Lovaloom Grove Mono Mini Review

 

Lovaloom Grove Mono
54% Pima Cotton / 23% Silk / 23% Ramie / 315 GSM
2 years and 33 pounds

As 2017 wraps up I was looking thru my photos and reminiscing about all the testers and visitors I’ve had pass thru this year and Lovaloom Grove Mono stands out as my favorite machine woven and so I’d be remiss not to share photos and review.

 

 

 

• Very flat, smooth texture, barely a hint of the pattern raised.
• Medium to high diagonal stretch.
• Generous Lovaloom signature hems, nice tactile feel in hand.
• Soapy, but passes stay firmly in place.
• Two tones and pattern is three leaf design of light and charcoal gray on black.

Quite simply this wrap is a mono lovers dream and I found it suitable and comfortable for wearing a heavier toddler for longer periods of time.

 

Thank you Christine at Lovaloom for allowing this tester to visit us.

Happy New Year dear readers, may 2018 bring you peace and happiness.

Tinge Garden Review

Tinge Gardens Tester
Cotton/Cashmere/Wool
2 years and 33 pounds

This Tinge Garden tester, my first experience with the brand, arrived neatly folded in a cotton tote bag with tag and charm attached. I was pleased by how soft it was as I pulled it out. The muted maroon red color is right up my alley, a soft and subdued hue, but still rich and warm.

Exceptionally thin in hand, not what I was expecting for a blend with cashmere/wool, but I should know by now not to always expect wool to be bulky. Running my hands over the wrap, there is a mostly flat feel, with a micro texture that adds to the softness. Smooth, but not totally soapy, there is no hint of wool itchiness. The diagonal stretch is medium high, good recoil.

Back to the muted maroon color of the wrap, the cream of the pattern shows thru and dilutes the intensity of the color, giving this wrap a bit of a vintage vibe. Definitely a color for Fall and Winter seasons and those that prefer warm harvest hues.

There is a lovely bounce and recoil from the wool content that is evident while wrapping and wearing. Wearing my toddler I found this wrap to be very cushy and comfortable, tho it is a flatter, not so fluffy wool blend. While wearing I also found this Tinge Garden tester to be rather airy and mouldable. I mostly wore using double hammock carry with a candy cane chest belt as this tester is base - 2 for me, but it also performed well in a simple ruck. I am not a typical wearer and do need quite a bit of support to wear my toddler for any periods of time and using this wrap I was able to wear comfortably on a few longer walks.

Overall this tester performed well with no complaints from me. If you are looking for a thinner wrap with well balanced wrapping qualities and are okay with animal fibers and handwashing, this one is for you. If you love grippy, thick, or very textured wraps, you will want to pass. If you desire easy care, or have a wool allergy, again you will want to pass. Besides this wrap requiring a bit more care with washing, I would absolutely recommend it to newbie wrappers, just be sure to brush up on how to handwash wool wraps. This tester was easy to wrap with, no fighting against bulk or grip to get passes into place and a nice balance with micro texture adding just a touch of hold to keep things in place. Because of how soft the wrap is, combined with being thinner and breathable I would definitely recommend for newborns and for me it worked well for my toddler, though my toddler is not a leg straightener at this point.

Thank you to Tinge Garden for sending this tester out to me to test!

Please find them on Facebook here, with their chatter group here.

Zee Zen Woven Wraps I'm A Dreamer Monochrome Review

Zee Zen Woven Wraps I'm A Dreamer Monochome
Super combed cotton/cotton / 295 GSM
2 years and 30 pounds


I've had the pleasure of wrapping with a good number of Zee Zen wraps over the past 2 years. I've been fortunate to experience the evolution of Zee Zen and I'm A Dreamer is one of the best yet. I feel like it's one of those stand out wraps from a company that encompasses all the knowledge of past releases and prototypes and provides a totally satisfying and straightforward experience using it.

Upon opening the package I noted how the wrap unfolded with a feel of density and heft, yet as I squeezed the wrap it's bouncy and spongy in hand. I also noted I'm A Dreamer feels exceptionally soft and flopped around with ease as I examined it. Monochromes have always attracted me and the black and warm gray toned ecru are especially appealing here with the sharp geometric design.

I'm A Dreamer has a fascinating combination of feeling smooth from the fibers and dense weave and sharply textured from the ridges of the detailed pattern. There is a lot of structure here in the geometric pattern that I anticipate will add cush and grip. There is a medium-high diagonal stretch which will translate into recoil while wrapping and wearing. I find no difference in feel or looks on either side, no "right" or "wrong" side.

The pattern has the appearance of stylized geometric feathers, with the barb and barbules structure of a feather very bold and pronounced between the two colors, black and ecru. I'm A Dreamer will appeal to all fashion types, easily transitioning from a jeans and sweats wrap to a more dressed up statement making wrap. Fans of The Beatles will also appreciate the name and I suspect go on to appreciate the wrap itself once they try it out.

The one word I keep coming back to for describing this wrap is spongey. Just in hand and squeezing it, so spongey and that feel translates to wrapping and wearing. I had suspected the wrap to be bouncy while wearing, but that is not the case, there is very little bounce and zero sag. It's impressive that it is all cotton considering the wrapping qualities it offers, besides the textured grip balanced with soft glide there is lots of support that pairs well with the cush when wearing my toddler. Wraps up thinner that it feels in hand, I suspect because the structure is so spongey, resulting in thinner CCCBs, flat moulded shoulder straps, snug chest passes, and excellent pleats all around. I used I'm A Dreamer in FWCC, ruck, many variations, double hammock, many variations and it scored top marks all around for all the carries I tested it in. I am not a typical wearer and require a lot of support from a wrap to wear my toddler for any length of time and I was able to ruck comfortably on a few long walks.

I'm A Dreamer is well balanced all around, easy care cotton, but a complex weave which adds wonderful texture and grip to balance this wraps delightful softness and glide plus enough cush for both single and multi pass carries. Because of the softness and how floppy it is I recommend it right from the start for newborns all the way up to toddlers because it also has the cush and strength for those heavier wrappees. New wrappers should find this an easy wrap to use, passes glide well, there is a good balance of grip to hold things just right as you are wrapping. and it is forgiving of less than perfect wrap jobs. Because I tested in both single and multi pass carries and it did so well in both, any size in I'm A Dreamer will be excellent. I am especially happy to wholeheartedly recommend this wrap because it is made and sold in Canada, so for any Canadians especially this will be a great economical choice too! If you are a lover of very dry, or very grippy, you will want to pass, there is grip here, but it is not very grippy, more a medium level of grippiness. Additionally if you love airy and thin wraps, this is a dense weave, though it is spongey and has some airiness it is not what I would call loose and airy, and in hand it is medium thick at least, if not a touch thicker. If you prefer solid and no stretch again you will want to pass as there is stretch and recoil. For those that like a good balance of medium grip with glide, but no slip, this wrap is recommended. If you love wraps that are soft and floppy with a slightly weighted drape, look at I'm A Dreamer.  If you love easy care and are looking for a one and done wrap, this could well be it for you.

Thank you again to Pauline for allowing me to test out and review yet another Zee Zen woven wrap!

Please visit Zee Zen Woven Wraps on Facebook here and consider joining their chatter group here.

Lovaloom Astra Geminidas Review

Lovaloom Astra Geminidas

59% Pima cotton / 37% Mulberry silk / 2% polyamide / 2% polyester / 330 GSM

23 months and 28 pounds 

I've long had an affinity for all things celestial in design. I was really looking forward to seeing the Astra design in person and it did not disappoint. The Geminidas colorway is black and ecru with very subtle golden sparkles. I immediately noted how dense and weighty the wrap is, one of the more substantial I've tested.

In hand there is a medium diagonal stretch, the wrap is soapy, with the black side slightly more soapy than the cream. Medium - high thickness, feels more substantial due to the dense, tight weave. Very flat texture, there is slightly more texture and grip along the inside rails, which are generous and have lovaloom written in the pattern on the cream side only. There is no rough feel from the subtle golden sparkles, just an overall soft and soapy wrap.

For me the Astra design is a whimsical classic. Especially in the Geminidas colorway, black and ecru, you can't go wrong. This is a wrap design and colorway you will not tire of quickly is my guess. In different carries you get a different look and feel, depending on if the large stars or moon are featured more prominently, or the connected constellations. Astra Geminidas is a wrap you can dress up or down, if you need a fun, but special occasion wrap this is a perfect choice.

I found this Astra very easy to wrap with, the soapiness really assists in getting a precise wrap job, but it is also a very forgiving wrap with sloppy carries too. For someone with a squirmy toddler sometimes you need a wrap that you can get your child up in under 30 seconds, but it will also be comfortable for more than 30 minutes! I am currently not a typical wearer with a back injury, so it says a lot for me if I can use a wrap for any period of time past a few minutes. I mostly wore this wrap in double hammock tied in front and it was a dream with my heavier toddler. It also performed well in a ruck, very solid and supportive. This blend was really a downright pleasure to wrap with, weighty yet soft, lots of glide and some wool like properties, though there is no wool content. It wraps very similarly to both Omnifera Wings of Desire, which I have previously reviewed, and Artipoppe Argus Signature Jack.

Astra Geminidas would be on the top of my list for my toddler if I was in the market for a wrap right now. The pattern will appeal to those who love classic and slightly quirky, but the blend is all over a stand out for heavier babies and toddlers. I would give it a pass for a newborn, but as we all know newborns grow up quickly and this wrap will be there for the long haul and long carries. I almost always personally prefer wraps in my base or longer, but this Astra will shine as a shorty too, there is very little stretch while wearing and no sag, so it will be a solid toddler worthy shorty. If  you need grip at all give this one a pass, same if you like an airier wrap, or thin in hand - This will not be the wrap for you. If you love luxurious blends, heavier weight, dense and tight weaves, glide and soapiness, Astra Geminidas is definitely a wrap for you.

Thank you Christina at Lovaloom for letting me experience the stellar Astra Geminidas!

Find Lovaloom's chatter group on Facebook here.

Bijou Wear Abstract Mirage Review

Bijou Wear Abstract Mirage
66 % Egyptian mercerized cotton / 33% standard cotton / 240 GSM
23 months and 28 pounds


Abstract Mirage is the third Bijou Wear I've had the pleasure of trying. Upon opening the package I was sure it was a shorty because of how compact the wrap folds up, but in fact it was not. Out fell a long, deliciously shimmery silver/white wrap in a modern and fresh feeling design. There is just a hint of sea glass blue/green in the shimmer that plays up differently in different lighting. Letting the wrap fall across my lap and moving it around in the light, the name Mirage seems at once apt.

 

In hand this wrap is textured with a very lovely sheen, due to the mercerized cotton, but it is also a dry wrap. The kind of dry that will make that slight creaky sound while wearing if you know what I mean. I would be curious to see how it breaks in, I imagine some of the dryness in hand will go away. Abstract Mirage is also exceptionally thin in hand with a medium-high diagonal only stretch.

The name suggests modern abstract paintings and the design shows a brush stoke effect. Looking at the wrap the texture is very evident and the mix of sheen and matte do well to further enhance the look of texture. That said this is a flat texture, the weave is smoother and on the denser side. You will find no nubs or slubs here. There is an airiness in the design, if you hold the wrap up to the light, it is not see thru, even for the thinness of the wrap, but light shines in along certain lines of the design. Style wise, if higher end fashion appeals to you, but you don't get to partake in real life, this is the wrap for you. It will elevate your look anytime you wear it.

 

While wrapping the diagonal stretch isn't very apparent at all. There is zero sag once wrapped when wearing, and the wrap moulds quite nicely. The texture of Abstract Mirage translates to a grippy wrap, the type of grip that can hold a single knot, but the level of grippiness won't hold much of a challenge for more experienced wearers. In multi pass carries such as a double hammock a newer wrapper may need to put in more work, but the results are worth it. I am currently not a typical wearer due to a back injury and a toddler - I need a lot from a wrap, cush usually and a great deal of strength and support. There is not a lot of cush, nor bounce with Abstract, but no dig at all, and amazing strength and support. I also really enjoyed the lack of bulkiness on my shoulders and the easy and numerous pleats! Trying to think of what this wraps similarly too, and I think of Almitra Tattva Phirozi, which is a woolie, but equally thin in hand and also equally astonishing for the amount of strength and support.

 

 

I really enjoyed using this wrap in my base (ish) size and that would be my personal preference for this wrap, but it will perform well in a shorty. The lack of bulkiness, plus softness and smoothness makes this a good choice for a newborn wrap and it will work well beyond the newborn phase. This is a toddler worthy wrap, especially if you are looking for a thin toddler worthy wrap, you will find those are harder to come by. If you enjoy thin, denser wraps, with flatter texture, no nubby fibres, this is one to check out. Lovers of a lot of stretch, or very cushy, or blankety wraps may want to sit this one out. Though it may be one that surprises you too. My own wrap qualities that I love have certainly changed and evolved a bit the more I try.

Thank you Jaime for letting Abstract Mirage visit us!

Find Bijou Wear's chatter group on Facebook here.