When my second son was born, I flirted with sewing to create this Moby-style baby wrap (AKA the “fauxby”) to keep little Milo super close. It is the snugliest baby carrier that I’ve ever had.
My mom helped me to hem the edges. Once I saw how legitimately simple it was, I made another two on my own.
Ingredients:
- Muslin fabric, 5 yards (one long piece will usually yield two wraps. Protip: get the lady in the store to cut it for you!)
- A patch made from another material.
- Thread in your sewing machine.
Steps:
- Cut the fabric in half lengthwise so it is 20 inches wide and 5 yards long
- Iron, pin, then hem the edges.
- Adhere your patch to the middle of the wrap so you can easily find it by feel.
Too lazy to sew the edges? Buy a knit fabric that has some stretch. The ends will look raw, but they will not unravel. This is sort of a flashdance-style wrap. Look for 5% spandex or lycra and 95% cotton. You’ll need 5 yards, and the width will be 42 inches. Fold it in half and cut along the fold.
Whitney laid it out for me in her kitchen this morning and took this picture.
Wondering how to wear it? I experimented a bit before I asked the woman at our local baby gear shop to fit me properly. It was a relief to have a pro install Milo for me. Maybe this video will help you.
Wanna just buy one? Voila, le moby wrap on amazon.
Related links:
Rookie Mom Challenge: Go to the fabric store
Wrap your baby and stay warm
I made my own Moby-style wrap when my baby was new in 2009. Except for dealing with an obscene amount of fabric (I believe it was 60 in wide and 5 yd long, I cut it in thirds lengthwise), it was easy. I went with a jersey knit so it would be no-sew. I also bought it when it was 50% off at JoAnn’s (a regular occurrence worth waiting for), so it was really cheap.
I figured out how to tie it from the website, and Baby and I loved the fauxby! I couldn’t believe how secure it felt. So glad you’re encouraging moms to try this one.
[...] Week 1: How to make a no-sew Moby Wrap [...]
This was so easy to do! I’ve been wanting to try the Moby but couldn’t bring myself to spend the $50 on yet another carrier. The only problem is now that I know how quick and easy this is I want to make a bunch in different fabrics – uh oh, this could become expensive.
@Alyssa, how much did you pay per yard of fabric? Mine was pretty expensive at $8.50 per yard, so nearly $50 – but it made two carriers. I hope others found cheaper sources.
Just printed a 20% off coupon from joann.com good for sale-priced and clearance items. Hoping to find some great clearance fabric so I can make a moby wrap for less than $25. That’s my goal
[...] can find it, too, over at Rookie Moms! Share this:ShareStumbleUponFacebookEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This [...]
Love it! I just wanted to let you know I mentioned this on my blog this morning.
[...] Makin’ it: no-sew Moby wrap baby carrier (rookiemoms.com) [...]
Sales and clearances at Jo-Anns are perfect for these! I just bought some fabric (knit, so no-sewing!) there for about $5/yard, and it was enough to make two wraps, so they came out to be around $12.50 each. I’ve been testing it out using my cats since the baby isn’t here yet, ha.
I think these are a really great way for people to try out wrap carriers without having to invest much money. The $50+ for a Moby (and other brands) can be kind of daunting, but being able to very easily make one for less than $15 or $20 is much easier a cost when talking about something that you and baby may decide just doesn’t work.
[...] a small baby and keep you both cozy. Like, so cozy you can actually assemble dinner. Wow. See full instructions to make this baby carrier as part of our Makin’ it [...]
This is such a wonderful idea. I love the moby wraps but they are a bit expensive. Thank you for this article and easy sewing project!!
So do you use the patch as a substitute for the label? Just to help you make sure you are lining things up right?
Exactly
Thank you for these directions! I’ve tried them twice with great results and now my SIL and I can wear matching wrap slings when we go out with our babies lol. I put different patches on hers
Making a patch from fabric is better than sewing on a machine-made embroidered patch IMO, i tried both. if you have a sewing machine using a zigzag stitch allows more stretch without ripping the seams.
You can find knit sheets at a thrift store for super cheap if you’re lucky. In my town our thrift shop has a free bin and I found an amazing knit sheet for absolutely nothing. It’s big enough that I can make a wrap for myself and a friend. So just the cost of washing and that’s it!
[...] am tempted to make my own Moby. I found this helpful tutorial to do so. I asked my mom what Muslin fabric is (after all, according to Wikipedia the fabric [...]
[...] No-sew Homemade Moby Wrap instructions If I were really nice I’d actually make this for you but there is a limit. Jeez, I have a baby! Anyway, I love a moby wrap but the ones you buy are kind of pricey for a hunk of fabric, and more importantly the fabric is way too thick to be comfortably tied and knotted. Use this tutorial to make one (or have your mom make you one, like I did) out of a thinner jersey fabric. Then watch youtube videos on how to tie it. (Or I can show you.) My kid will sleep nestled inside this thing during a whole restaurant meal, leaving me hands-free and him crying-free. If we’re walking around town, he likes to be front-facing, like a starfish attached to my mid-section, so he can catch all the action. Go here to find out how to make a no-sew moby. [...]
is it ok to link this for my youtube video?
I have been wanting a Moby wrap for a long time! I am so glad I found this DIY
I am confused, though, as to what you mean by sewing a “patch” in?
@Shannon The idea of the patch is just to put something of texture in place so that when you are holding the long strip of fabric in front of your body, you can find the center. Place a patch or button in the center of the wrap so that you can locate it by feel.
Oh ok I see why that would come in handy now! thanks so much!
Thank you very much!
Couldn’t you buy 2 1/2 yards of fabric, since you have to cut it in half lengthwise anyway, and use a french seam in the center to sew the two pieces together into one 5 yard long piece? That would elimate the “patch” and you could use that center seam to find the middle. Just some creative thinking from a mom-grandma who does a lot of sewing, and loves shortcuts! This would also be a less expensive purchase since there is less yardage.
@Wanda, I think you might be a genius. If I only knew what a french seam is/does!
I’d be concerned any seam I’d make would weaken the carrier but I like your thinking.
[...] yards of moss-green, jersey knit fabric. Before the babies were born, I had found an excellent tutorial on Pinterest for making a homemade Moby baby carrier. I followed the very easy instructions, [...]
so i bought a knit fabric and it doesn’t stretch the right way, so it makes it really difficult and almost impossible to put baby in. i’m wondering how you did it since you made yours of muslin??? i’m so bummed out about this because i basically can’t use it…help?
@Brittany, That’s a bummer. Mine was a a really lightweight gauzy muslin similar to the Aden + Anais swaddling blankets. When you tie it on, make sure to leave space in front of you as a pouch. Would that work or be too loose? I wonder if we can find another good use for the fabric.
I’ll try leaving looser. If it doesn’t work I can make a bajillion headbands/bows/flowers haha
So, if I’m understanding correctly, I can purchase 5 yards of knit fabric and make 2 wraps out of them? Or am I off base? Lol
@Cara, I think you’ve got it. If you’re unsure, check with the fine people at your fabric store.
[...] You could make your own. [...]
[...] instruction manual telling you how to wrap yourself in it. lol My friend, Zuly, did point out this DIY tutorial for those of you crafty types. But whether you go store-bought or DIY, its definitely a must have. [...]
[...] of fabric and cut it in half the long way (so you’ll have two super-long pieces of fabric). RookieMoms suggested you ask the fabric store employee to cut the fabric for you. This is brilliant! Those [...]
[...] is in a version of the Moby Wrap. As I was looking deeper into what it entails, I realised that making it might be [...]