Fancy Finishes: The Water Family
This post started as an Instagram story just to talk about a few finishes that resemble those in the "water" family of finishes. It became a much longer story dissecting the finer points of Water finish fundamentals, and inspired me to do some experimenting with the different combinations and how they feel. THAT then led me to wonder - just how many varieties of Water do we have, and how could we combine them in all kinds of fancy ways??
Here I'll break down the different finishes that apply to the Water Family on a Double Hammock back carry (with a small appearance by Shepherd's Carry as well, and there's one surprise carry in here, I won't spoil it!!). There were SO many varieties here that this post is limited to DH, but the Water finishes can be used on a Charlie's Cross Carry as well. The addition of a waist belt with CCC adds even more fancy Water varieties. Give the carries a try for yourself with the fancy finish elements outlined in the formula for a fancy Water finish!
Here I'll break down the different finishes that apply to the Water Family on a Double Hammock back carry (with a small appearance by Shepherd's Carry as well, and there's one surprise carry in here, I won't spoil it!!). There were SO many varieties here that this post is limited to DH, but the Water finishes can be used on a Charlie's Cross Carry as well. The addition of a waist belt with CCC adds even more fancy Water varieties. Give the carries a try for yourself with the fancy finish elements outlined in the formula for a fancy Water finish!
Requirements
First, let's talk about the requirements to be in the Water Family.
A fancy finish is defined as "water" on a back carry that has:
(1) a chest pass;
(2) a tail cascading down from each shoulder: one tail pinned under the chest pass and one tail over; and
(3) the two tails interact below the chest pass before (or maybe as) the carry is tied off.
There are MANY variations to create with all the components that qualify under this criteria so let's explore them now!
First, let's talk about the requirements to be in the Water Family.
A fancy finish is defined as "water" on a back carry that has:
(1) a chest pass;
(2) a tail cascading down from each shoulder: one tail pinned under the chest pass and one tail over; and
(3) the two tails interact below the chest pass before (or maybe as) the carry is tied off.
There are MANY variations to create with all the components that qualify under this criteria so let's explore them now!
Freshwater
Freshwater is the most simple Water finish: one tail comes under the chest pass and one over, then the tails cross once at the bottom edge of the chest pass, then come around to baby to tie under bum (or both tails can come all the way back around to tie in front). This can be done with a base-1 to base+1 size wrap and starts in a Double Hammock with the middle marker off center (measure from sternum to armpit twice, I call this a "DH off center").
Freshwater is the most simple Water finish: one tail comes under the chest pass and one over, then the tails cross once at the bottom edge of the chest pass, then come around to baby to tie under bum (or both tails can come all the way back around to tie in front). This can be done with a base-1 to base+1 size wrap and starts in a Double Hammock with the middle marker off center (measure from sternum to armpit twice, I call this a "DH off center").
Half Saltwater/Birte's
This one adds a twist: instead of just crossing the tails at the bottom edge of the chest pass, Birte's gives them a full twist. The result is a little more secure-feeling because the twist really locks the tails together and reduces some of the slipping that can happen, but of course doesn't always happen, with a simple Freshwater finish. Birte's can be a helpful name to use when the twist component is combined with others, but Half Saltwater is more descriptive. Half Saltwater/Birte's uses the same size wrap and starts in the same spot as Freshwater.
This one adds a twist: instead of just crossing the tails at the bottom edge of the chest pass, Birte's gives them a full twist. The result is a little more secure-feeling because the twist really locks the tails together and reduces some of the slipping that can happen, but of course doesn't always happen, with a simple Freshwater finish. Birte's can be a helpful name to use when the twist component is combined with others, but Half Saltwater is more descriptive. Half Saltwater/Birte's uses the same size wrap and starts in the same spot as Freshwater.
Saltwater
Here's where it starts looking a lot more complex: Saltwater adds a cross of the tails above the chest pass as well as the cross below (this is a cross like Freshwater, not a twist like Half Saltwater/Birte's). Saltwater might require a slightly longer wrap due to the extra cross above the chest pass, so I'd start with a base size, maybe base+1 if you want bring those bunched passes around baby again and tie in front. It starts a "DH off center" like Freshwater and Half Saltwater/Birte's.
Also of note -- technically a true Saltwater is just a cross of the tails above and below the chest, but you could also do a twist below!! I'll demonstrate it in "All the Things," below. (Thanks to Laura who is @daily_wrap_videos on IG and TikToc for the inspiration!).
Here's where it starts looking a lot more complex: Saltwater adds a cross of the tails above the chest pass as well as the cross below (this is a cross like Freshwater, not a twist like Half Saltwater/Birte's). Saltwater might require a slightly longer wrap due to the extra cross above the chest pass, so I'd start with a base size, maybe base+1 if you want bring those bunched passes around baby again and tie in front. It starts a "DH off center" like Freshwater and Half Saltwater/Birte's.
Also of note -- technically a true Saltwater is just a cross of the tails above and below the chest, but you could also do a twist below!! I'll demonstrate it in "All the Things," below. (Thanks to Laura who is @daily_wrap_videos on IG and TikToc for the inspiration!).
Sweetwater
Here's a component that could go with anything listed so far: it just adds a flip to the chest pass (this is a great one for wraps that have contrasting sides!!). Personally I prefer to perform the flip as seen here: with the bottom edge coming out and up over the top edge. The bottom edge helps pin the top edge down on my chest to maintain tension of that first pass while I bring the second pass over baby.
This one could also be done with a Back Wrap Cross Carry! There's our bonus carry I mentioned above!! BWCC would use a base to base+1 size wrap for a Water finish and starts with baby's back on the middle marker.
Here's a component that could go with anything listed so far: it just adds a flip to the chest pass (this is a great one for wraps that have contrasting sides!!). Personally I prefer to perform the flip as seen here: with the bottom edge coming out and up over the top edge. The bottom edge helps pin the top edge down on my chest to maintain tension of that first pass while I bring the second pass over baby.
This one could also be done with a Back Wrap Cross Carry! There's our bonus carry I mentioned above!! BWCC would use a base to base+1 size wrap for a Water finish and starts with baby's back on the middle marker.
Rapids
This one is actually a way of tying of after the Water finish. It has one tail that is shorter and one that is long enough to wrap back around baby, then meet the shorter tail in front to tie off. This could also be tied with a ring (see the final example!). Rapids usually uses a base-1 to base size wrap and starts far off center, with the shorter tail just long enough to complete the Water finish (ie come through the chest pass) and tie off.
This one is actually a way of tying of after the Water finish. It has one tail that is shorter and one that is long enough to wrap back around baby, then meet the shorter tail in front to tie off. This could also be tied with a ring (see the final example!). Rapids usually uses a base-1 to base size wrap and starts far off center, with the shorter tail just long enough to complete the Water finish (ie come through the chest pass) and tie off.
Rings
Why not put a ring on it? Or two?? For Short Sweetwater (which could be Short Freshwater, Short Birte's... whatever!), the ring is really important (see What Didn't Work, below). If your final tie-off is after the ring, then the ring is really just adding decoration.
Technically, on the Saltwater finish in this example the upper ring "locks" those two tails together, so the bulk of the carry, the weight-bearing part, is done being tightened even though we haven't finished all our twists and turns. In that carry, once that second ring goes on and locks the tails under the chest pass, we are technically tied off, even though I went on to tie the tails under baby's bum. I found I really needed to be done with tightening at the top of the chest pass if I was going to tie off there, but I couldn't allow too much slack between the rings otherwise that top ring will creep up my chest over time and the passes over baby will become loose. So tightening is really important always, but with ring placement that locks it all in!
A "short" water finish would use a base-2ish size wrap (so precise I know, it's harder with shorter wraps) that, if tied this way, can start the same "DH" distance off center described with the Freshwater finish.
Why not put a ring on it? Or two?? For Short Sweetwater (which could be Short Freshwater, Short Birte's... whatever!), the ring is really important (see What Didn't Work, below). If your final tie-off is after the ring, then the ring is really just adding decoration.
Technically, on the Saltwater finish in this example the upper ring "locks" those two tails together, so the bulk of the carry, the weight-bearing part, is done being tightened even though we haven't finished all our twists and turns. In that carry, once that second ring goes on and locks the tails under the chest pass, we are technically tied off, even though I went on to tie the tails under baby's bum. I found I really needed to be done with tightening at the top of the chest pass if I was going to tie off there, but I couldn't allow too much slack between the rings otherwise that top ring will creep up my chest over time and the passes over baby will become loose. So tightening is really important always, but with ring placement that locks it all in!
A "short" water finish would use a base-2ish size wrap (so precise I know, it's harder with shorter wraps) that, if tied this way, can start the same "DH" distance off center described with the Freshwater finish.
All The Things
Why not?? Add all the components together and see what you get! Here I used a Double Hammock with a Sweetheart chest pass, a Saltwater water finish with an extra Birte's twist, and a Rapids tie-off with a ring. Call it whatever you want, but it sure does add all the things! And it was SO comfortable!! I really like the Birte's twist - it locks things in so well while finishing the final ring tie-off: you don't even need to hold the tension of that shorter tail!
The Formula
Given the components listed above, you can probably gather that you have a few combinations for what can be put together here:
(1) select your carry (lots of Double Hammock here but as mentioned a Charlie's Cross Carry could be used or even Back Wrap Cross Carry*).
(2) select your chest pass (traditional or sweetheart - *BWCC must use a sweetheart... or at least that's all that seems to have been done with the chest pass for a BWCC X-Water so far...)
(3) select your "water:" fresh, half/Birte, salt.
(4) select your tie off: short/ring, rapids, tie under bum, or cross under baby and tie in front.
What didn't work
I did a bunch of experiments to work out what the individual components of these different varieties are. There's a reason why what's listed above is listed: because some other things didn't work! Maybe you'll find something different, but these are the tries that not only did I not love, I also didn't think were at all functional.
Birte twist above and below (like maybe "super salty Birte? HA!): a twist above the chest pass wasn't great for me. It pushed the top edge of the chest pass down too much and added too much pressure at the sternum for my liking (and I LOVE the twist of Birte's and don't mind a ring on my chest so I thought I might like a lot of Birte's but no).
Short any variety with a knot below the chest pass: secure any "shortwater" carry with a ring, because a knot right at the bottom edge is really frustrating! The knot won't stay down. The way one tail comes over the chest pass and one tail under, the knot wants to creep up that chest pass. There's a reason why the classic Shepherd's Carry has it's knot on the chest pass: it just doesn't want to hold at knot well any other way. At that spot where the tails would normally cross or twist for a Freshwater or Half Saltwater/Birte's, add a ring for a short version of a water finish (shown in the "rings" section above).
What will YOU learn by experimenting?? What will you wrap with all these components!? Tag #fancyfinishfriday or me, @amywrapsbabies so I can see!!
Here's a video compilation of all the short videos from above:
Why not?? Add all the components together and see what you get! Here I used a Double Hammock with a Sweetheart chest pass, a Saltwater water finish with an extra Birte's twist, and a Rapids tie-off with a ring. Call it whatever you want, but it sure does add all the things! And it was SO comfortable!! I really like the Birte's twist - it locks things in so well while finishing the final ring tie-off: you don't even need to hold the tension of that shorter tail!
The Formula
Given the components listed above, you can probably gather that you have a few combinations for what can be put together here:
(1) select your carry (lots of Double Hammock here but as mentioned a Charlie's Cross Carry could be used or even Back Wrap Cross Carry*).
(2) select your chest pass (traditional or sweetheart - *BWCC must use a sweetheart... or at least that's all that seems to have been done with the chest pass for a BWCC X-Water so far...)
(3) select your "water:" fresh, half/Birte, salt.
(4) select your tie off: short/ring, rapids, tie under bum, or cross under baby and tie in front.
What didn't work
I did a bunch of experiments to work out what the individual components of these different varieties are. There's a reason why what's listed above is listed: because some other things didn't work! Maybe you'll find something different, but these are the tries that not only did I not love, I also didn't think were at all functional.
Birte twist above and below (like maybe "super salty Birte? HA!): a twist above the chest pass wasn't great for me. It pushed the top edge of the chest pass down too much and added too much pressure at the sternum for my liking (and I LOVE the twist of Birte's and don't mind a ring on my chest so I thought I might like a lot of Birte's but no).
Short any variety with a knot below the chest pass: secure any "shortwater" carry with a ring, because a knot right at the bottom edge is really frustrating! The knot won't stay down. The way one tail comes over the chest pass and one tail under, the knot wants to creep up that chest pass. There's a reason why the classic Shepherd's Carry has it's knot on the chest pass: it just doesn't want to hold at knot well any other way. At that spot where the tails would normally cross or twist for a Freshwater or Half Saltwater/Birte's, add a ring for a short version of a water finish (shown in the "rings" section above).
What will YOU learn by experimenting?? What will you wrap with all these components!? Tag #fancyfinishfriday or me, @amywrapsbabies so I can see!!
Here's a video compilation of all the short videos from above:
