ring sling with overlapping pleat shoulder

Remaining points: 0, for in-stock fabric slings/accessories sewn and sent July 24 (What are points? They do not apply to things you send to me -- check/money order payments, sling and wrap redos, or custom slings; or to the new STBS and vibrant collections.)

Next scheduled points renewal: Thursday, July 24, 12pm Eastern time, for slings sewn and sent on Friday, July 25. I have returned to a daily, rather than weekly, points allocation, but as my time is still limited by the fact that the kids are home all day, the number of points will be similarly limited.

Custom Slings:

Several of the slings shown in the gallery are custom slings -- made from fabric that was sent to me by customers looking for something a little less vanilla than my current in-stock fabrics. These include two-layer slings, sewn of silk/rayon brocades and silk linings, as well as simpler slings made of material I just don't have on hand. Here are some reliable sources for fabric.

Please note: I strongly recommend against using calico/quilting cottons in a single layer. For one thing, the tight weave makes it a lot less comfortable than other fabrics; and for another, calico/quilting cottons are not intended for weight-bearing functions. (Please read my fabric FAQ for more information.) If you want a double-layer sling with the calico, or would like a sling using the calico as a tail accent on sturdier fabric, I will be happy to accomodate you. If you choose to use a single layer of calico anyway, I must completely disclaim liability for any rips or tears that occur when the sling is used.

I can no longer sew slings that have a layer of dupioni and a layer of brocade. The wear and tear on my machine, plus the amount of time and effort that go into them, are just too much at this point. Plus, because the sewing is so very finicky (brocade slides *everywhere* and it's very difficult to keep the sewing consistent), I get really aggravated when sewing them. I don't enjoy them at all. I don't have any trouble doing a single layer of dupioni, or a single layer of brocade, but putting them together is a recipe for a really bad day for me :) If you like that look, I would suggest Zolowear -- their slings are gorgeous and very well-made.

For double-layer silk slings of silk I have on hand, please see here for dupioni and here for shantung. If you want to send your own colors, please see below.

Please email me before buying and/or sending your fabric, especially if you are interested in a double-layer sling, and particularly if you are sending something on the thicker side. For example, I like lightweight twill for a sling, but some twills are just too thick. I will make a final judgement about its suitability when it arrives, but I'd hate to have you pay to send it to me only to find it won't make a good sling.

For a little help in choosing colors and accents, you can try Color Wheel Pro - a program that allows you to create color schemes and preview them on real examples.

How much fabric to buy:

See this page for sizing information, then add at least 6" to account for shrinkage, plus the fabric that is looped where it goes through the rings (3"). Most online fabric sellers deal only in whole numbers, so if you find that you need 78", it's likely you'll have to round up to 3 yards (108"). However, you may find that they will sell in 1/2 yard increments (in which case you could order 2.5 yards, or 90"); please check their policies when ordering. Brick and mortar retailers like Hancock or JoAnn Fabrics will allow you to buy the actual amount you need -- in the example, that would be about 84". I can use the excess yardage to sew a coordinating doll sling for older siblings, or make a simple bag, add pockets, or make a snap-on bag for your sling, or just send it back to you.

Pricing:

This will vary depending on the options you choose, but most custom slings I have sewn have cost between $15-30. This means that a completed two-layer brocade sling can cost as little as $38, depending on how much you pay for fabric.

• $15 for basic sewing (includes rings) on cottons, twills, single-layer dupioni, and other non-slippery fabrics.
• Add $8 for sewing a single layer of slippery fabric (like satin and satin brocades -- if you rub two layers together and they slide really easily, that's slippery).
• Add $15 for sewing two layers of lightweight layers of fabric together (this would include light cottons, dupioni or shantung, and handkerchief-weight linen).
• If you want to add an accent, please go to the "serendipity slings" section and scroll down to find the appropriate fabric (fancies like silk, rayon, or tencel; or plainer fabrics like twill, denim, or also tencel). An accent you send will be $6-8 for me to sew on; the ones I have in stock are $10.

Please make a note of the weight of your fabric if you want the extra material sent back to you. Heavier fabrics cost me more to mail back. Email me if you're you're ordering it online and are not sure how heavy the fabric will be. By this I mean the physical weight and bulk of the fabric. Some fabrics, like silk and Solarveil, are very lightweight and compact; others, like polar fleece and many bottomweights, are either bulky or heavy or both. If you want the scrap pieces returned to you, I will need to pay the actual shipping cost, and I prefer not to pay that out of pocket. If you pay $9 to send the material to me, it's going to cost me at least that much to send them back.

My mailing address is:

Jan Heirtzler
sleeping baby productions
12 Davis Ave.
Durham, NH, 03824-1940

Timing:

I will likely get your completed sling in the mail for you the next business day after the fabricarrives. If it comes on Friday (we get our mail in the afternoon, usually after I've been to the post office for the day) or over the weekend, it will be sewn and sent the following Monday.

Returns:

I cannot accept returns on custom-fabric slings. I strongly recommend that you email me with details about your fabric if there is any question about its suitability, since I cannot take responsibility for the fabric you have purchased.

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