Fabric for wrap?

[RockChick1984]

I've never used a wrap sling before, although have had a mei tai, buckle carrier and babasling. DS is nearly 12 months and I really want a wrap for him. I can't afford much, so was thinking about making one as there's a reasonably priced fabric shop near me. What sort of fabric would be best to use? Or is there any cheap but good woven wraps out there?

You would need something strong, and not slippy but not too rough either, there should be some diagonal stretch but none widthwise or lengthwise. For fabric of that quality you probably wouldn't get 5 metres of it for the cost of a preloved wrap, brands like Lenny Lamb, Hoppediz and Amazonas go for about £40 preloved and you can sell them on for about that when you are finished with them. Your piece of cloth that you made might or might not do the job you want but at the end you'll be left with a sling that you can't really sell on. It's just my opinion but it's a bit of a false economy in the end and it's hard to find fabric that does the job as well as something woven for the purpose.
It's going to carry your baby for years to come, I personally feel that for £40ish a preloved sling is the way to go.

I looked into making my own sling - priced up fabric on the net, as well as going into fabric shops. I was quite surprised that there was virtually no difference in price between making your own wrap (from stretchy brushed cotton) or buying one (I have a Kari Me).

It's annoying because I'd like some lovely patterned fabric, and just don't like the colour of KariMe that I have.

Good fabric is horribly expensive. Moby wraps in excellent condition go for 20 quid on Ebay and that cloth would be nearly that per metre retail.

I was going to make my own and then someone suggested Victoria sling lady for really good value stretchy wraps. Think I got one new for around a tenner which is what the fabric would have cost me retail. Can't link as an in phone but google her. Think she sells new via eBay too.

I wouldn't get a stretchy wrap for a 12 month old (Moby, kari-me etc) as he'll already be too heavy for it. Go for a woven.

Agree with Shuckleberry Finn - look for Hoppediz, Lenny Lamb etc. There's a Lenny Lamb size 6 on Natural Mamas for sale boards just now for £30 - I think you'd struggle to get fabric for that, and as pp says you can sell on to recoup all or most of the money.