How to Sew a Ring Sling With a Rail
Ring slings are useful, safe carriers for newborns who weigh up to 40 pounds. The carriers are secure, adjustable and also make great baby gifts. They can be very costly if you buy them at a baby store or boutique, but making them at home is cost-efficient and should take less than an hour. With a bit of sewing know-how, you can put together a quality ring sling with rails just like the ones you see in stores. Use contrasting fabrics for a standout ring sling.
Things You'll Need
- 2 1/4 yards of 45-inch wide, 100 percent cotton fabric
- 2 1/4 yards of 17-inch wide contrasting 100 percent cotton fabric
- Fabric marking pen
- Cloth tape measure
- Scissors
- Cotton or polyester thread that matches the fabric
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Straight pins
- 2 CPSIA-tested sling rings
- Upholstery thread that matches the fabric
Instructions
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1
Place the 45-inch-wide fabric and the 17-inch strip right sides together and sew 1/4 inch along the selvage edge, lengthwise.
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2
Line the other selvage edges together and sew 1/4 inch from the edge together, lengthwise, to make a tube of fabric.
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3
Sew one width-wise edge together 1/4 inch from the edge. Turn the fabric right side out.
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4
Lay the fabric tube out and center the contrasting strip in the middle with about 7 inches of the 45 inch-wide fabric on the top of the strip and 7 inches on the bottom. This side is your side with the top and bottom strips as your rails. The other side is the solid fabric.
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5
Tuck 1/2 inch on the top and bottom fabric inside the fabric tube and sew 1/4 inch from the edge, encasing the raw edge.
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6
Sew 1/4 inch around the remaining three sides to tack the fabric together.
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7
Lay the fabric out either side up (the sling will be reversible when you are done) with the long side running parallel to you.
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8
Pinch the fabric about 2 inches from the edge closest to you and fold it down even with the bottom edge. Pin it at about 1 inch from the width edge and about 14 inches from that pin.
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9
Pinch the fabric about 4 inches from the folded edge and pin approximately 3/4 inch from the bottom in line with the other two pins.
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10
Pinch the fabric about 4 inches from the most recent fold and pin 3/4 inch from the fold. Repeat this to the end of the fabric.
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11
Iron the pleats of the fabric.
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12
Thread the pleated fabric through the two rings and pull through about 7 inches. Pin this down at about 6 inches from the rings and again at about 1 inch from the rings.
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13
Sew a straight line across the pleats about 1 1/2 inches from the rings with upholstery thread.
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14
Sew another straight line across the pleats about 1/4 inch from the first sewn line with upholstery thread.
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15
Sew the pleats together about 1/2 inch from the edge of the pleats (about 6 1/2 inches from the rings).
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16
Zig-zag the edge of the pleats to keep them down, or sew very carefully along the edge in a straight line for a neat finish.
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17
Trim all excess thread.
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Tips & Warnings
For wearing instructions, check with certified sites to ensure a proper fit with your sling, such as Babywearing International (listed in the Resources).
Wearing a baby improperly in any carrier can risk suffocation and death. Be sure to check with a professional on fitting and wearing techniques. This technique is for personal use only, not commercial production.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
