Clutchball Tutorial

Materials: 12 6" diameter circles, 12 4" strips of twill tape, 12 6" strips of grosgrain tape, thread

Instructions:
1. Take a bowl that's roughly 6" in diameter and trace around it onto a piece of paper to make your template. Or for those of you who need more precision in your lives, use a compass and a draw a 6" diameter circle on a piece of paper to use as your template. I'm more of a bowl person, but I forgot to take a photo of this step...

2. Cut 12 circles from the fabrics of your choice. My clutchball has 6 yellow fleece circles, 2 red corduroy circles, 2 tan wool circles, and 2 brown wool circles.

3. Cut 12 4" strips of twill tape and 12 6" strips of grosgrain tape (or whatever ribbons you have lying about will do too).

4. Fold your template in half and mark the crease points. Then fold it in half the other way and mark the crease points. This gives you a template for placing the tapes evenly around the circle, like this:



Pin the tapes in place on the right side of whatever fabric circle you want to be on the outside flaps of the ball.

5. To that circle, pin a circle of whichever fabric you want on the inside flaps (right sides together). I've lined each of the red, tan, and brown circles with the yellow fleece.



6. Repeat for all the circles, giving you 6 pairs.

7. Sew each circle, leaving about an inch open.



8. Turn the circles right side out.



9. Let your baby have a turn.



10. Press the seams and topstitch to close the inch you'd left unsewn.

11. Fold each circle in half, like a taco (a) and, at the point where the twill tapes meet, sew together (b).

(a)

(b)

12. Once all the circles are sewn in half, place them in the order you want them to go on the ball. Taking two halfs, match them up at top point so that the 6" grosgrain tapes meet (a). Sew from the top down about 1.5", and from the bottom up about 1.5" (b).

(a)

(b)

13. Keep adding a half circle until you've assembled them all into a ball.

(top)

(side)

(in action)

Why Wear Your Baby

Here's some interesting data about babywearing:

Babywearing facilitates bonding between baby and parent:

- Stimulates the production of the hormone prolactin in the mother
- Provides fathers with a means of nurturing that simulates the closeness of the womb
- Enables caregivers to be acutely responsive and aware of baby's cues and signals, increases maternal sensitivity, and heightens a parent's perceptions of a child's needs
- Encourages touch and physical intimacy, which provides relaxation for both parent and child by lowering the level of stress hormones and adrenalin circulating in the blood stream
- Can help reduce the severity of postpartum depression in mothers who have had negative or endocrine-disrupting (epidurals and/or IV pitocin) birth/delivery experiences, and can help stabilize new mother emotions

Babywearing enriches developmental opportunities for baby:

- Helps the baby to maintain equilibrium and exposes the baby to movement in all three directions (side to side, up and down, forward and back), which is essential to proprioception (body awareness)
- Vertical position or semi-vertical position builds muscle strength, control, and coordination
- Provides the natural rhythm of movement and tactile stimulation that small babies need for proper neurological development
- Stimulates optimal development of the cerebellum of the brain, the only part of the brain that continually increases in cells as the baby gets older
- Allows the baby both to observe and be at the center of activity, rather than being the center of attention, which is a healthy atmosphere for development of empathy, affection and a healthy sense of self
- Encourages the development of solid emotional security by facilitating bonding between parent and baby
- Provides the elements of pressure, motion, pleasure, warmth, security, sound that are essential to the development of the vestibular nervous system
- Stimulates the tactile receptors in the skin, developing muscle tone, increases cardiac output which increases circulation, promotes respiration, and aids in digestion

Other benefits:

- A substantially more ergonomic choice than hauling a car seat carrier, a carrier distributes weight evenly from parent's shoulders to hips and aligns baby's center of gravity as close to parent's body
- Holds baby securely leaving the parent's hands free to work and play
- Develops the back muscles necessary to carry the baby
Studies show that babies who are carried or worn:
- Cry and fuss less and smile more
- Initiate separation and become more emotionally self-reliant more quickly than average
- Are less likely to develop problems with intimacy as adults
- Have a lower mortality rate, especially among premature infants
- Spit up less and have reduced incidence of colic
- Experience less vertigo and increased physical agility in adulthood, a superior sense of balance, precision of movement, and an acute spatial awareness

Demonstration Videos

I now fully understand what actors mean when they say working with children and pets is difficult! Heck, just working with myself was difficult! There is video now, however, demonstrating how to use a Cashmere Cuddles X-sling:



And for the X-sling with leg gussets:

My New Mei Tai

The last time I was in Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz (which, fortunately for my pocket book, isn't that often), I found this gorgeous Japanese fabric from Kokka that I just couldn't resist. Immediately, my mind started churning with an idea for a mei tai carrier that mimicked what I like so much about the look of X-slings -- that V shape in front with the obi sash. It took awhile before I had the free time to dedicate to drafting a pattern and test it out, but finally, it's done now. Hooray!



It's olive-colored bamboo twill for the rails, fully lined in a burnt orange cashmere/silk. It's not bad for a first effort. I still have some tweaking to do and am debating whether or not to pad the waist strap. It's freakishly light, since bamboo weights next to nothing, and folds down tiny (yay! it fits in the diaper bag without taking up the whole thing).

New Things in the Shop

At the suggestion of my friend Zoie, who's due to have her second baby any day now ("easy labor vibes," Zoie!), I've started making doll carriers for kids too. It's an X-sling scaled down to kid-sized and has been really well received so far.

Here's Ryan modeling the one I made for the raffle at his playgroup's first anniversary party:




Cashmere Cuddles at etsy.com

About the Shop

Cashmere Cuddles are stylish, mom-made X-sling baby carriers available in a variety of fabrics from cashmere to cotton, and showcasing eco-friendly fabric like organic cotton and bamboo.



Why choose an X-sling (x-shape or "obi" style) carrier?
• Easy on and off
• No buckles, rings, or complicated ties
• Wide straps evenly distribute baby’s weight
• Ergonomic “legs up” position for baby, especially with the optional leg gussets
• Folds down small, not much bigger than a cloth diaper.


Organic cotton in chocolate brown with cashmere/silk blend accents in light blue



Cashmere Cuddles carriers have the look of a wrap, but the convenience of a soft-structure carrier without the hassle of buckles, rings, or complicated ties. The carrier slips over your head easily and snugs your body. Just slide your baby in from the top and you are ready to go. The criss-cross construction evenly distributes your baby's weight across your shoulders and back and cradles your baby close to your heart. This unique x-shape allows your baby to be carried inward-facing, in a good ergonomic position with his or her weight distributed across the sit bones, rather than the spine. A separate obi sash is tied around and under your baby to give additional support and stability. The carrier can be altered for larger babies with the addition of leg gussets and an adjustable accent piece. See the policies section for details.

X-slings are designed for younger babies. They can be altered to support a larger baby by adding gussets at the leg openings, to keep their legs from dangling, and with an adjustable accent piece that can be lowered while one places the baby in the carrier and then tied into position.

Most users should be able to carry up to 20-25 pounds comfortably.



Cashmere Cuddles on etsy.com is a proud member of the MDC Street Team (MDCEtsy), Etsywearers, and NorCalEtsy

DIY exchanges

I've been swept up in the excitement of DIY exchanges lately. The basic concept is you get assigned to another participant and are given a list of their likes and dislikes and a very general category, for example that they'd prefer something for their home, and you make whatever strikes your fancy and send it off to them.

In the last month, I've made:


a hat for a little girl



a smocket (a children's smock with a pocket)


a dress for a 1-yr old

I'm in the process of making ladybug MaryJane shoes for another little girl.

In return, I've gotten a hat, pants, and coordinating backpack for Ryan, a set of absolutely adorable, knit finger puppets, a satchel, and a cashmere wine bag. I have to say both ends of this exchange are fun. I love making things for other people. Especially, when I can make cutesy bits for little girls, since I don't have any little girls to sew for myself. And opening a surprise package is never a bad thing, particularly when it's filled with wonderful things for my kids.