Manly Sling for Kyle

While I was in Prince George, Kyle was looking at infant slings on Etsy and was talking about buying one. He was looking for a "manly" design, and found one for about $40. As a good seamstress [read: a cheapie], I couldn't in good conscience let him pay forty bucks to some stranger for what is basically a glorified rectangle. So I told him I'd make him one. And I did. I picked up the fabric at Fabricland's big pre-inventory sale - I think it cost me all of $10. I was a bit of an idiot when it came to the pattern, though, and misread the instructions the first time around, so the sling was sewn beautifully but was twice as wide as it needed to be. (In my defense: I could never get the hang of using one of these with our own babies, so it took me waaaaaaay longer than it should have to figure out that my proportions were all off.) Anyway, I just trimmed the sides off, but then realized that the curve where the baby's bum would sit wasn't deep enough for safety. Strike two. Today, finally, I got around to actually making it to the correct sizing specifications, but because it was basically my third time making this same sling, the sewing is a little... less meticulous. So: is it gorgeous and perfect? No. Is it manly and functional? I think so. Plus it's reversible, and the stripes match up. Ewan obliged me by modelling it for the craft blog, and I have to say that even though this is NOT at all the way it would be used with an actual infant (see here for 3 great references on how to use a sling with babies of differing ages), it was remarkably comfortable and I can totally see the appeal of such a contraption. All we need now are pictures of Kyle modeling his own sweet baby in it... once baby's fully cooked and out safely in the world, that is. Wishing him many sweet hours of cuddling his own little one, looking manly as all get out!
Pattern: from Handmade Adelaide Baby
Fabric: Cotton Twill and Cotton Stripe
*Note: no part of this post is meant to exclude Courtney, to whom I also wish many sweet hours of cuddling her little one. But it was clear when I was visiting that Courtney had little-to-no interest in having a sling, except in so far as it would make Kyle happy. However, I'm sure Kyle will share it with her if she gets interested once baby arrives.