Please note: I (and others, who have allowed me to post their directions) have put a lot of time and effort into these directions. They aren't just some random web freebie. I apologize for the number of disclaimers and whatnot that you will find on the site. I know that some people find this off-putting. However, in the many years I've been offering free crafts on my site, I have had many people take the free content and then sell it on eBay and other sites, or put in on their sites and claim it as their own work. I hope you can appreciate that given the amount of work I have put into the site, it really bothers me to have other people making money off it. I don't like having all the disclaimers and red text, but I don't know how else to keep my contents' copyright and still have it available for free personal use.

So, you want to start a baby carrier business? Please read these essays:

Please don't copy: Making a design truly your own is far more rewarding than using someone else's.
Why does it cost so much to buy a WAHM-made baby carrier -or- Why is it so hard to run a baby carrier business? The hidden costs you might not be aware of.
If you want to sell baby slings... There's a lot more to it than you think -- it's not easy money.

Business *requirements* for running a baby carrier business, at BCIA: http://babycarrierindustryalliance.org/2013/02/baby-carrier-manufacturing-101/
These are things you must do to legally sell baby carriers in the US. There are NO waivers for small batch producers. Everyone must comply.

Baby Carriers:

By opening/downloading any of these patterns, you agree that they will be used for PERSONAL USE ONLY.

None are licensed for resale -- either of the pattern itself, or items made from the pattern.

If you enjoy the directions, please link to them, but do not copy the files to your own website or blog. I need to be able to make changes to the files when necessary (esp. to add safety information) and unauthorized copying is illegal, even on the web!

My YouTube channel includes all the videos referenced in some of the links below, but also a few that I didn't have pages for here.

Read this first:

Fabric and Rings FAQ Please read before buying fabric or rings to sew a sling!

Ring slings:

How much fabric should I buy to make a sling?

One-layer pleated ring sling for sturdy fabrics without a "wrong" side

Other shoulder styles, because pleats are not the only way to make a sling! Includes videos for pleated, gathered, accordion-fold, and Eesti hybrid shoulders

Reversible sling 1 for two fabrics of the same weight

Reversible sling 2 for two fabrics of differing weights

Reversible sling 3 for two lightweight layers

Reversible sling with "rails" for 45" wide prints and coordinates

Sewn-in pleats for polar fleece and other thick fabrics

No-Sew sling for short wraps and other appropriate pieces of fabric

Elsewhere on the web:

MayaWrap; Another method for sewing pleats

Pouches:

Illustrated with line drawings

Illustrated with photographs

Elsewhere on the web:

Stand and Deliver padded pouch

Wraps:

I don't have a lot of wrap information because it's just a long piece of hemmed fabric :) However, people had been asking for a tutorial on using a tablecloth to make a long wrap, so I did one on YouTube.

Mei tais and podaegis

Korean Podaegi An Asian carrer with a single long strap -- this version is for a wide podaegi; I hope to have ones for narrow later.

Basic Meh dai (mei tai) can be used in many different ways, depending on the baby's age.

Beth's "Man Tai" Beth's great directions, hosted here.

Kimber's "Ball Baby Overall" mei tai Kimber's directions, hosted here

Sarah's "Frankenkozy" Sarah's directions, hosted here.

Mei tai strap bag: A handy little bag that slides onto the strap of your mei tai.

Elsewhere on the web:

Susan's modified Mei Tai; Brooke's hood/headrest mei tai; Lunamoth Mama's Mei Tai;Dawn's Wrap-tai (made from a wrap)

Additions and whatnot:

Rehemming a cut piece of a wrap (or adding a hem to a wrap)

Zippered Patch Pocket

Zipless Patch Pocket

Inset pocket (works well with 2-layer sling or sling with accent, below)

Tail accent (for a little flair on a plain sling)

Adding padding and/or a shoulder accent to an unpadded sling (retrofit)

Doll sling: a child's play sling (not meant to be weight-bearing!)

If you're making ring slings as a gift, be sure to enclose some wearing directions. These are not for use in slings you sell, only for gifts!

Hemming foot tutorial: I use a hemming foot on nearly all the slings I sew, and this is how I do it.

Other Useful Items:

By opening/downloading any of these patterns, you agree that they will be used for PERSONAL USE ONLY.

None are licensed for resale -- either of the pattern itself, or items made from the pattern.

If you enjoy the directions, please link to them, but do not copy the files to your own website or blog. I need to be able to make changes to the files when necessary (esp. to add safety information) and unauthorized copying is illegal, even on the web!

Breastfeeding helpers:

Drafting a nursing pillow pattern Nursing Pillow a.k.a. "Boppy" or "My Brest Friend" -- this one is sized to fit your body, even if you don't have a 24" waist.

Nursing t-shirts Simple nursing t-shirts made from regular t-shirts -- horizontal or vertical overlays

New nursing bra Nursing Bra Turn your favorite regular bra into a nursing bra -- very easy, no sewing machine required.

Make your own pumping bra Hands-free pumping bra Convert a regular bra into a hands-free bra for pumping

Things to use with kids:

Simple cloth doll Simple cloth doll, similar to Waldorf dolls. Pattern based on this one, but includes a full-size pattern and my own style of directions.

Sleep sackBecca's Sleep Sack Uses an existing sleep sack as a template for a bigger one

Restaurant high chair Restaurant High Chair Cover


Grocery Cart Seat Cover suggestions

 

Chair sling/tie-on baby seatChair sling or tie-on baby seat

Mobile shapesBlack-and-white stimulating mobile


Diaper with gussetsAdding gussets to cloth diapers. Just directions for adding gussets - pattern links below.

Crib sheets that stay tucked-inToddler bed sheets: a pillowcase-style bottom sheet with a top sheet that won't come untucked

Things for Grownups:

Maternity pattern alterations Easy pattern adaptations for sewing maternity wear

Cloth menstrual pads Cloth menstrual pads a la Jan Andrea

Sarah's babywearing poncho Sarah's babywearing poncho

other babywearing apparel:

Non-babywearing child's poncho

Jacket inserts for maternity and babywearing (offsite) Stéphane Dupont's free instructions for adding a panel to technical jackets for maternity and babywearing

Purses, bags, and storage

Diaper bag/purse Breastfeeder's diaper bag/purse: simple and small, because we don't need to carry bottles and formula!
Other versions: LITE (smaller and simpler -- 9 by 5 by 2"), Hippie Mamas for cloth diapers (9 by 8 by 6")

A completely different diaper bag/purse: sack-style bag with four pockets, two inside and two outside.

Fabric diaper caseFabric diaper case holds a few disposable diapers, plus a travel wipes box of wipes.

Fabric diaper case Flat wallet with lots of card slots: Frustrated by the lack of wallets with as many card slots as I wanted, and not finding a pattern online, I made one up for myself.

Umbrella stroller accessoriesEasy umbrella stroller accessoriesStorage bag and water bottle holder

Chair sling/tie-on baby seat Cloth grocery bags
or buy them from reusablebags.com

Patterns I do not intend to add (but have been asked about several times):

Infant car seat covers that replace existing seat covers; infant car seat covers that go over the baby; toddler training pants. The first one is because replacing an infant seat cover with a third-party cover voids the seat's warrantee, and I'm not comfortable going there; the second, because I don't have an infant car seat to measure from, and they're all different, anyway (and I want to reduce people's overuse of portable infant car seats ourside of the car, not encourage that!); and the third because I just don't know how! Also, nursing covers -- for reasons why, click here.

By opening/downloading any of these patterns, you agree that they will be used for PERSONAL USE ONLY.

None are licensed for resale -- either of the pattern itself, or items made from the pattern.

If you enjoy the directions, please link to them, but do not copy the files to your own website or blog. I need to be able to make changes to the files when necessary (esp. to add safety information) and unauthorized copying is illegal, even on the web!

All content, barring that which is otherwise attributed, is ©2023 to Jan Andrea. If you wish to use my content on another page, please email before doing so, even for content with the Creative Commons licenses. Text/images used elsewhere must be attributed to me. Be advised that I will pursue copyright violations.