How to Sew a Child's Pillow into a Sleeping Bag

The sleepover is a rite of passage for young girls.

Little girls are very excited by their first sleepover at a friend's house, but sometimes get a little bit homesick at bedtime. A custom made sleeping bag with her own pillow just might ease that anxiety and make her more comfortable. It also works great for weekends at Grandma's house or just lying on the floor in front of the TV set. A change of fabric makes this a great project for a little boy as well. Boy or girl, little campers all enjoy a sleeping bag of their very own.

Things You'll Need

• Twin bed sheet
• Fleece fabric, twice the height of the child
• Pillow
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Thread
• 2 packages of satin blanket binding
• Dressmaker pins
• Sewing machine
• 2 yards of matching ribbon or cord

Instructions

1. Fold the sheet in half and cut a rectangle as tall as the child and about 36 inches wide. Cut a second rectangle the size of the pillow plus a 2-inch border.

2. Cut a length of fleece in the same size and shape as the first rectangle.

3. Spread the fleece face up on a smooth work surface.

4. Lay the sheet on top of the fleece aligning all four edges and sew all the way around three edges, leaving the top edge open.

5. Turn the piece right side out.

6. Finish the open seam with blanket binding.

7. Lay the project on a smooth surface with the sheet side up. Fold the project so that the bottom extends longer than the top by the length of the narrow side of the pillow and the finished edge is on the shorter potion.

8. Fold the edges of the smaller rectangular portion of the sheet to create a 1-inch hem. Fold one short edge over by an additional inch. Top-stitch that edge.

9. Lay the rectangle on the long single-layer in the correct position to hold the pillow. Secure it with pins and sew around the three unfinished edges to create an envelope.

10. Make sure the edges are still aligned, pinning if necessary. Top-stich the top to the bottom.

11. Sew the blanket binding all around the project, mitering the corners.

12. Slip the pillow into the envelope at the top of the bag.

13. Roll the finished sleeping bag around the pillow and the tie ribbon or cord around it in two places to hold it closed. Use a simple shoe string bow if you cannot locate a ribbon or cord.

References

• The Complete Encyclopedia of Crafts; Marshall Cavendish Limited
• Nancy Cornwell's More Polar Magic: Expanded Fleece Techniques; Nancy Cornwell