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.

Aquarelle Handwovens Still Waters Review

Aquarelle Handwovens Still Waters
Cotton warp / cottolin weft
22 months and 28 pounds


The first thing I noted with this tester is how vibrant and vivid the different shades of blue are and how the networked twill weave combined with those blues gives the illusion of tranquil waves of water. Also even at just 3.2 meters, folded up this is a bulkier feeling wrap.

In hand Still Waters is very textured, rather bumpy feeling and decidedly dry. There is very little stretch, but a solid feel. Still Waters has the characteristics of a densely woven wrap, though it is not quite tight and dense, but the complex weave has the heft of density. The texture, very apparent and raised will translate to a lot of grip while wrapping.

Back to those gorgeous blues, looking closely there are also some violets mixed in and a section all along the bottom rail with sandy brown blended in. The networked twill weave has a look of those Magic Eye posters I used to stare at as a child. Still Waters has a knitted sweater vibe and will fit in well with more casual styles and mix well with other textures and colors.

I used this wrap mainly in rucksack carry variations and it performed beautifully. I did have to put a bit more oomph into tightening knots, but this is also a wrap that could hold a single knot capably if needed, it's that grippy. I am currently not a typical wearer, I need a lot of cush and strength to wear for any amount of time with my toddler. I was able to wear Still Waters for good stretches of time. My toddler is also currently a bit of a seat popper and this wrap is rock solid, no losing seats, no slipping out of comfortable carries, once wrapped, no adjustments needed. I wore this on warmer sunny days and into the cooler Fall evenings and it did well with both. This is a medium to thick wrap, but for all the texture and weight there is a bit of airiness in the weave as well. The selvages are straight and neat, and the hem work cleanly done. Still Waters shows Elena to be an impeccable weaver.

If you are looking for a very toddler worthy shorty Still Waters is a great contender. There is loads of cush and wonderful support for heavier babies and toddlers. You will need to be okay with grippy, little to no stretch, and a heavier textured wrap - if those are wrap qualities you enjoy, you will get along very well with this wrap. This wouldn't be my preference for a squish, better from 6 months and up. Also I would advise those who prefer thinner, flat or smooth, and a lot of stretch in wraps to pass this one up.

Thank you Elena for the opportunity to try this blue beauty!

Find Aquarelle's chatter group here.

Omnifera Wings of Desire Sandalphon Review

Omnifera Wings of Desire Sandalphon
78% Pima cotton/14% Mulberry silk/8% baby camel / 300 GSM pre wash
1 year and 26 pounds

*Note tested and photographed in March 2016.

Wings of Desire is a weighty wrap and upon arrival I could feel that and that there is also very low texture and a smooth dense feel. The name made me smile as I am a long time fan of the Wim Wenders film of the same name. Wings of Desire Sandalphon on first feel is a high quality, luxurious blend.

Back to the low texture, running my hand over the wrap I didn't anticipate much if any grip while wrapping. There is a low amount of diagonal stretch. Wings of Desire is medium thickness and dense, but holding it up to the sun it shows as less dense and there is a floppiness to the wrap as well, which I felt would translate to easier wrapping.

Wings of Desire Sandalphon will appeal to those who dig retro colors and vibes. The brown is a cool toned milk chocolate and paired with creamy ecru the other vibe here is classy. The wing pattern dominates the wrap, but because of the colors it doesn't look busy or overwhelming.

I wore the wrap with my 1 year old main wrappee in double hammock with a CCCB, ruck tied Tibetan knotless, and FWCC. The low texture translated to almost no grip while wrapping. It's really easy to tighten, but extra care is needed to maintain tension. I did have to adjust my carry a few times, in ruck especially and double hammock. Wings of Desire has no itchiness from the baby camel content, I have previously tried Artipoppe baby camel blends and this is very comparable. Because the wrap is floppy and moulds very well it feels less like a heavyweight, but the width of the wrap keeps me from wholeheartedly recommending to newborn wearers. This wrap will shine as a shorty for toddlers, the cush and support is there, and if you did a carry like ruck or ruck tied under bum and it was very tight you wouldn't have to readjust and could wear for extended periods of time because of how cushy and supportive Wings of Desire is. If you are looking for easy care, or a grippy wrap, this one isn't for you. If you enjoy luxury blends and need a lot of cush for your shoulders this wrap performs well and with a toddler in single pass carry you will be able to carry for extended periods comfortably. We enjoyed our time with the wrap, cushy and bouncy, and full of sleepy dust.

Please check out the Omnifera Facebook chatter group here.

Kokoskaa Delano Manhatten Review

Kokoskaa Delano Manhatten
55% cotton / 45% Tencel / 280 GSM post-wash
1 year and 26 pounds

*Note tested and photographed in early April 2016.

When Delano first arrived I was immediately taken with the high contrast graphic design and how soft in hand the wrap felt. The cool toned grays mixed with the bold white were true to the photos I had seen of the wrap and even more depth to the pattern in person.

I could definitely tell Delano is a Tencel blend from the softness and the feel of slip in hand. I didn't anticipate a lot of grip, though I could feel texture in the pattern. Slightly more textured feel on the "right" side versus the "wrong" side. Pulling the wrap diagonally there is a good amount of stretch, medium to high.

The Art Deco inspired design is bold and detailed and will appeal to those who like sharp and complex geometric shapes and designs. This wrap is also for the monochrome lovers. If you have more vintage or ornate style leanings Delano will fit right in, but it can also be the standout if your fashion choices are more minimalist.

I will admit Tencel had so far never won me over in wrap form, but this blend really impressed me. With Tencel in particular I am worried about a wrap being too slippery and saggy, not the case here with Delano. This is an amazing double hammock wrap, slippy from the Tencel, but there is a nice bit of low grip from the texture, so you have excellent glide, but your wrap job stays rock solid with no adjustments needed. Chest passes are so easy to get super snug and it's very cushy on the shoulders. Snuggly soft and floppy, there is a bit of a fuzzy feeling and I would suspect it might be a bit pull prone because of the Tencel content, but I didn't experience any pulls or issues with using the wrap over a 2 week period.

The highest praise from me is saying I could see adding a wrap to my stash and I can definitely see Delano fitting into my stash. That is also saying a lot because I am not a Tencel lover, but this is a really special Tencel blend. I am a double hammock lover and Delano shines in a double hammock. My size recommendation would be base size for double hammocks, because Delano rocks a DH. If you love snuggly soft and floppy wraps that are very mouldable this one is for you. If you are looking for a lot of grip and a thicker solid wrap, you will want to pass. I would recommend this wrap from newborn to younger toddlers. The wrap handled my 26 pound wrappee and was very comfortable with a lot of cush. Delano is unreleased and I will be watching for release information on this one.

Thank you to Monika at Kokoskaa for allowing me to test this wonderful wrap.

Check out Kokoskaa's chatter group on Facebook here.

Fiolia Handwovens Vintage Gem Review

Fiolia Handwovens Vintage Gem
Cotton/ lyocell 285 GSM
1 year and 25 pounds

I was immediately impressed with how soft and airy Vintage Gem was when I first opened it up. The colors feel a bit different and unexpected, robin's egg blue and tones of magenta purple with some creamy nudes.

In hand Vintage Gem is silky soft and smooth. The weave is not dense, but loose and airy, overall it is a light feeling wrap, not weighty. The pattern is a herringbone twill pattern, but not a lot of texture as I ran my hand over, very slippery feeling due to the lyocell content.

 
This wrap will appeal to those looking for more unconventional color combos and the extra depth of hand dyed wefts adds a lovely color shift depending on lighting. The lyocell also adds a slight shimmer. The colors work equally well for cooler and warm seasons in my opinion.

I wore this wrap in FWCC, double hammock different variations, and ruck with my 25 pound wrappee. Drapes beautifully and so easy to work with, passes glide with ease. This is a wrap that needs a slightly more precise wrapper, tightening is easy to start, but you have to be careful to maintain tension well as the wrap has a good slip to it. I would have loved to test this one in Summer, I think the light and airy feel would be wonderful then. I preferred to use Vintage Gem in multi pass carries with my wrappee, rucks had tolerable comfort, but I could definitely feel it in my upper back and shoulders for those longer periods of wearing. For me this was already a soft wrap that got softer and floppier with use. The negative side of how airy this wrap is, the loose weave is pull prone, I had some close calls, though no actual pulls while it was in my care.

If you are looking for a quality, well made handwoven wrap that is light and airy and feels thin in hand with low texture and little to no grip, look no further than Vintage Gem. Very nice and neat selvedges and hems, you can tell the weaver has a good eye for details. What impressed me the most about Vintage Gem though was how tight and smooth I was able to get my chest passes with no bulkiness whatsoever, something I can appreciate both in Winter when I am wearing bulky layers already, and in Summer when I do not want a thick wrap. I do not recommend Vintage Gem to wrappers who don’t like lyocell/Tencel and texture lovers can also pass on this one. I recommend Vintage Gem in your base size for the best support and most comfort. I think this would make a lovely squish wrap, the softness and mouldability is really there for a newborn and it will work well as baby gets older.

 
Thank you to Rini at Fiolia Handwovens for allowing me to test the lovely Vintage Gem.

Join the chatter group on Facebook here.

Sling Studio Bracken Blue Lagoon Review

 

Sling Studio Bracken Blue Lagoon
75% cotton/25% linen / 225 GSM
1 year old and 25 pounds / 2 years and 38 pounds


Bracken Blue Lagoon arrived impeccably packaged. Carefully thought out details, such as patterned tape, soft gray tissue paper all work together to provide a high end unboxing process. Opening the box after being impressed with all those little details the wrap itself was breathtaking. So soft and shimmery and luxe. The weave appears tight and fairly flat, but the pattern provides texture that I imagine will translate to grip, and holding the wrap up to the light there is an airiness apparent. The Blue Lagoon colorway is a bright and cheerful turquoise that looks especially lovely with the shimmery silver gray warp. I am pleased with the tote bag, simply one of the best totes to accompany a wrap, large and roomy to carry all your essentials and a few wraps as well. I also noted a sticker in the box that 5% of proceeds are donated to Tommy's, a charity that funds research into pregnancy problems. I really admire wrap companies that give back.

 

"wrong" side

The softest, silkiest linen I've ever experienced. Bracken Blue Lagoon arrived finished and floppy, no need to break in at all. It got better after a wash and with use of course. There is a medium to high amount of stretch when pulling diagonally. The silver gray dominant "right" side is a touch smoother and has a feel that should enhance glide. The "wrong" side has a more textured look and feel. The turquoise color is not so saturated, but adds more to the look of texture and gives a feel that signifies grip.

The design named for moorland ferns and underbrush also makes me think of frost patterns as well. Just exquisite and perfect as anything inspired by nature often is. The colors and design of Bracken Blue Lagoon will have wide appeal, but I can especially see babywearers who have a classic style with a hint of edge gravitating towards this one. Lovers of luxurious textiles should also take note, the feel is absolutely high end and quality. For me the colors and wrap design, well just looking at it makes me smile. The overall effect of color, texture, and design is beautiful and luxurious feeling.

I primarily wore Bracken Blue Lagoon with my younger main wrappee, but the obvious strength of the linen got me curious on how the wrap would fare with my heavy toddler. I wore him in a ruck of all things and the strength and support was definitely there. I don't wear my toddler for longer than half an hour usually, that's all he has the patience for, but a lovely bounce and cush was evident. For a wrap so light and thin in hand being toddler worthy in a ruck is quite the feat! With my main wrappee we put this one thru the paces of FWCC, double hammock many variations, shepherd's, kangaroo, and ruck. Moulds well and cocooned my baby perfectly. There is an amazing glide to grip ratio. A silky like slip makes second passes glide into place easily and just the right amount of grip to hold those passes and knots in place. The knots that tighten easily and hold are also small and neat. Wearing this wrap I was constantly surprised and astounded that it's a linen blend. When I think of linen I think crisp and needs to be broken in. Sling Studio "lazy linen" is so silky soft and fluffy with the combined cotton and just easy right from the start. I wore Bracken Blue Lagoon for long periods of time with my 25 pound wrappee and the bounce and cush kept me and my shoulders comfortable and happy for our 2 hour plus wear sessions. No adjustments needed either while wearing.

Sling Studio has fully converted me into a linen lover with this wrap. Linen wasn't something I ever actively sought out, it's not a fibre I felt I needed or wanted. How wrong I was! Sling Studio linen is simply lovely, exceptionally soft and silky feeling, while strong and supportive. Bracken Blue Lagoon is for everyone, new and experienced wrappers alike and will perform beautifully from newborn to toddler. Kitten belly soft for new babies, with the strength of linen for toddlers. I also recommend Bracken Blue Lagoon in all lengths, there's great strength and low to medium grip for a shorty, and it's light and airy for base sizes. If you are a lover of very thick and blankety wraps, or are looking for high grip and texture, you will want to pass. If you want minimal stretch, again pass. If you are looking for soft, light, and airy look no further. This is the wrap for you if you want linen, lower GSM, and luxury. This wrap is also for you if you want easy care, the linen is easy to launder and doesn't require an iron to function well and look good, plus with the fairly flat weave Bracken Blue Lagoon isn't pull prone. For me Sling Studio Bracken Blue Lagoon is a joy to wrap with and wear.

 

Thank you to Alicia for allowing me to test this exquisite textile!

*Sling Studio provided this wrap to me for review, but my feelings and thoughts on it are my own.*

Huberine Matilda Lise Review

Hubertine Matilda Lise
75% Egyptian cotton 25% merino wool / 320 GSM
1 year and 24 pounds

I received a size 6 Matilda Lise tester and noted with surprise how small the wrap folds up for being 320 GSM and the size. I was immediately taken with the color combination of soft moody blue and slightly pinkish nude. I had no expectations for what wrap I would receive to test and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the color combination and the delicate brush strokes.

My first feel proved the wrap not to be fluffy and fuzzy as I was expecting from the merino wool content, but thin and very dense with a crispy texture. Both sides of the wrap felt the same to me. Pulling diagonally I felt an amazing amount of stretch. I anticipated there would be some stickiness with the texture when wrapping and that the stretch would be a delight as I am a lover of stretch.

Back to the design, the brush stroke pattern manages to be both delicate and bold, as the brush strokes look soft, but the layout of the pattern dominates the wrap. The Lise colorway will appeal to those looking for modern and unexpected color combinations. If you have an artsy, boho, or earth mama vibe I can see Matilda Lisa appealing to those sensibilities. Hubertine also incorporates thoughtful details, such as their logo woven into the tail end of the wrap as well as middle markers that are discreet and placed so there is no feel of right or wrong side.

I tried both single and multi pass carries with Matilda Lise. With the high amount of texture I found pulling passes tight where the wrap moved against itself required some skill and patience, especially in double hammock, but with a little extra work passes did still manage to glide and tighten surprisingly well. The stretch here has great recoil and bounce back, no sagging at all. After putting this wrap thru a few different carries and wearing for a couple of hours at a time I will confidently describe it as thin and very dense with high texture and grip, and amazing stretch and cush. Matilda Lise wraps similarly to Pavo texture series with nice elasticity and support and very mouldable like the wraps in that series. Also reminds me of Pavo Otomí Fuchsia for the surprising amount of support and the cushy feeling with a thin wrap and both are also very textured. On my shoulders even in a simple ruck there was so much comfort and cush, truly impressive for 320 GSM and especially for how thin in hand the wrap feels.

Matilda Lise confounded me a bit. The merino isn't fluffy or fuzzy at all, and while there is a great amount of texture, with some attention and a little extra work the wrap still glides surprisingly well, plus there is so much cush! Definitely a pleasure to wrap with and wear. This is a special wrap that is thin in hand and not bulky, but delivers an amazing amount of support. I think Matilda Lise would most shine in a shorty and would recommend it to those who want a shorty that is toddlerworthy, but not bulky. This wrap is suitable for newborn to toddler and will appeal to those who like thin and dense wraps, stretch, texture and grip. You may want to pass if none of those qualities appeal to you, or if you are looking for easy care or super soft. Really though Matilda is a unique wrap in that it is thin in hand, but also very cushy and if you have the chance to try wrapping with it I highly recommend you do.

Thank you Hubertine for allowing me the wonderful opportunity of testing such a beautiful and unique wrap.

For more information on Hubertine please visit their Facebook page here. As well there is a chatter group on Facebook here.