My other post about how to make a hammock out of your woven wraps has been pinned a billion times on Pinterest, stolen and republished without permission (creepy… that’s my kid, you guys. don’t DO that. And not okay to steal anyway) and shared WITH permission by buzzfeed and apartment therapy.
THANK YOU to everyone who has sent the link to a friend, shared the link to my actual post on facebook (instead of copying and republishing the photo), tweeted, pinned, commented on, and shared that post. I LOVE when you guys are as enthusiastic about an idea as I am and want to let other people know about my blog.
Often, the photo is shared on facebook without any context, and people speculate about how they can do it with a bedhsheet, some cheap fabric, or something else they have “lying around.” Other people gasp and declare that it’s an accident waiting to happen.
Well, let me clear up some things really quickly, before sharing my next woven wrap activity with you:
- It isn’t a bedsheet or a “cheap piece of fabric.” It is a woven wrap created for the sole purpose of holding babies and toddlers. It was designed to carry children.
- If it’s an “accident waiting to happen” you’re doing it wrong. Use common sense. Use a sturdy table. Test your knot before putting your kid in there. Stay close by, especially if your kids are really young. Take it down from the table when you (er, your kids) are finished playing with it.
- That particular wrap (since I’ve seen people ask in a lot of places) is Ellevill Zara Sun. It’s gorgeous and I’ve since cut it and turned part of it into a ring sling (the yellow sling in the background of the picture below). It has been discontinued for a while, but I’ve heard rumors that Ellevill will bring that color back… I hope so! Because I kind of want it as a wrap again (in addition to the sling, not turning back time).
- If you want to make a hammock OR a swing with fabric store fabric, please DO NOT use quilting cotton or “something from the dollar table at walmart.” A good bottomweight 100% linen will be great, or you can use cotton onsaburg (just make sure it seems thick enough to be supportive, as there IS thin onsaburg out there I wouldn’t feel would be safe).
- I know people have done the hammock thing with an old moby or boba wrap (stretchy wraps) but please don’t. Even though those were also meant to carry babies, they were also meant to ONLY be used with multiple passes over the child, and be on the front of mom where she has both hands nearby. It would be much easier for a kid to flip out of a stretchy hammock than a woven one – and have you ever seen any “real” hammocks that are stretchy material? Probably NOT.
SO! Here is the next AWESOME wrap project. How to make a woven wrap swing! The same tips above apply:
- Make sure you’re using a real woven wrap, or another sturdy fabric I recommended.
- Make sure your hardware is meant to bear weight.
- Always supervise use of the wraps swing and stay close by even if the kid seems “good” just hanging out in it, especially if your kids are younger like mine are.
- Take the swing down when you’re not using/supervising its use. (I actually just move both sides to the same carabiner, so it is still easy to put back up, but inaccessible to the kids and the doorway is usable).
The wrap above is Kokadi Feuerschuppen (Fire Scales) in a size 4. The one below is Girasol Snowflame twill weave (I don’t think it comes in diamond weave) in a size 5. Both are 100% cotton.
The fire scales wrap is a little “crunchy” since it’s brand new and it is woven differently than my other (soft from the get-go) kokadi wraps. So I’m happy to have the help with breaking it in! Especially since it is too short for table hammocks!
You can use a stud in the ceiling if you want, just the same way you would hang any commercial hammock chair, but we chose to use the doorframe because it is convenient and easy to reach for switching out wraps and adjusting.
To make a woven wrap swing, you need:
- 2 heavy duty eye-screws. If you aren’t sure about their ability to bear weight, just ask the hardware store people. They can help you.
- 2 heavy duty clip carbines. You can use the kind that screw to secure if you want, but I thought the clip would be easier. Each of these is rated to 250 pounds.
- 4 large rings from slingrings.com . These rings were made for babywearing, have no welding spot (which would rub the fabric and make its fibers weak, in addition to being a weak spot in the ring that could potentially break), and are each rated at 250 pounds.
- A woven wrap or appropriate fabric of your choice. Obviously a smaller length would make the swing higher, and a longer one would have more hanging down on each side.
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Install your eye screws into your doorframe or studs, and clip your carabiners onto each one.
Take each end of the wrap and thread through both rings, then back through one of them, just as you would with a web belt or a ring sling. Make sure the fabric remains spread out within the rings instead of folded over on itself or bunched up. Make the rails (edges) a bit tighter/shorter than the middle section, so that the seat will be lower in the center. I made the back rail (in the photos below, the orange one) even tighter/shorter than the front one, so that Anneliese could lean back a little bit and still be supported.
For Joseph, (my just-turned-one-year-old) I put him in it more like a regular hammock, with his head and feet going across the doorframe instead of facing forward. I also stay very close by to “spot” him, which is why there are no photos of him in it. Anneliese likes to do that too, but the regular swing is more comfortable for her since she is taller.
Anneliese wanted to go VERY HIGH in this swing like she does outside, but I simply explained to her that the swing inside is a swing for gentle relaxing swinging, not crazy high swinging. She was cool with that. See? Common sense = safety.
I hope you make a woven wrap swing soon, whether it is to break in your new wraps, or just to have fun.
And I hate that I have to say this, but… Please share this post on pinterest, facebook, twitter, or wherever else by LINKING to my URL, not by copying the photos and re-posting them.
You may also be interested in these great natural parenting items:
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PS I’ve gone in the swings too. Yup. They’re that sturdy. I don’t swing for a LONG time but it’s fun!
This post was originally published in May 2013. Updated in December 2015.
27 Comments
[…] to come every 5 minutes over the next few hours. The sling in my living room doorway (used as a kids swing normally) proved perfect for pulling on during contractions. I  chatted, ate granola and drank […]
I want to make a labor swing with a woven wrap of mine. Will this be able to support me for hours while I’m in labor at home? Thanks!
LOVE the colors in this beauty!! I’m pregnant now with my second and have always used SSC! This would be perfect!! 🙂 thank you! Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful wrap. Would love to wrap my little girl but money is tight so no wraps for me. It would be awesome to win.
Cute idea…can I pin it?
Of course you can pin! Thanks. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this and show it to my friends and customers. Great idea! It might take some time convincing my 3yr old of the “gentle” swinging though 😀
Can you do this with Lycra or jersey knit?
I would not. That fabric wouldn’t be nearly as strong. These woven wraps are made specifically for holding children, and they’re very sturdy! Also, with a stretchy fabric like that, kids could accidentally tip out of the side quite easily.
That is brilliant……
This is AWESOME!!! I am about to purchase my first wrap (a Storchenwiege Leo). Can I do this with the Leo? Or do I need a stronger/thicker weave?
Thanks!
Leo will be perfect, as long as it’s long enough!
So a 15 footer/4.6m should be fine? If so, sweet! My little guy will think I am awesome!
that’ll be great!
This is so much fun! I can’t wait to try it out with my little people. Are you sure that’s Snowflame? Snowflame is organge/yellow/blue. I have this wrap in a ring sling (loooove it!) and it’s Girasol Ardent. Maybe it’s just the lighting here…
Anyway, super fun post! Thanks!
Yes, it’s snowflame. Maybe it looks different in the picture… I LOVE Ardent too… but I don’t have one.
You know I tried this right? I blogged about it, and linked back to you.
This looks really awesome, Emily. Since you’re not on IG anymore I don’t see many pictures of A, she is looking so grown up, and just gorgeous.
Phridae here from Instagram(That you left, meanie) and Flickr.
I saw this pop up on my news feed today and was like, “That looks like Anneliese…” ha!
this is so cool! i want to try this out! great idea mama 🙂
Have fun with it!
Every time I see the hammock on pinterest or facebook without proper attribution I get really pissed on your behalf.
I do too!! I try to comment with the correct link. I hate hate hate that there are people stealing photos of emily’s creations!
Y’all are really sweet. <3
I did the hammock with my three-year-old nephew and he LOVED it!! Can’t wait to try with my own baby but he’s only 10 months right now. Will definitely have to try the swing as well! My Storch Inka is perfect for this and I’m getting a linen-bland Nati that will have to be broken in somehow!
I just tried the hammock on my dining room table with my didy katja, and it works. I LOVE it!
Can you just make me up a nice little kit to do this with?? Haha. I have the wrap just need the rest 🙂