How to Make Your Own DIY Mesh Water Ring Sling

MAMA SAY WHAT?!

Soon, you’ll be able to take a refreshing dip in the pool, attend lakeside barbecues and feel the sand between your toes at the beach.

What’s a mama to do with her infant when she wants to enjoy the water? Here’s a simple DIY idea to make your own ring sling that even a stumbling seamstress can manage it!

How to Make a Ring Sling

Materials:

– 2-2.5 yards of athletic mesh fabric, which is a type of material that is breathable, you can often find in basketball shorts. Of course, I ordered mine from Fabric.com (in my favorite color) for less than $2 a yard!

– A set of sling rings, which you can order from SlingRings for about $3. I ordered a sampler set of the nylon rings to test which size worked best for my sling, and I settled on the small ones. I chose nylon over aluminum to avoid rust issues. Because they are less slippery — the mesh is already a pretty smooth fabric, so the nylon feels more secure than metal.

– Optional item: A sewing machine and/or needle and thread. Hem the sling makes it sturdier and easier to adjust, but this is unnecessary. If you choose to hem, it doesn’t have to be done to a golden standard of sewing. Even the most basic sewing machine skill will work just fine.

Directions:

Step 1: Lay the mesh on the floor and cut it in half lengthwise. This will allow you to make two slings: one for you and one for a friend! I passed off my extra mesh to another mama and told her what size rings she needed to order to make herself a $3 sling. Needless to say, she was pretty psyched.

Step 2: If you want to hem your sling, hem the edges with a straight stitch. Hemming may help the fabric to hold up better through repeated wear and washing, making adjusting the sling a little bit easier.

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