Yako Yako Find The Heart infinity

Review of Yako Yako Find The Heart Infinity

Pattern: Find The Heart
Name: infinity
Blend: 50%  GOTS certified organic cotton and 50% super wash Merino Wool
Thickness: 300 g/m2 prewash and approximately 340 postwash.
Wrappee: 20 months and 14,5 kg

Find the heart is the other one of Yako Yako´s two patterns. It is a beautiful pattern, and Infinity is made out of a beautiful blue color, that will for sure take anyone´s attention.

My first thoughts when touching this wrap is that is was very soft and smooth. It has a bit more grip than First Touch (the other tester I hosted- review further down on the page), but still not a lot.  It also feel a tiny bit thicker.
It is also dense woven and it has some more weight than what you should think when feeling its thickness in hand.

Find The Heart is made out of 50% GOTS certified Organic cotton, and 50% Superwash Merino wool. The wool gives it the feeling of being a bit more cushy then First Touch.  They are both toddler proof, but I think Find The Heart could even be pre-school proof! Hehe..

This wrap is soft and smooth when wrapping. It´s easy to wrap with, and it´s no problem doing double layers with it. It does not have a lot of grip, so it will slide easily in to place and make every wrapping job easy. It is also study and it´s also having a small bit of stretch.

Find The Heart is just thick enough to make nice, cushy pleats on the shoulders, and that gives you a feeling of wrapping with pillows on your shoulders. For everyone who have sensitive shoulders like me- its a big plus. 
You could easily think that it would be a warm wrap when looking at it´s blend, but I can assure you that its not uncomfortable warm at any time for me. It was just warm enough when wearing outside, and the wool does actually breath when using inside. We have been using this almost every night when wearing the little one to sleep, and we have not been feeling to warm at any time. Find The Heart is like a blanket you put around you.

This wrap is easy care, and thats a big plus for everyone who have kids like mine. You can let them eat in it, you can wrap up and down as they prefer to walk or play during the walk, and you do not have to think about wether it would be dirty or not. You can just put it in the washing machine at wool-program, and dry it flat. And then its good to go for next day and next adventure!

Oh, by the way- In my opinion its almost pull-proof too! 

My conclusion about this wrap is:

- Its smooth and soft 
- easycare
- a bit thicker then First Touch
- have a lot of cush
- dense weaved wrap
- almost pull proof
- Beautiful colors
- very toddler proof
- not too warm
- feels like a blanket

- Not for those who like a lot of grip or thin wraps. 

Yako Yako First Touch Black&White

Review of Yako Yako First Touch Black&White



Pattern: First Touch
Name: Black&White
Blend: 100%  GOTS certified organic cotton
Thickness: 300 g/m2 prewash and approximately 340 postwash.
Wrappee: 20 months and 14,5 kg

I was very excited to be asked to test two of Yako Yako´s wraps. The brand is a new and upcoming brand that make high quality baby wraps, and I love to try it out.

First touch is a beautiful wrap made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. The wrap is densely woven, and in hand it feels thin and a bit heavy at the same time. 
I am not a fan of 100% cotton, and was a bit scared about trying out that for my toddler, but by the first touch it proved me that cotton is not just cotton!

First Touch is soft and feels smooth in hand. It does not have much grip, and is so easy to wrap with. Every layer is just falling on place almost by it self, and you dont need to even get warm during the wrap-job. Its easy to tighten, its easy to do double layers, and its even easy to make a good seat and to make the knot/finish. 
I am carrying a toddler, and its a very toddler proof wrap that can carry him also in a simple ruck with no problem. The pleats are so comfy and cushy on my shoulders.

Another ting I really like about this wrap, is that its easy care. You can just put it in the washing machine on cotton 40°c, and it will come out clean and almost ready for use. For me that is important when i choose what wrap I'm wearing for what occasion. At this trip, where I took this pictures, I had a lot of ups and downs with the wraps, and in Norway at this time its easy to get some dirt on the wraps. Its nice to choose something you know can be easily washed after use.

Another thing is the colors. I love that its so different from right and "wrong" side. For me it feels like having three different looks in one wrap. I can use only dark side, only light side og mix it- like I did on this picture! I also love the contrast! 

I think this wrap is almost pull-proof. I can not promise you this, because I would never try to make a pull in any wrap, but the dense weave makes the structure more like the top of any woven t-shirt or jeans, than some of the wraps I have tried. It seems like it would never get a pull, and that is for sure a good thing! 

This wrap would be perfect for every age. It would be the to-go wrap for everything, and it would suit newbies and more advanced baby wearers. Its a good starter wrap, because its not the most expensive wrap, but it could be your one and only wrap from start till end of baby wearing- if you can manage just keeping one. 

This is also a wrap for all around wearing. It does not feel warm when wearing inside, and it feels like an extra layer of clothes when wearing outside in this wintertime. 

My conclusion about this wrap is:

- A smooth wrap

- Densely woven

- thin, but a bit heavy

- very soft

- easycare

- pull-proof

- good for all ages and weight

- easy to wrap with

- cushy on the shoulders

- Not for those who love a lot of grip in their wrap.

Minako Ursus Polar

Review of Minako Ursus Polar 

Pattern: Ursus
Name: Polar
Blend: 42% L.S. egyptian cotton, 36% Japanese Tsumugi silk (space dyed) 16% mulberry silk, 6%babycamel
Thickness: 290 g/m2 (prewash)
Wrappee: 20 months and 14,5 kg

So, lets all meet Minako Ursus Polar. 

Just a short while after Mischa left, Polar arrived here with us. I was very excited about this one, because I heard that it was more spongy on the shoulders than Mischa, and that would just be the perfect wrap for us.
The rumors was true, and my thoughts too.
When I thought I had met the perfect wrap in Mischa- I met Polar! 

Polar is a beauty of a wrap, with amazing colors. 
You may think that its silver and black with glitter, but that´s not the reality.
The wrap has some beautiful colors hidden inside the silver/grey, and that makes the wrap look glittering. 
In slingofest Minako has described the wrap as : Double twisted space dyed Japanese silk ( pastel blue colors) in combination with navy blue babycamel/silk on black yarn.
And the pastel in it self looks soo gorgeous! 

  

Polar is made of 42% L.S. egyptian cotton, 36% Japanese Tsumugi silk, 16% mulberry silk and 6%babycamel. 
It has the thickness of 290 g/m2. 
This time I would try look away from that number, because I think Polar is more of a thick wrap. My guess would be around 320-340 just by touching it. Still the wrap feels light in hand. Its not heavy, but feels airy and fluffy just by touching it.

The pastel colors are hard to capture in a picture. I have tried, and this is the best I got.
It has stripes of different pastel colors, and its so beautiful! 

So, how does it feel?
Polar felt a bit rough in hand. It had a surface I haven't experienced before. 
They say this will be different, and more smooth, when really broken in, but for me it was not rough in a bad way. 
Polar felt like having ALOT of grip when touching it, but it was not what I experienced when wrapping with it. 
The wrap is a velcro wrap (as we call it in Norway), but still there was no problem making double passes glide easily. And the grip also make the wrap stay in place when you wrap, tighten and making the knot. 

The wrap made my little one feel weightless in multiple layer-carries. It has some awesome amount of cush on the shoulders, and it has just a tiny bit stretch. 
The stretch is just enough to make the wrap moldable on both me and my boy. 
I feel like I'm once more repeating myself, but this wrap was very good to wrap with, carry in longer walks, carry heavier kids and also perfect for my sensitive shoulders and back!

For me Polar was the answer for the perfect toddler-wrap, and I was amazed about its qualities! 

So, my conclusion about this wrap:

- thicker wrap
- not heavy
- feels airy
- feels grippy in hand, but not when wrapping
- perfect wrap for toddlers
- medium amount of grip
- a bit bounce and stretch
- looks amazing
- no scratchy glitter
- good for single and multiple-layer carries
- does feel like a blanket, but not too warm.

- a bit too thick and grippy for the smallest squishes
- not for those who like wraps with no or just a bit of grip, or who search for thin wraps

Minako Ursus Mischa

Review of Minako Ursus Mischa

Pattern: Ursus
Name: Mischa
Blend: 42% L.S. egyptian gassed cotton , 36% Japanese Tsumugi Silk 22% cashmere 
Thickness: 280 g/m2 (prewash)
Wrappee: 19,5 months and 14,5 kg


Ursus Mischa is the first Minako I have ever tried, and it is always a pleasure to test something new. I have heard a lot of good things about the brand, and also the wrap, so I was very excited.

Also the blend is quite new to me. I have just tried once or twice both cashmere and Tsumugi silk, and Mischa have both.
The wrap was already well broken in when I received it, and it felt airy and fluffy. It felt medium thick in hand, and I could feel there was a bit stretch in it too.

Mischa arrived in our house just in time. Just the same evening my son decided that he did not want to go to sleep in any other way then in a FWCC, and that is just new for us. We have never really worn that much in FWCC before, because of his weight and my shoulders and back, but when thats all he wanted, the mother of course try her best to make it happen. So, I grabbed Mischa, and up he went....
And wow! 

Mischa was to the rescue. It felt good. I could carry him like this and make him stop crying, and comfort his needs. He fell asleep after a short while. We were both very comfortable wearing Mischa right from the start...

So... 
I posted this picture at some chatter groups, and people started asking me about the glitter.
"Does it scratch?"
" Is it uncomfortable to wear?"
" How does it feel like?"

And Yes... Mischa is glowing and glittering... 
But... Its not from glitter....

Mischa is made from black cotton and cashmere together with tsumugi silk in the color of charcoal... And look! Its not glitter. Its tsumugi silk speckles in different colors!!!

I love the look it gives to the wrap! So the answer is: NO! There is no glitter in this, and it feels very comfortable! 

So, where to start...

Mischa is a medium thick wrap, with its 280 g/m2. It does not feel thick in hand at all, and is very comfortable to wrap with. The wrap feels airy, and adding a lot of cush and bounce on my shoulders. I could wear my toddler for hours, without feeling any pain at all. 
With that being said, it is also quite easy to wrap with, and have just the right amount of grip. It was easy to make second passes, and the wrap was not sliding out of its place while tying it.

The wrap has an elegant look, at the same time with giving a bit of a rough look. Black can be a bit boring all alone, but this wrap is everything but boring. It looks pretty, and it has an interesting pattern, that I'm not getting tired of.

Its the first time Im having a mono wrap in my stash, and I love it. I now know that I need one.

I have used this wrap in DH, ruck and FWCC. Its my most used carries, and Mischa rocked them all. If there is anything I would have to say, it´s that after a short while it did not feel as comfortable wearing a simple ruck, but that is no news for me, as my toddler is almost 15 kg´s already. There is not a lot of wraps that are comfortable on my shoulders in single layers with this little kid.

This wrap is suitable for all. I felt it is very comfortable with my toddler in double layers, and I'm sure Mischa is also up for small squishes. Its very soft and moldable, and still gives great support.

Conclusion:

- Medium thick wrap, feeling thin in hand
- Have an airy feeling, both in hand and while wrapping
- Medium amount of stretch 
- Medium amount of grip
- Nice cush on shoulders
- Feels moldable when wrapping
- Easy to wrap with
- Suitable for all
- Beautiful! 

- Not for those who need a mute and thin wrap, or for those who need no grip or massive grip.

Linuschka Bolero Serenity

Review of Linuschka Bolero Serenity 

Pattern: Bolero

Name: Serenity

Blend: 48% peruvian pima cotton 52% tussah silk

Thickness: 308 gsm

Wrappee: 19 months and 14,5 kg.

I was lucky to be able to test one of Linuschka´s testers who have been traveling in Norway, and was very happy when I heard there was a high-tussah blend. I really enjoy all the tussah-wraps with their different colors and nubs.

When I first received the wrap- I was really happy to see its in my kind of colors. Wow!
I love the earth-tones this wrap have! 

Serenity is a light beige wrap together with a beautiful brown, and have nubs of brown and blue (!!!). The blue are a real surprise- and it fits perfect! 
Its a delicate wrap, and I felt it matches most of the clothes in my wardrobe, and for me that is also a big plus.
And yes, Im the kind of wrapper who like things to match. ;)

When bolero came to me, it had already been with other testers, and was no longer in loom state. It was soft and cosy, and it was nice to wrap with from the start. 

The thing that first had me with bolero, is that even if it feels soft as a kittens belly- it also feels strong. When you have it in your hands, you can feel it´s tightly woven.

Bolero Serenity is made with single weft. It actually reminds me of some wraps I´ve tried with linen, but this hold no linen- just tussah and cotton.

Another thing that surprised me, is the 308 g/m2. Serenity feels light and thin in hand, and it could easily been the best newborn wrap I´ve tried. I have a 230 g/m2 wrap with cotton/linen, and this feels almost the same! Bolero Serenity holds my 14,5 kg boy with no problem! 

Just days before Serenity landed here, I received my first Linuschka. This is Ipomee Dark Hedges- also a high-tussah wrap, containing 35% cotton, 41% tussah and 24% merino wool. This wrap is made out of double-weft, and have 280 g/m2.  

I was curious about the difference between this two wraps, and specially the weft surprised me. 

Serenity being single weft, and Dark Hedges being double weft- and they also feel so different. 

I would say that they are completely opposites of each other. 

While Serenity is thin in hand, and tightly woven, Dark hedges feels a bit thicker in hand, and a lot more fluffy/airy in its weft, and having more bounce and cush. They are both pretty and very good to wrap with- in each it´s ways! 

Bolero has been used in FWCC, DH, DH sweetheart finish, as a ruck and as a blanket. 

Its soft, strong and its cuddly.. We have been using it every day for the time it was here, and we love it! Mostly DH, as thats my favorite. 

With his weight of soon 15 kg, there is not many wraps that feels comfortable on my shoulders when I'm wrapping single layers. 

This one is no exception for me. It was no problem using it in a simple ruck, but my shoulder is a bit too sensitive. But the wrap is study and will not sag, so if your shoulders are up for it- Bolero Serenity will also be. ;)

To describe Serenity- I would say that its thin, strong, having a lot of grip- but still not too much for making passes glide easily enough to tighten without using too much strength. 

Because its thin in hand, the knot, and also the candy cane-chestbelt, is not oversized. It fits perfect without making it uncomfortable for me. Thats also a big plus if you are using a babywearing-jacket or dont like the big knots being in the way while doing other things.

Because the wrap is both thin and have good grip, it makes the wrapping itself much more easy, and when tightening it does not fall out of place that easily. It will forgive a sloppy job just because it can stay in place almost all the time.

My toddler like to have a lot of fun while sitting on my back, and is very active. Not once did I feel like Bolero Serenity lost it place! 

Also I think its a great wrap for both summer and winter. It did not feel warm when carrying inside, and it feels cosy and like a blanket around us when using it outside in the cold winter. We also like to use the wraps as blankets in the sofa- and this one really did the job when we´re cuddling up together. 

Conclusion: 

- Thin in hand

- Makes small knots, and drapes beautiful

- Very strong

- Very soft

- Beautiful colors with amazing nubs

- Perfect for those who is looking for an all around wrap that fits summer and winter, and likes thin wraps with good grip and that make precisely wrapping jobs.

- Not for those who seek wraps with bounce, a lot of stretch or cush.