When an imperfection occurs in the weaving process rather than throwing something away that is otherwise perfectly usable, or cutting around small blemishes and generating more off-cuts, we simply grade each item and offer the opportunity for customers to purchase an almost perfect item at a discounted price.
Rest assured, all of our 2nd or 3rd grade slings are perfectly safe to carry your baby.
Our first and second grades range offers an opportunity for customers to purchase items at a reduced price, whilst helping us to reach our environmental goal to limit waste.
It's important to us that our customers receive the highest quality items and so we carefully quality check and pack each product individually. Read on to learn more on how we grade our products.
What is a Second Grade?:
A 2nd grade item will have a few flaws which are only apparent when looking carefully for them. We have a few examples of common weaving flaws below:
Missing Threads
This could be one or two missing threads on your baby sling or scarf. A missing thread will be either along the full length or breadth of the fabric piece and are usually only visible when holding the fabric up to the light. Often these tighten up on washing, making them even less visible than they were at the time of purchase.
Skipping Threads
The images above show an example of skipping threads. Just a few skipping threads across the wrap would not be classed as a grade 2 item, however, when they are closer together (like in the image on the right) this would be classed as a grade 2 item.
Sometimes when the fabric is being woven, the loom will skip a stitch which results in a slightly longer thread, as shown above. When there are many skipping threads in one area or many throughout the wrap, this will be classed as a 2nd grade. As it can be deemed as a normal result of jacquard woven fabric, a few skipping threads are considered acceptable in a 1st grade wrap.
Broken Threads
Broken thread can occasionally occur and look like this. When they are close together they are easy to fix by tying them together and trimming. We have video tutorials on how to fix these.
Less common, 2nd grade flaws:
Size
If a woven wrap ends up being a little shorter than it's intended size (approx 10cm or more after washing), this will be classed as a 2nd grade item. Sometimes wraps may end up a little narrower than our average (59-70cm) these may also be classed as a 2nd grade item.
Shifting Threads
Sometimes a wrap can have many shifting threads, this is where the threads move apart a little and can often be fixed easily by nudging them back in place followed with a wash. This isn't normally considered a flaw. Wraps with a more open weave are prone to this and should be stated on the product listing page. If you wash these wraps before first use, it will tighten the weave and minimise the issue. You can learn how-to-fix any of these elements, by following our instructions on our Youtube Videos.
These have been fixed by pushing back into place following our tutorial
Colour Imperfections
Very occasionally there can be a colour imperfection or a small stain on a product, depending on how noticeable this is, it will either be marked as a 2nd or 3rd grade item.
What is a Third Grade:
Our grade three products have flaws which, whilst not compromising on the safety or integrity of the wrap, will be somewhat more noticeable. They may include some of the elements mentioned above but in greater concentration.
You can visit our blog post to check if your imperfection is a normal characteristic of jacquard woven fabric or not.
If for any reason you would like to return your Woven Second item, it is covered by our 7 day return policy: See our Shipping & Returns information.
Oscha Scrap Packs
We take our environmental goal one step further by carefully sorting through our off-cuts to make small, medium or large Scrap Packs for purchase. These highly sought after goody bags full of surprises are perfect for crafting. They are normally listed on our website on Wednesday afternoons as part of our Secret Stash Happy Hour celebration, you can find more information on our Facebook page every Tuesday.
If you come across an imperfection such as a small pull or shifting threads, both of which are common when using woven wraps, you can learn how to fix these with our How-To Guides on our YouTube channel.
If you have any concerns about your woven wrap you can contact us on info@oschaslings.com.
