Through the past

The 1st time I really heard anyone refer to a sling was in 1996. My Lamaze teacher for my 1st child said they were a good investment because they would help prevent overstimulation when we went out. That is still a big plus with a newborn but something I still don't hear enough in the "pros" to babywearing. I didn't know a lick about slings. At the store you could get a Nojo and they looked bulky and ugly. While looking though I saw the Fisher Price Perfect Support Deluxe baby carrier it seemed like the neatest invention. I could get a front carrier to use later and a sling to use with my newborn. In essense though it was similiar to an early bag sling though the ends were at least open thankfully. The bottom was a bit rigid and structured but did bend around the baby as it was strips of something to make it stiff so between the strips it bent. It didn't last long, maybe 3-4 wks with the sling and 3-4 months with the front carrier but in essense we maybe used it a dozen times.

This was my 1st real sling. My sister managed to get this Large Over The Shoulder Baby Holder at a yard sale when pregnant with her 1st. She never could get it to work, presumably b/c of her proportions. I inherited it when pregnant with my 2nd in 1999, seen here at 3 months old in a quite creative carry. We loved it and used it for 3-4 months before it started to seem bulky and I learned about unpadded slings.
This was the 1st safe sling I made. After seeing a Maya Wrap, finally, in real life I figured I could figure that out myself for much cheaper. Later instructions and info on making them popped up on the web so things became easier. This 1st one though was made using a twin sheet cut in half lengthwise from Walmart and steel rings purchased from Lowes. My very first sling used craft rings and thankfully we learned safety before she got too big and possibly hurt. This picture she was about 10 months old but we used that same sling until she was 3.

I do not have pictures of the rest of my trials with her and Sarah. I know I tried a Podegi and a Frankencozy but got rid of both. The rest were just versions of this sling until the ones you see in my current collection.

My Current Collection-pouches, etc

These are my trial pouch sling hybrids. To get the dimensions right I need to try these first and have no baby to try them with and too big of a belly anyway so that is on hold. The trials were made using a $3 twin flat sheet from Walmart. That actually makes a decent sling (2 actually from one) if you do not mind a cotton blend but it is always what I do if I am trying something for the 1st time and the design is broadcloth suitable. Both are using small alluminum Sling Rings. The pouch seam is 33" and 38" from the rings, I know the one will never fit though. Both are 22" wide. The pattern is from Upmama
This is my 1st usable pouch. My 1st time I couldn't figure out the online instructions so instead ended up trying to design my own by not contouring it and sewing a shoulder seam with a hot dog style shoulder. That didn't work. Then I saw a pouch IRL and the light went on to make the directions a bit more usable to me and I made this maroon fleece pouch. Of course these days there are much better directions available so yuo don't have those pitfalls. This is 22" wide and made from Malden Mills 100 wt fleece. I loved it but have lost the pouch love really, so far this is the only pouch I will use though wish the pouch contour were deeper.

Current Collection-Mei Tais, SSC, etc

brown corduroy and John Deere broadcloth mei tai turned half buckle with option to convert back, waist ties, straps are threaded through buckles and sewn closed (were never cut), hood, padded straps

Active Mom II Buckle Carrier, red microfiber suede and black dupioni silk, these are no longer made
Received in swap, tan and floral camo onbuhimo with gorgous decorative stitch, also no longer made
a very rough draft of a SSC, blue twill and baseball print broadcloth, hood and front pocket, pleated body
padded strap mei tai with flip up headrest, blue twill and baseball print broadcloath
No sew Fleece Mei Tai made to test to see if it should be included in the no sew demonstration

My Current Collection-Wraps & SPOC

Received in a swap, black knit, decorative center panel/pocket, 12" wide
Mesh SPOC, 45" wide x 2½ yds
blue and black print cotton woven 27" wide 5 yds long

My Current Collection-Ring Slings

This is a purple print guatamalan cotton, large alluminum Sling Rings, plain shoulder, open tail, unpadded, 35" wide
This is a plain tan 100% cotton broadcloth, medium nylon Sling Rings, hot dog style shoulder, open tail, padded rails, 38" wide
This is a purple broadcloth reversible to blue lawn, medium alluminum Sling Rings, open tail, unpadded, pleated shoulder, decorative stitch edge, 38"
This is a blue linen, medium alluminum Sling Rings, open tail, unpadded, pleated shoulder, 28" wide.
This is a tan Solarveil, small alluminum Sling Rings, plain shoulder, open tail, unpadded, 29" wide