. Might be newborn worthy, but I'm going to say this would make a perfect wrap in a mid size with a 3-18 month old. ;)

Artipoppe Two Birds Ink
50% ecru cotton, 50% indigo linen
Size 2

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 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

Pavo Jade Giraffe

Jade Giraffe is the first Guild and first menagerie Pavo wrap that I tried. It was a stalking score and I'll be honest, I bought a 2 because it was the cheapest way to try a Guild. Turns out, I kinda like size 2 wraps, but I'm not sure how well the wrapping qualities of Giraffe mix with a shorty.

Aesthetically, this wrap is gorgeous. The large giraffe spots literally SHINE, it's like nothing I've ever seen on a wrap before. So so beautiful. The jade colour is also amazing- it is somehow subdued, yet funky, and sophisticated all at the same time. I really feel that this is my "Holt Renfrew" wrap. (Google it, you non-Canadians) It's luxurious and my fanciest wrap, looks-wise.

I find this wrap to be thick and very dense. I would describe it as creamy, with a surprising amount of grip despite the lack of texture. I had some trouble getting the passes to glide, depending on what I was wearing. Somehow the weave doesn't work well against certain fabrics (like fleece, for example. Which should have been obvious, since a wrap like this would never be seen with fleece. I mean really, what was I thinking??!). Tying off was easy with this wrap, it makes a decent sized knot, I'd say mid-sized, and it is easy to tighten. It isn't the grippiest knot though, so I preferred wearing it in carries where I wasn't relying on the knot at my shoulder or chest to keep the carry tight. Shepard's carry, and Double hammock rebozo were not the best. But a ruck tied in front, which I could just eek out in this 2.95m size 2, was great.

What I did really like about this wrap was its supportiveness. It's solid, dependable, and isn't just a pretty face. A great single pass wrap that doesn't sag or start to lose support.

A few things I didn't love: The stretch that is obvious in hand doesn't translate when wrapping. It really felt like wrapping with a thick silky scarf or pashmina. I think this wrap would be much better in a longer size for me. I prefer something with more bounce and stretch in a shorty. It is a mix of too dense and thick- if a wrap is thick I prefer it to be a bit airier and vice versa.

I know there are a lot of fans of the menagerie line of Pavo, so I know this wrap must be a hit for many people. I wouldn't recommend it for a newer wrapper, but I would definitely recommend it to someone wrapping a toddler or older child, to someone who likes a dense, creamy texture and to someone who wants a little haute couture mixed into their babycarrying.

Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with my review of Jade Giraffe?

Pavo Jade Giraffe
100% cotton
Ivory/Green/Aquamarine
Size 2