How to Sew a Stretch Baby Sling

Carrying your baby in a sling is both covenient and nurturing.

Amid reports by experts like Dr. Sears, a respected pediatrician and author, that babywearing results in babies crying less, learning more, socializing better and developing stronger bonds with their parents, you may find yourself eager to use a sling with your new baby. However, once you discover that slings are both expensive and difficult to fit properly when bought pre-made, you can try your hand at sewing your own baby sling. Stretchy pouch slings, especially when custom fit and sewn, are easy to use, comfortable for your baby and inexpensive.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards of stretch fabric, 44 inches in width
• Thread to match fabric
• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Chalk or straight pins

Instructions

Preparing

1. Wash and dry your fabric according to fabric type, especially if you are using cotton or natural fibers that will shrink in the wash. Do not skip this step or your sling may shrink in the wash and not fit properly.

2. Iron your fabric. Choose the heat setting appropriate to your fabric type.

3. Lay your fabric on a flat, clean surface.

4. Fold your fabric in half lengthwise so you have a long rectangle 22 inches wide and two yards long with the right sides together. The right side is the side you want showing when your sling is complete. If you only want a single layer sling, cut your fabric in half lengthwise so it is 22 inches wide and two yards long and continue using only one layer.

5. Fold your fabric in half lengthwise again so it is now 11 inches wide and two yards long. If you are working with a double layer sling, you will now have four layers. If you are making a single layer sling, you will only have two.

6. Fold the sling in half again, this time match the short edges together on the right side. Now your sling will be 11 inches wide and one yard long. Line up all of the edges so they match as exactly as possible.

7. Measure yourself from shoulder to opposite hip and add two inches to get your custom sling measurement. If you are making the sling as a gift, use the following approximate measurements based on dress sizes: XS: 22 inches, S: 24 inches, M: 26 inches, L: 29 inches, XL: 32 inches, XXL: 34+ inches. The two inches has already been added to these measurements. Always choose the larger measurement if you are unsure as it is much easier to make a sling smaller than bigger.

8. Measure your folding fabric from the left folded edge to the right to the length you just determined by your shoulder to hip measurement and mark with chalk or pins. Cut the fabric to the measured length in a straight line.

9. Lay your fabric on a cutting board, piece of cork board or carpet, being careful to realign the edges if necessary.

10. Insert a pin straight down through the layers of fabric and into the carpet or cutting board.

11. Measure three inches from the top right corner towards the top left corner. Insert another pin straight through the fabric into the cutting board.

12. Measure half an inch straight down from the pin you placed three inches in from the right corner, and push a pin down through the layers of fabric and into the cutting board. This marks the top of the curve you will cut to create a pocket for your baby's bottom to fit. The half-inch above is for your seam allowance and should be cut in a straight line, not as part of the curve.

13. Lay a piece of yarn from the bottom right hand corner to the pin you placed three inches in and a half-inch down from the right corner. Shape the yarn into a smooth curve between the two pins. Trace the curve with chalk, or mark with pins when you are satisfied with the shape.

14. Cut your sling along the curve you marked.

Sewing the Sling

1. Set your sewing machine to a zig-zag stitch to sew your stretch fabric. Check your sewing machine manual for information about how to choose stitch type or for other stretch fabric stitch options.

2. Unfold your sling so it lays horizontally with a half-moon curve at each end. If you are using a double layer sling, one long side will be the fold, and there will still be two layers of fabric with the right sides facing together.

3. Pin the long side without the fold together if you are making a double layer sling, being careful to align the edges as exactly as possible.

4. Stitch the long edge together a quarter-inch away from the edge to create a tube of fabric. Remove pins and trim edges to leave an even quarter-inch along the whole edge if necessary. Do not stitch the curved ends closed.

5. Iron the sling until the edges are flat and all wrinkles are removed.

6. Fold the sling in half with the rights sides of the fabric together, matching the curved edges together and aligning the edges as exactly as possible.

7. Sew the curved edges together a quarter-inch from the edge and back-stitch at both ends. Trim seams evenly. This is the first step in creating a French Felled Seam, which is a very strong stitch to support the weight of your baby in the sling.

8. Turn your sling inside out so the wrong sides of the fabric are now showing and the seam is on the inside.

9. Sew the curved ends together again, this time a half-inch from the edge so you encase the original seam you sewed inside the new stitching. Do not trim this seam.

10. Turn the sling so the right sides are facing out again.

11. Press the small flap created by sewing the two seams on the curved end of the pouch flat against the pouch. You can iron or pin this flap if desired.

12. Stitch the very edge of the flap to the sling, carefully following the curve.

13. Open the sling and slip it over one shoulder so the curved pouch rests between your belly button and your hip.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different ways to use your pouch sling.

• Follow all rules of safe babywearing, as suggested by Dr. Sears.

References

• Handmade Adelaide: Baby Sling Pattern for Fleece & Stretchy Materials
• Handmade Adelaide: Sew a Baby Sling
• Ask Dr. Sears: The Benefits Babywearing

Resources

• Sling Lings Sling Wearing Options
• Dr. Sears Babywearing Rules