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Where to Find Babywearing Materials by Country

This list is just a start for some of the most common materials needed for DIY Babywearing. None of these sources are guaranteed, and this isn't a comprehensive list. This is simply a list of suggestions from the members of our Facebook group. Feel free to join if you have a question about a specific material, or have suggestions for more sources! As always, before buying any fabric, make sure it passes the Four Rules of Fabric Selection!

Materials Covered

• Osnaburg
• Duck Cloth
• Bottomweight Linen
• C&C
• Tablecloths
• Athletic mesh
• Sling Rings
• Webbing & Buckles
• Foam for shoulder padding

Osnaburg

Osnaburg is a natural-colored, bottomweight muslin-like fabric. It is highly recommended for beginners because of the low cost and excellent wrap qualities once broken in. It works great for wraps and ring slings and breaths nearly as well as linen. Because osnaburg doesn't come in a lot of varieties, it is almost always an excellent choice, and the bolt tags are always clearly labled (although sometimes hard to find.) The only thing to look out for is "J Thompson" brand osnaburg, which has a reputation for being much thinner than other brands and less desireable. Roc-lon is the brand most people use and love. Although "traditional" osnaburg is made from linen, most of the osnaburg available in stores is 100% cotton.

Because osnaburg is sold raw and unprocessed, it has a lot of "gunk" on it from the manufacturing process and it is recommended to scour the fabric before using it for your child. It is a fairly simple process but should not be skipped.

Outside of the US, osnaburg can be insanely hard to find and sometimes very expensive. A decent alternative is heavyweight calico, but make sure you shop by feel since calico varies by weight. You want something sturdy enough that you could make pants out of.

"Calico" outside of the US is a raw, sturdy, unfinished fabric that comes in varying weights, many of which are suitable for babywearing. However, in the US, "calico" refers to thin, printed quilter's cotton which is never safe to use for weightbearing purposes.

Duck Cloth

Duck cloth is a 100% cotton fabric similar to canvas. It is a great choice because even very lightweight duck is heavy enough to be safe. Duck comes in a variety of weights, all the way up to 18oz per square yard (for purposes such as sandbags and hammocks) but most of the duck cloth sold in stores will be closer to the 5-7oz variety. Printed/patterned duck is typically closer to 5oz (185 gsm.) Solid colored duck at most stores is usually sold as "duck canvas" and is stiffer and heavier (closer to 8oz), but will eventually break in to be usable.

Bottomweight Linen

Linen is an incredibly strong fabric and the gold standard for breathability in the heat. It takes a little work to break it in and soften it and tends to crease a lot, but is generally a well recommended fabric for any project. When buying linen, always check the fiber content. A lot of "linen" sold in stores is "linen-like" fabric made from cotton or rayon or even polyester. True "linen" will say "100% linen" for the fiber content (or 100% flax, sometimes - linen is made from the flax plant.) This is not to be confused with "linens" such as bedsheets, which are not safe to use, or "table linens" like tablecloths, which can be safe to use but are another subject entirely.

Woven Wrap Fabric by the Meter

Colimaçon et Cie (C&C) is a French company that sells broken twill, solid colored, woven wrap material by the meter. This is your best option for a DIY that will feel exactly like a purpose-woven wrap, because it essentially is. It is also great for making soft structured carriers and mei tais that will feel like wrap conversions. Watch out for 30% off sales several times a year. They have both 100% cotton as well as cotton/silk blend wrap fabric.

Honeycomb Loom is a newer, similar company based out of the UK that sells woven wrap material by the meter as well.

Tablecloths

Tablecloths are a great budget option that are typically cheaper than fabric by the yard. A jacquard woven tablecloth will feel nearly identical to a woven wrap: nice and floppy, cushy and breathable. A printed tablecloth, so long as it is an appropriate thickness, will be similar to working with duck cloth. For more information, check out our whole page on Tablecloth Babywearing.

Athletic Mesh

Athletic mesh for water wraps and slings can be tricky to find. Make sure you are buying the right stuff. Not utility mesh, athletic knit, wicking mesh, etc. It should have clearly visibile yet small holes, stretch from selvedge to selvedge, no or minimal stretch lengthwise, and be 100% polyester or nylon.

Sling Rings

Rings for ring slings, onbuhimos and other carriers need to be weight tested and smooth. While it is possible to find rings at a hardware store with proper weight rating and a smooth weld, these will likely be at least triple the weight of an equivalent aluminum sling ring and even a smooth weld can eventually wear a weak spot in your fabric. If at all possible, it is always preferable to use a ring that is designed for babywearing. NEVER use rings purchased from a craft store as these are NOT designed to bear weight.

Webbing & Buckles

Webbing and buckles for SSCs should always be weight tested well above the weight they will be holding!

Foam Padding

"Open cell foam" is the light, squishy type of foam often found it craft or fabrics stores that is used for chair cushions. "Closed cell foam" is dense and rubbery, like yoga mat or anti fatigue mats. Many people also use layers of fleece or even cotton batting for padding.

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