Fiona's new, super awesome, baby carrier

When Fiona was teeny tiny, she only liked to be carried, so we spent a lot of time wearing this...

And it worked great! We'd take a walk, and she'd take a nap. But she was also significantly smaller and lighter! Recently, wearing this has been really painful, and I started looking for a different kind of carrier - one that didn't put so much stress on my upper back and shoulders. Fiona has specifications... she likes to be able to face outwards so she can see what's going on. And I have specifications... it has to not cost an arm and a leg. So after doing some research, I decided I wanted to try a Moby. The people I talked to said it was actually fairly comfortable to carry a larger child, and the child could be worn in front - facing either way, on your back, or on your hip. And for little babies, you can snuggle them inside it. Miraculous! And what's even better? 

I could make it myself!! 

Ok, stop laughing. I can, really! I am that good. You'll see... 

Ben gave me a sewing machine for my birthday, and the two napkins I made turned out great, so I thought it was time to try something more advanced...

I started by buying some fabric. 16 1/2 feet of fabric... and I cut it in half down the middle. The fabric was only $8, so this project already meets my 'cheap' requirement.

Then I hemmed the three 'unravelly' edges...

Then it was finished! Yay! But wait... what's that you say? It's just a 16 foot strip of fabric? Well, yes, but it aspires to be so much more! With some wrapping and tying, it becomes a...

Brodie carrier!! I was too excited to wait until the morning to test it on Fiona, so Brodie had to do. 

And here are a couple of pictures with Fiona. She got up at 5.45 this morning, so don't judge my appearance too harshly!

And when I flipped her round, she was much happier!

The beauty of it is that it wraps under her bum, and then the fabric is tied round my waist and rests on my hips, so there is much less pressure on my shoulders... the weight is more evenly distributed, so it's less uncomfortable. 

Of course, as soon as I got her in it, she barfed on it, so now it has to go in the wash.

So far I really like it... and the best part is that if I decide I don't want to use it, I didn't spend a fortune, and I can use the fabric to make some more napkins or something instead. Because that's all I can make. Really, this is just a really big, super long napkin!