How to Make a Mei Tai Baby Carrier

A Mei Tai baby carrier is a popular Asian-inspired baby carrier. These baby carriers are considered more ergonomically designed and are generally more comfortable to wear for the parent. There are many different prints and colors of Mei Tai baby carriers available for purchase; however, they can be expensive. Anyone with basic sewing skills and a bit of time can learn how to make a Mei Tai baby carrier.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards heavy cotton canvas
• 1/2 yard coordinating cotton fabric
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions (thread, scissors, pins)
• Fabric pen
• Paper/pencil
• Iron

Instructions

1. 

   Make a paper pattern using the dimensions and diagram as a guide. The corner with an "X" through it is not a piece and can be discarded.

2. 

   Make a second paper pattern using the dimensions and diagram as a guide. You should now have two paper pattern pieces that match the images.

3. Place the main fabric on a flat work surface and fold it in half with the fold on the right side, the raw edges on the left side. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing out. Place the first paper pattern onto the fabric, aligning the right edge of the pattern with the folded edge of the fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric and carefully cut out the pieces along the dotted lines. Place the second paper pattern onto the coordinating fabric and cut one piece from this fabric.

4. 

   Place the two 18-inch by 24-inch rectangles together and match up the edges and corners. Fold the pieces together in half so that you have a 9-inch by 24-inch rectangle. Carefully draw a slight curve across the top edge with the fabric pen. The top of the curve should be at the midpoint, and the bottom point of the curve should be at the outside edge.

5. Lay out the number 3 piece and fold it in half lengthwise. Cut along this fold so that you have two equal-sized pieces. These are the waist straps. Fold both number 2 pieces and both waist pieces in half lengthwise and press well. Open the straps and fold each long edge in to meet at the center line that you just pressed. Press the folds well again. Fold the straps in half lengthwise again so that the raw edges of the straps are inside the folds and press the folds well once again. Sew 1/4-inch away from the long edge along each side. Turn in the raw edge of one short edge on each strap and sew 1/4 inch along this edge. Leave the other short edge unsewn. Sew each of the four straps in this fashion.

6. 

   Position the number 2 straps and the waist straps one-third into the body of the Mei Tai onto the main body piece. Pin the straps in place. The number 2 straps (shoulder straps) should be placed at 45-degree angles along the side of the body piece precisely where the curve starts. The waist straps should be placed at a 90-degree angles from the sides of the body piece and should run parallel to the bottom of the body piece. These straps should be approximately 1 inch from the bottom of the body piece. Sew the straps onto the body piece by sewing a rectangle, and then sew an "X" from corner to corner inside the rectangle.

7. Place the front and back of the body pieces together with right sides facing each other. The straps should be inside the sandwich of body pieces. Pin the pieces and sew them together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Be very careful to not stitch over the straps because they are likely to be too thick for your sewing machine. When you sew to a strap, back-stitch, cut the threads, move the fabric so that your needle is on the other side of the strap and start sewing again. Do not sew the bottom straight edge of the body pieces.

8. Turn the Mei Tai body right side out through the open bottom. Fold in the raw edges on the open bottom edge along the 1/2-inch seam line. Press the entire piece well.

9. Top-stitch the entire body piece, catching the raw edges along the bottom edge and over the straps where you stopped sewing in Step 7 to finish the Mei Tai.

References

• Mei Tai Baby Carriers