Babywearing: the magazine | May/June 2016

the

Handwoven issue

Mad Hatter Rocking Horse Wovens Kali Designs plus Babywearing & Community MAY/JUNE 2016

BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM

table of contents

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10 22

14 in every issue 2 FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 TRENDING Inspired style for the babywearing world.

This issue: Warm weather style 8 CARRY ON Wrap carries to expand your repertoire. This issue: Kangaroo carry

10 RETAIL THERAPY Items that make your life easier.

This issue: Mama metal 12 STEAL VS. SPLURGE Carriers to fit any budget.

This issue: Handwoven Jewels 24 #BWTHEMAG Pics from you, our readers. This issue: Wrapped by hand 26 WRAP UP Chat with inspiring industry insiders. This issue: Amber of Kali Designs

features 14 MAD HATTER 18 ROCKING HORSE WOVENS 22 BABYWEARING & COMMUNITY

from the publisher

Photo credit: Three Plus Photogra phy threeplusphotography.com

publisher SARAH ZEENBERG sarah@babywearingthemag.com

HANDWOVEN

with love

The thought and time that goes into making a handwoven is not a simple process. It is a mixture of artistry and mathematics. One that ends with wearable works of art. Meeyoo put together a wonderful video highlighting this “Labor of Love” that can be seen here: facebook.com/MeeyooHandwovens/videos/973141822793765/ Every weaver has their own signature style, preferred fibers and weaves. In this issue we learn more about Queen Hatter’s new weaves, Rocking Horse Wovens’ love for speckled yarns, and Kali Designs’ process for designing wraps.

ENJOY!

Sarah

editor NOVIA CHANG editor@babywearingthemag.com art director SARAH ZEENBERG art@babywearingthemag.com business development DANNY ZEENBERG danny@babywearingthemag.com All information provided by Babywearing: the magazine, LLC, is intended for entertainment purposes only. Those who are new to babywearing should seek out the help of a local babywearing group or professional babywearing consultant. The publisher, editors, contributors and advertisers are not responsible in the actions or misuse of any individual on the basis of reading information contained in Babywearing: the magazine, LLC. The information contained herein is not a replacement for hands on instruction.

Babywearing: the magazine, LLC assumes no responsibility for the advertisers.

Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is not responsible for typographical or production errors or accuracy of information provided by its advertisers. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC reserves the right to refuse any advertiser.

Unauthorized use or reproduction of editorial content in any way whatsoever without the written consent of Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is strictly prohibited.

on the cover

Mad Hatter’s Glitch in Hearts of Gratitude weave.

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editor’s note

FOR THE LOVE OF

textiles Through babywearing, I have learned more about textile than I ever thought possible. As a wrapper, I’m fascinated by the process that goes into making these luxurious pieces of fabric that we use to keep our children close. It’s incredible to see and feel how different fibers, weave structure and color change how the fabric looks and feels. In this issue, we explore fibers and weave structures that are trending in the babywearing world. Geek out with us, and remember to wear all the babies!

ENJOY!

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Novia babywearingthemag.com

the about Lift Memore Up Mamas, AtKristin, Lift Sarah Me and UpRachel, , we are than

www.babywearingtothrive.org liftmeupbabywearing@gmail.com #babyweartothrive @liftmeupbaby Lift Me Up

is a program providing

babywearing carriers to families who have

special needs.

children with

are excited to attend the 2016 International Babywearing are about just providingConference carriers, we in Atlanta!

Collectively and we have nine little boys, a passion education supporting families on for babywearing (6+ years each of babywearing their babywearing journey. Coming this experience), and a love for children with special needs, as caregivers and parents.

2015 Thrive Drive.....a summer....the We cannot wait to share the mission of Lift Me Up Babywearing International scholarship with those in attendance. The Lift Me Up: Babywearing To Thrive program provides babywearing carriers, for families who have children fundraiser education and support to families who have children with with special needs.

Follow our facebook special needs. page for we all of thehave exciting details!

The families serve amazing stories of how babywearing has impacted their lives. Through pictures and written testimonials we will take conference attendees along the recipients’ babywearing journeys.

Stop by the Lift Me Up table and introduce yourself and share your babywearing story with us! Feel free to ask questions about the #BabywearToThrive program, or general questions about babywearing children with special needs.

Lift Me Up, Inc. is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation may qualify as a charitable deduction, please consult with a tax advisor or the IRS to determine if your income tax circumstances allow for this deduction.

trending

WARM WEATHER

Style

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7 9 Spring is warming up and summer is almost here. For most babywearers, that means airier carriers for hot days. Looking for ‘cool’ carriers that pair nicely with this summer’s hot trends?

We have just the list for you.

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Stripes in bold shades Solid stripes, a babywearing staple, is hot on the runways for the summer too. We chose the cool blues and greens of the Didymos Iris ring sling. didymos.com The pajama party is in full swing! No longer are two-piece pajama sets only for the bedroom. Designers have unleashed them on the runways and what pairs better with pjs than silk? Sakura Bloom Simple silk slings are crafted from two layers of hand loomed silk. Simple silks are grippy and strong, supportive and breathable, absorbent and lightweight. sakurabloom.com Slip dresses are back. Slip dresses and lace? Yes please! The simple, strappy dress of the 90’s has made a comeback and we love the look with Lenny Lamb’s wrap conversion carrier in Glamorous Lace to go with. squigglybugsllc.com Sequins and shine. While sequins aren’t always practical on a carrier, we love shine and love the shine that comes from beautiful, breathable linen even more. Yaro’s La Vita in yellow and orange shines like the summer sun. 5mr.com Cropped and sporty bomber jackets are what’s in for those cool spring and summer evenings. The Overcast Tula Coast pairs oh so nicely with the look. tulababycarriers.com Romance in the form of feathers, ruffles, pastels, cream and chiffon are what’s making us swoon this season. The Lillebaby Complete All Seasons Birds of a Feather carrier is swoon worthy too. lillebaby.com Florals are the pretty, pretty trend we hope never goes out of style. Floral designs are hot this season and ranges from demure to ultra-feminine. Wrapsody Hybrid Stretch Jennifer checks all our boxes for a perfect summer floral wrap. wrapsodybaby.com Sheer silhouettes. This trend is well suited for the hot, humid days of summer and so is the Beachfront Baby water sling made with Repreve. Sheer has never felt so cool. beachfrontbabywraps.com Easy denim. While denim never goes out of style, this season’s approach to denim is easy, lightweight and relaxed. Soul Slings’ Cashew Chambray double layer linen ring sling is all of these. soulslings.com

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carry on

kangaroo CARRY

Kangaroo carry is a single layer carry that is perfect for summer heat. It is a great newborn carry, but can also be used reinforced for bigger babies. It is an intermediate carry that requires precise tightening, but once mastered, can be a valuable tool in any wrapping repertoire.

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE KANGAROO TUTORIALS: KANGAROO CARRY WITH A NEWBORN IN A WOVEN WRAP

by BabywearingFaith This version ties under bum. Includes tips for wearers comfort. youtube.com/watch?v=4zywAD_38CU

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KANGAROO “HACK” PRE-TIED KANGAROO CARRY IN A WOVEN WRAP

by WearAllTheBabies Who doesn’t love a good hack? This may be a good solution for those who have a hard time with this carry. youtube.com/watch?v=ibqhFoKx3JM

REINFORCED KANGAROO CARRY WITH A WOVEN WRAP by WrappingRachel This is a reinforced version for bigger infants and toddlers.

Great overview of tightening in this video. youtube.com/watch?v=_qcRoTuw7h4

retail therapy

MAMA

metal

The must-have accessory for babywearers, mama metal is a trend that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Wrap is Solana by Ahn-Da Handwovens

LULLABY LINKS BUBBLING HEART ASCENDING MIXED Clean and classic, hearts and bubbles are perfect for little fingers to hold on to. Bubbling Heart Ascending Mixed (BHAM) $300.00 on American Sterling Convertible Connection Chain (AACCC) $70, facebook.com/LullabyLinks

BEADIN BY THE SEA SHAPES & CHIMES Put a little jingle in your day. These links will be music to your ears and eyes. Links and chain approximately $150, beadinbythesea.com

FAMILY JEWELS CUSTOM JEWELRY STATE SEMI-CUSTOMS Choose your state(s) and add the charms of your choice for a one-of-a-kind statement piece. Starting at $75, etsy.com/shop/FamilyJewelsCustom

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steal vs. splurge

handwovenJEWELS There are a wide range of prices for carriers, but there are options for every budget.

Find a design that fits your personality (and wallet) and carry your little one in style.

l a e t s

RISAROO EXCLUSIVE KALLEIGH BELLE CREME DE NUBE CROSS TWILL Winner of Risaroo’s 2014 design contest, this beautiful pastel rainbow grad will brighten any day! Girasol wraps are 100% cotton and hand woven in Guatemala.

Starting at $120, risaroo. com

Photo credit: Daron Jackson Photography

e g r u spl

FARIDEH SACRÉ BLEU Farideh’s signature handpainted yarns, artistry with fiber blends, and complex weave structures are the stuff of legends. Market value, facebook.com/groups/FaridehBanuTextilesChatter

Photo credit: Tiffany Sangster Photography

mad hatter

WARPED & WOVEN

Mad Hatter Warped and Woven has been hand weaving baby wraps and textiles since 2013.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Queen Hatter back in October 2014 for our first issue and since then, so much has changed. Mad Hatter has produced even more amazing pieces of handwoven textiles, the fan base has exploded and the textiles have become even more highly sought after. We catch up with Queen Hatter and ask her about her weaving process.

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{BWTM} How long have you been weaving? How did you first become interested? {MH} I started weaving in 2013. I was highly active in the babywearing community when I decided to learn the art of hand weaving. I received my first Uppymama (the original Sock Monkey) and it triggered memories of me as a child at a state fair where I sat and watched the hand weavers in utter astonishment. I could not believe they were taking hundreds of threads and weaving them into blankets.

I started reading hand weaving books and watching instructional DVDs. It felt like weaving was within me and something I was meant to do. The desire to learn the art consumed me. I met with five hand weavers in my area and begged each one to teach me. Sadly, they all declined, stating it was difficult to teach and highly time consuming. My only option to learn was to purchase a loom and teach myself.

The next several months I woke up before the sunrise and stayed up long after my daughters went to sleep, trying to learn the art. I was the sole provider at my household so finding time to learn while also working full time and having time with my children was daunting. One small error would take me hours to fix. There were a lot of tears shared at my loom while the moon was still out. When I felt discouraged, I would draw from the feeling that it was something within me that I was meant to do.

Once I learned how to weave, I still had a long process ahead of me before I could create a baby wrap. At the time, there were only a handful of handwoven baby wrap companies and information on what fibers, thread weights, setts, etc. to use for a baby wrap was not readily available.

Being a babywearer who was notorious for churning wraps, I wanted to create something that would make a significant impression for its wrapping qualities and have an aesthetic appeal that would make it clear in a simple photograph of who created it. For the next several months, this desire fueled me as I worked to create a unique weaving draft (my signature Full Hearts weave) paired with a well thought out thread count and mixture of fiber weights. While initially the process of determining all of this was daunting, I am grateful for all it taught me. I go through that process all over again whenever I create new weaves. I truly believe the wrapping qualities of Mad Hatter Warped & Woven to be magical and unlike any others. That magic is born within this process. {BWTM} Where do you draw inspiration from? {MH} When I started weaving, I found inspiration from other artwork; photographs, paintings, etc. I then think about more of the story I want the piece to carry, and

Hearts of Queens weave

Mad Kisses in Hearts of Love weave

create from there. Many times I do not start with an image in mind of how the colorway will turn out, I create that image as I go, naturally letting it unfold. {BWTM} What was your first loom? First project? {MH} My first loom was an eight shaft floor loom built in the 70’s that I wove a few blankets and sample pieces on prior to weaving baby wraps. I now have a few 24 shaft looms that I use for my current weaves, though my first loom has a little place in my studio where I will sometimes sit and draw upon all the memories it holds. {BWTM} What is your least favorite part of weaving? Most favorite? {MH} Hmmm… least favorite, does hemming count? Or post office runs or invoicing? I can’t help but laugh as I say that. Those who know me well know a sewing machine is not my best friend and it is the administrative tasks of running a business that takes a lot of discipline for me to complete. I find my time at the loom to be highly therapeutic, I truly enjoy every aspect of weaving. Of course there are frustrating times when I make an error that sets me back a few hours but overall, I truly enjoy each step of the weaving process. There is not one part that I like more than the other. {BWTM} How did you decide on your signature heart weave? {MH} There are some surface level reasons, which I believe many are familiar with. I wanted my baby wraps to be known for their wrapping qualities while having a distinctive look. The company that inspired me to hand weave baby wraps was Uppymama. I truly believe Uppymama deserves a lot of credit for what the handwoven baby wrap world is today. Uppymama was one of the few who made handwoven baby wraps and they were the first to do gradient colorways. I have a high amount of respect for anyone I draw inspiration from. I felt it would take away from their story and mine if I copied them by doing tabby weave or similar colorways. I wanted my own signature look so I set out to create that.

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Then there is the deeply rooted meaning in hearts, which I have never shared before. After some life experiences, I found myself living from a place of fear.

Every decision I made, every thought I had, came from fear. I would get myself out of the despairing trap of anxiety only to have something happen that would throw me right back into it. One day I read something that was very profound to me.

It stated that every thought we have, every action we take, every emotion we feel stems from either love or fear.

Love is light, love is joy, love is happiness, love is being creative, love is gratitude, love is abundance. Fear is dark, fear is anxiety, fear is guilt, fear is jealousy, fear is debilitating, fear prevents growth, fear stops us from being our greatest selves.

Once I read that, I wanted to know how to rid myself of fear and live from a place of love. As I read more, I came across the tale of the Two Wolves.

Tea Party in Full Hearts weave For those who aren’t familiar, the tale goes something like this: ‘One evening, an old man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside of people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil - it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good - it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”

For me, that was my answer. Feed love and it will win. I started surrounding myself with things that represented love and light and gratitude; which are often symbolized with hearts. Soon hearts became part of who I am. I truly believe that everything we do, every thought we have, every action we take, should come from a place of love. So if I was going to create a signature look that represented me as an artist, that look should be love.

Using draft paper and what I knew about creating weaving drafts, I created a heart draft that I could use on my eight shaft loom. As I previously mentioned, I could not find anyone to teach me hand weaving so I taught myself. Once I had my loom and had taught myself how to weave, I found a hand weaver in my area who agreed to come to my home and help me troubleshoot some issues I was having. When she arrived to my home my loom was dressed and ready to weave my Full Hearts draft. My mentor saw this and laughed. She told me I was to cut it all off and rethread the loom for tabby weave, saying I was crazy to think I could begin with something that left so many opportunities for threading and treadling errors. Being true to myself, I smiled and passively allowed her to believe I would do as I was told. A week later she came back and I had already woven 80 inches of my heart draft. Laughing she said, “Weaving is part of you as it is part of me.” I instantly started crying.

We sat and reviewed my draft. She helped me address some concerns I had with how prone it would be to pulls. I then changed the draft and adjusted my loom accordingly before I created my first baby wrap, Carry on Hope. {BWTM} Tell us about the two new weaves you are offering. {MH} Our newest releases include our Hearts of Love weave and our Hearts of Queens weave.

Our Hearts of Love weave is a combination of our Full Hearts weave and our Hearts of Gratitude weave. Created to signify the power and beauty in love, connection, and belonging. The wrapping qualities feature the stretch and cushiness of our Full Hearts weave paired with the strength of our Hearts of Gratitude weave. This weave is more weft dominant than warp dominant.

Our Hearts of Queens weave features Crowns paired with our signature Full Hearts weave. Created to inspire you to live your dreams as you realize the greatness within yourself and in your journey. The wrapping qualities resemble those of our Hearts of Gratitude weave with a bit more stretch and cushiness that our Full Hearts weave are known for. This weave is more warp dominant than weft dominant. {BWTM} Please tell us about the fibers you use in your weaving. {MH} I am a simple girl at heart and truly adore the easy care, look and wrapping qualities that come in pairing un-mercerized cotton warps with Egyptian cotton wefts. Another favorite is pairing either un-mercerized or Egyptian cotton with hemp/cotton wefts.

Some of my clients adore cottolin so I have a Swedish cottolin I like to use for those occasions and have done a few pieces using wool blends. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite wrap? Why is it your favorite? {MH} Favorite Mad Hatter Warped & Woven baby wrap? If I had to choose just one, I would choose split weft Jabberwocky. Mainly because it was one of the first I created so it holds significant meaning to me, it is the beginning of the story and each time I think of it, I can’t help but reminisce over all the chapters in this journey that take me back to the beginning. {BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve? {MH} A few collaborations that we are excited about are those we have with The Wrap Scrap Pony, The Hatchery, Selah Handmade, Blue Hibou, ObiMama, and Tula.

There are also little whisperings of our much anticipated higher end Black Label Line. Our Black Label Line has been in the works for several months. It will feature its own signature weave paired with the highest thread counts we have ever offered, making it truly remarkable.

facebook.com/MadHatterWraps

rocking horse WOVENS

Rinske van Mensvoort is a babywearer an owner of Rocking Horse Wovens.

Founded in fall 2013, her aim is to weave high quality wraps with exciting patterns, made with the best yarn available. Only the best Egyptian cotton is used for the warps, and a variety of yarns are used for the weft.

She uses GOTS dyed cottolin, and animal friendly, locally sourced wool and silk. All the fibers used are sourced within the EU. {BWTM} Who is behind Rocking Horse Wovens (RHW) and where did the name come from? {RHW} I (Rinske) have always been very creative; I paint, draw, sew, bake cakes and love photography.

Around three years ago, my mother mentioned that she really wanted to learn to weave. This got me enthusiastic, as I always love learning new things. It made me think about making a baby wrap for myself.

We started a weaving course at Marian Stubenitsky’s weaving school, she is a well known weaver and the author of Weaving with Echo and Iris. She taught me how to weave on a table loom, and two months after I started I bought my first floor loom (and that’s a pitfall: looms breed, they really do, so now I’ve got six looms, ahem). My weaving studio is in my old bedroom at my parents’ house where I have an amazing view over the adjoining fields and the neighbour’s horses. Together with my partner and daughter, we live in a small village in the south of the Netherlands.

My other hobby has always been horse riding, and as I love these animals so much I wanted to incorporate the horse theme into my business. I saw this lovely old rocking horse in an antiques store, and that’s when I knew the name for my company. Every wrap I make is named after a (famous) horse, and I try to include famous horses of all horse riding disciplines when choosing a name for a warp. {BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start RHW? {RHW} When I started weaving, I felt it was quite daunting, and I thought I would never learn: reading and making drafts, putting the warp on the loom, and throwing the shuttle without catapulting it through the room and knocking over expensive vases. I thought I would never learn! But soon I got the hang of it and I started to enjoy it so much I knew I had to take it to another level. In January 2014, I sold the first baby wrap I made. {BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing? {RHW} When I was pregnant of my daughter Lizzy (now 3.5 years-old), I read into all kinds of things that

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could make my life easier with a newborn, and I soon found out about baby wraps. I immediately knew this was what I needed, keeping my baby close to me while I could keep on doing what I normally do. For the first months I wore her in machine woven wraps, but soon I became a churner of all kinds of wraps. Then I was caught by the looks and feel of handwoven wraps. There was no going back.

times and use on a daily basis for some time so I can see how the yarn looks and feels after it’s been used over a longer period of time.

I’ve woven many different fibers have been woven into wraps: Egyptian cotton, alpaca, hemp, bamboo, tencel, (mulesing free) merino, cashmere, silk, linen, baby camel and soy. I would love to weave with more exclusive fibers like vicuna or guanaco, but they are so extremely expensive I will have to save up for that.

{BWTM} How has the handwoven wrap market changed since you started? {RHW} When I started my business, there weren’t a lot of weavers around yet. I think Uppymama and Heartiness were the most known high end handwoven brands at that time (and maybe the only ones?). The market has become so exciting with lots of different structures, hand painted wraps, exotic blends etc. There are more weavers, and with that comes a lovely community of new friends and knowledge.

{BWTM} Tell us about your process for dyeing wraps. How do you decide on fiber for dyeing? On color? {RHW} I haven’t dyed a lot myself yet, but I always try to use a process that compliments the inspiration photo I use for said wrap.

Additionally, trying out new techniques is something I really love doing. Speckled yarns are my favourite at the moment, they give an amazing effect in a wrap (especially a speckled weft on an ice-dyed warp). At the moment I have only hand dyed plant based fibers, but I will definitely try to dye wool in the future.

{BWTM} Where do you draw your design inspiration from? {RHW} From almost everywhere. I find my inspiration in our daily life, driving around in my car or walking through our beautiful nature. I also really like websites where you can browse photos from around the world, and sometimes I have inspiration contests where members of my facebook group can provide the photos they love most. I’m always surprised how many amazing inspiration photos there are.

{BWTM} What fibers and weaving patterns are your favorite and why? {RHW} My absolute favourite yarns are thick merino (always mulesing free) and bamboo. Bamboo is so incredibly soft with beautiful drape, perfect for newborns (or a snugly blanket or scarf), and thick merino gives a wrap softness with enough strength for bigger children.

There are a lot of different weaving patterns I like, but at the moment I love a wild crackle the most. It gives a lovely effect with hand dyed yarns (especially speckled wefts).

{BWTM} Tell us about the fiber blends you use in your wraps. How do you choose them? {RHW} The fibers available for weaving have become more diverse and exotic over the years, and almost every month I find new exciting fibers. First, I try to choose yarns that look and feel diverse so I can have wraps available with different wrapping qualities. I love trying out new fibers, I always weave a little test piece which I wash several

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{BWTM} What blends are trending now, and what do you think will be trending in the future? {RHW} Tencel, soy and seacell are definitely trending at the moment, more and more weavers are using them as they perform really well in wraps. I think there will be more cellulose based fibers in the future that will become popular like rose and peppermint.

rockinghorsewovens.com facebook.com/rockinghorsewovens

{BWTM} Do some fiber blends and weave work better for infants and others for heavier babies and toddlers? {RHW} Yes, for instance bamboo is amazing with small babies, as it has a lot of drape and is fluid in hand, and very soft and mouldable. For heavier toddlers, I really like thick hemp, as that doesn’t have much bounce at all, so it’s very sturdy and strong.

Some fibers are suitable for all ages though. Egyptian cotton is great for small babies, but due to the long staples in the yarn, it’s strong enough for bigger children, although it will also depend on the weaving structure and thickness of the yarn. Thin yarns in plain weave aren’t as strong as thicker yarns in a twill. {BWTM} What does RHW have in store for the future? {RHW} As our daughter will be attending primary school in November, I hope I can do some more weaving during the day and get more wraps out per month. I will be dyeing more yarn myself, and trying out some exciting new fiber combinations. Also, I hope there will be more competitions for babywearing weavers, as I really love participating. They always give a boost to the community and we make so many new friends during the competition.

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BABYWEARING

& Community

D

id I just get puked on? My mother-inlaw keeps judging. Have you seen the way she stares at my spaghetti covered floor? This is the life of a mom with two under four.

Those with two under two, god-speed, I am barely keeping my head above water. Luckily I have a community of enthusiastic mom-professionals who know how to center me. When I am feeling the worst mother in the world, they let me know that I am in fact the Okayest Mom in the World.

Community gets me through the mundane days of being a mother, and allows me to feel like I am part of something.

Sometimes it’s hard to step away form the screen, but getting in front of other mom’s is a saving grace. Meeting off-line is a chance for me to put on my best pair of yoga pants, brush my hair, and try out a new chest-pass, because babywearing is where I find my community.

Babywearers get me. They understand the desire for bonding, the desire to have pretty new carriers, and the love the feeling of warmth that babywearing brings into my life.

I first started to discover my community when I launched the Mommy Dialogues. I wanted to share my parenting journey with other like-minded moms to see who my values resonated with. I wrote personal stories about my love of natural parenting and babywearing. I received a great response! Building a community online was the easy part though - I wanted to meet these kindred spirits! So I organized informal meet-ups in my living room. Faceto-face interactions were key to building my village. From here, I organized a retreat at a cabin in Michigan. Dozens of mothers turned up! This response gave birth to the idea of MommyCon. Being part of a babywearing community gives me the perspective and support I need to get through the ups and downs of motherhood, and I feel less alone. Community gets me through it all, because sometimes I don’t want to spend my time thinking about the mountain of laundry, but instead want to be part of something bigger than

wearconference.com

motherhood.

Babywearing + Community is where I found that, and I bet you can too. At MommyCon, it’s hard not to feel like you are part of a huge community of like-minded individuals. Each with their own story, but with a common mission to #wearallthebabies.

Community: It works better than a Starbucks Double Shot.

Xza Higgins is the Founder and Program Director of MommyCon. MommyCon’s inaugural WEAR: A Babywearing Conference takes place in Chicago May 27-29th, 2016. The event is dedicated to providing the latest research, education and support for babywearing educators and families. It seeks to preserve age-old indigenous babywearing practices, while showcasing the latest advances in babywearing innovation, design and fashion. Parents, educators, manufacturers, activists, lactation professionals, and many more gather to promote and support the values of education, inclusion, and infant bonding. For further information visit: wearconference.com

facebook.com/mommyconusa may/june 2016

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#bwthemag

hand

Farideh — Song of the Sea

wrapped by

Made in love, worn in love.

ARLO handwoven — Lyra

Handwoven Melodies — The Bliss

Bonny Baby — Guarding Memories & Love You Forever

Looming Llama Handwovens — Not Before My Coffe e

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Weft Perspective — Summer Whimsy

Soul Prism — Surprise and a handwoven saree

Sweet Whimsie Handwovens — Flutterby

Moth and Moon — Brave

Zatgebo Handwovens — Midnatsollens

follow us on instagram {BWTHEMAG} and tag your photos with #bwthemag for a chance to be featured in the next issue! may/june 2016

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wrap up

a chat with

AMBER

of Kali Designs

Kali Designs creates one of a kind ‘mock-ups’ for handwoven and dyed baby wraps. They also do weft simulations, thread counts, yarn color lists and more. We talk to Amber Koski about how she creates and what a perfect day is like for her.

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{BWTM} Who is behind Kali Designs (KD) and where did the name come from? What was the defining moment that led you to start KD? {KD} My name is Amber Koski and I am the creator of Kali Designs. I named the company after my daughter Kalleigh. She is amazingly artistic and talented; I couldn’t think of a better name for a design company.

I have always been into art since I was quite young. I had a passion for drawing and painting more than anything. I created huge painted murals on the walls of my bedroom as a child and loved bright colors. I had dreams of becoming an artist or animator. Eventually, I moved away from art and found a love for exercise and aerobics. I became a personal trainer at 20 and continued that for another six or seven years until I got pregnant with my son. I always used my creativity with my training and would make these elaborate exercises. Looking back, I now see it was a way to let my creativity out. After my son was born, I stopped training with the plan to eventually go back.

I felt like something was missing and I missed using my creativity and creating art.

One of my oldest friends, Krystal Fairbanks, introduced me to babywearing and she eventually became my partner in Kali Designs. I fell down the rabbit hole and got into woven wraps. Early on, I had an urge to design wraps. When handwoven wraps became popular, I got my first sister wrap on Krystal’s first custom. It was a Rockabye and I fell in love with the colors and gorgeous way the yarn colors were blended. I started looking for my next custom right away. A friend secured a joint custom with Ruth Handwovens and I started designing my first wrap. I used crayons first for a mock up and basically drew the design even though I had no idea what the actual yarn colors were. I then started finding more ways of designing wraps and learned about threads and yarn colors. I created my own design method in a simple paint app on my phone. Once I perfected this and designed several dozen customs for my friends, I decided to start Kali Designs.

I eventually learned about thread count and collected all the yarn I could find and it has escalated into what it is today. I use weaving software like Fiberworks and iWeave it as well as PhotoShop, but for the most part I still use the same paint app on my phone for the majority of the designs I do.

Once people started noticing my designs, I wanted them woven. I contacted Heartiness who wove our first ever exclusive release “Painted Storm”. Olga from Heartiness was one of the first people to teach me about thread counts, so I am very grateful to her. I also contacted Anna from Cloth of Kin and told her about my business, she instantly started sending me customers to go through the design process. She taught me about their warp designs and then eventually

started weaving our designs as exclusives as well. Without the help of a handful of weavers who gave me a chance in the beginning, I don’t know if I would be where I am today. {BWTM} Tell us more about what you do. {KD} We work with customers to design their perfect custom wrap. We work with over a dozen weavers regularly, and do two exclusive releases per month. We have thought about adding weaving into the business, but I love the design process too much and couldn’t imagine not working with the weavers we work with today. For now, it doesn’t look like there will be Kali Designs woven wraps just yet. I simulate exact thread counts, weaves and yarn colors. I have learned to simulate painted warp and wefts. For the painted warp and wefts, I worked with one of my best friends Echo, who is the weaver at ChiciBeanz. She and I worked on how to accurately simulate different techniques of painted yarn. {BWTM} Where do you draw your design inspiration from? {KD} My favorite place to draw inspiration from is nature. I love the way sunsets blend, how water has so many different colors mixed together, and the subtly of a rainbow in the sky. I also find inspiration from art and of course from my customers and weavers. I would have run out of ideas a long time ago if I didn’t have my customers’ ideas and inspiration pushing me daily. I will never give up doing custom work for that reason. I love being asked to design things that aren’t particularly inspiring or beautiful to me because it pushes me to separate from my own preferences and gives me a greater range. I love challenging work. I have learned to see beauty in so much more because of my challenging projects. {BWTM} Tell us about your process for designing wraps. {KD} My process starts with my customers telling me their ideas, inspirations and explanations of what they want. I work from photos and art they provide. I make drafts, sometimes just a few and sometimes dozens. From those drafts they choose one, and I tweak it until it’s exactly what they want. I start on the thread counts next. Then I take the finished mock up and line it to a grid. I zoom in and write out each thread of the wrap on a note book. Once that’s done, I add it into my weaving software and see how it looks. From that point I go over it adding more pin stripes and making changes until it’s perfect. I can add a weave over top and weft colors that the customer wants to show a more accurate depiction.

I then have the threads typed out and sent to the weaver.

This process can take between two to five hours. I design my exclusives the same way too. I do inspiration picture contests in my chatter group and create mock ups. My business partner helps me choose which ones we like best and I let my fans vote on their favorite. {BWTM} Do fibers and weaving patterns impact the designs?

What are your favorite fibers and patterns, and why? {KD} Some fibers can impact the design. Some are thicker than others or a different texture. Usually I don’t take the weft fiber into account when designing since that is usually chosen afterwards. The warp fiber is chosen by the customer or weaver ahead of time though. I like to do full pin stripe grads so my designs end up being as unique and detailed as possible. I mix between three and six colors together for every ten threads of the warp. I create new colors this way and it helps to make the most from the limitations of yarn colors.

The weavers usually choose the weaves. Echo from ChiciBeanz and I have been a design team since the beginning of both our businesses. We get creative and I help design her semi customs with her. We like to play with fibers and weaves and test out what works with which warp. We wanted to make a wrap where the weave and warp matched, so we created the Alice in Wonderland series and decided on special weaves that would go with the warp. Our most recent creation is called Paint the Roses Red. It is based on a picture of Alice painting the white roses red for the Queen of Hearts.

Echo tweaked a gorgeous rose crackle weave for this wrap. {BWTM} What designs are trending now, and what do you think will be trending in the future? {KD} I think painted warp designs are trending right now for sure. They give a completely unique look to each wrap. I love designing painted warps and wefts and have been working to perfect my techniques. I believe that trend will grow along with weavers trying out new and interesting weaves and fibers. My specialty will always be pin striped grads. I plan on expanding on new ideas of changing textures of the warp, almost like painting a picture with threads. I mix chunky stripes with smooth blended grads. I think design wise, it’s becoming a trend to use tons of colors in a warp and doing designs based on a theme. {BWTM} What are you currently working on? {KD} Right now I’m getting ready for the release of our first budget exclusive woven by Girasol. I’ve worked on several Girasols in the past and worked with Risaroo on a few of their exclusives including Paradise and their Harry Potter wraps. It is a huge passion of mine to design for Girasol because my designs will be owned on such a large scale. The first time one of my designs was made into a Girasol, it was a from a design contest through Risaroo. That was actually a big push for me to finally create this business. It was my first time trying thread counts and it taught me so much about the complexities of designing a warp. From that point on, it became more than just creating pretty mock ups. My real passion has become about thread placement techniques.

We’re also currently working on collaboration releases with West of the 4th Weaving, Enrica Handwoven, Heartiness, MAEhem Handwoven and Cloth of Kin. We are very excited to see what the future will bring. {BWTM} What is your hope for the future of babywearing? {KD} I hope babywearing becomes more known. As popular as it is now, I still don’t see enough parents who know what it is, or what the numerous benefits are. It has been a life saver for me on so many occasions with my son and I’d love if all new parents knew about it! I wish I had known about babywearing when I had my daughter 13 years ago. I also look forward to seeing all the amazing things weavers come up with in the future. I can’t imagine the amazing new weaves and techniques that will come out. {BWTM} Describe your perfect day. {KD} My perfect day is any summer day. I love the outdoors and camping and am looking forward to getting out this summer!

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