How to Knit a Baby's Sleeper

Knit this simple sleeper to keep your baby warm all night long.

It’s a universal occurrence: Sleeping babies wiggle out of their covers during the night. Because babies aren’t able to pull the covers back up, parents frequently dress them in sleepers, which are bag-like garments that keep babies warm without the need for a blanket. This pattern can be adjusted for size by using larger needles and bulky yarn or smaller needles and sport-weight yarn.

Things You'll Need

• 200 yards worsted-weight yarn
• Knitting needles, size 8
• Stitch holders, 3
• Scissors
• Darning needle

Instructions

1. Cast on 40 stitches by using the long-tail cast-on method. Purl the first row. This side will be the “wrong” side, or inside, of the sleeper.

2. Knit the second row. This will be the “right” side. Continue knitting the right side and purling the wrong side until the piece measures 12 inches and you have completed a wrong-side row.

3. Knit 10 stitches and place those 10 stitches on a stitch holder. Knit the next 30 stitches to complete the row.

4. Purl 10 stitches. These will become one of the shoulder straps. Turn your work and knit 10 stitches. Repeat these two rows until the strap measures 2 inches. Place these 10 stitches on a stitch holder and cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail.

5. Place the 10 stitches on the first stitch holder on the needles and purl the 10 stitches to the end of the row. Turn your work and knit 10 stitches. Continue in this way, knitting and purling rows until the second shoulder strap measures 2 inches. Place the 10 stitches on the stitch holder again.

6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to create the sleeper’s back, but instead of placing the last 10 stitches on at stitch holder, keep them on the needle.

7. Position the front and back of the sleeper wrong sides together and fasten the shoulder strap still on the needle by using the kitchener stitch. Cut the yarn and place the other shoulder-strap stitches onto the knitting needles. Fasten these sides of the strap by using the Kitchener stitch as well.

8. Flip one side of the sleeper, placing the right sides together. Use the darning needle to sew the side seams together from the bottom up, leaving a 4-inch gap at the top for the arm holes.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the softness of the yarn you choose, as it will be close to the baby’s skin. Also keep in mind that the garment should be machine washable and dryable, so choose a yarn that doesn’t require special care.

References

• KnittingHelp.com: Kitchener Stitch