Make a Ring Sling - 30 Gifts in 30 Days
I shared yesterday a fun knit project to give to mothers who wear their babies in carriers. It was for a blanket type thing that buttons onto the mother’s coat to help keep her little one warm. Today I wanted to share how to make a simple ring sling that you can give as a gift also. Ring sling carrirs are by far the easiest to make and to use. It is just a long piece of fabric that wraps around the baby and mother and is held firmly in place by two metal rings.
What you will need is 2 1/4 yards of your choice of fabric and a pair of metal rings. I prefer using aluminum rings as they end to be stronger and hold better. For the fabric you can use just about anything you want. Just remember that the fabric must be able to withstand every day use. Some fabrics, such as quilting fabrics, do not hold up well with the wear and tear over time. If you choose a stretchy fabric such as interlock or jersey you can shorten the length needed.
You will want to cut your fabric down to a good width to hold your baby. For a full term infant up to a toddler you will need your fabric to be between 30″ and 36″ wide. If you are making a sling for a mother to wear a preemie you will need a small sling, about 25″ wide. Once you have it cut down hem along one of th short end edges and along both of the long edges. You will have one, unfinished end. This unhemmed edge is where your rings will go.
There are many varriations on how to put in your rings. Some people fan the fabric to create a pleated look while others simple fold it over and sew. The choice is yours. You want the rings to be sewn in securely as this is what will be holding the weight of the baby. Here is a great set of detailed instructions on how to make a ring sling. You can also find other patterns for carriers here and here.
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