How to Make a Baby Sleep Sack

A sleep sack warms baby like a blanket

A baby sleep sack is usually worn to bed over a baby's pajamas. It provides an added layer for warmth and is often used as an alternative to a baby blanket. Sleep sacks can have long sleeves or be sleeveless. The material ranges from thick fleece to thin cotton for varying weather. Some parents feel more comfortable using a sleep sack than a blanket because it fits more snugly on a baby's body than a traditional blanket.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard fleece or cotton fabric
• 18" to 24" long separating zipper
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Tailor's chalk
• Sleeveless sleep sack

Instructions

Prepare Fabric

1. Wash and dry all fabric.

2. Iron the fabric if needed.

3. Fold the fabric in half vertically.

4. Cut along the fold and keep both layers on top of each other. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing out on the top and bottom layer.

5. Lay the pre-made sleep sack on top of the fabric.

6. Trace the sleep sack outline on the fabric with tailor's chalk. Make the outline about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch larger than the pre-made sleep sack. This will be the seam allowance. The top of the folded fabric should also have the neckline traced since it is slightly lower than the back layer of fabric. Set the pre-made sleep sack aside.

7. Cut along the outline.

8. Cut the top layer of fabric up the center to sew in the zipper. There should now be three pieces of cut fabric. The back, the front left and the front right.

Sew the Shoulders and Neck

1. Pin both the left and right shoulder. The wrong side of the fabric should still be facing out.

2. Sew both top shoulder areas with a straight stitch.

3. Fold down a 1/2 inch of fabric on the neck line, and sew along the edge. Pins can be used to hold down the fabric while it is sewn. Take out the pins before the sewing machine is close to them.

Sew the Zipper

1. Lay the closed zipper with the handle at the bottom of the sleep sack. It is more difficult for a child to unzip when the opening is at the bottom of the sleep sack.

2. Open the zipper and pin the right zipper flap to the raw edge of the right panel. The zipper should be pinned to the inner left side of the right panel.

3. Pin the left zipper flap to the inner right edge of the left panel. Close the zipper, and check to make sure the teeth can be seen on the right side of the fabric. If they cannot be seen, re-pin until they are seen.

4. Sew down the left and right zipper flap with a zipper foot if the sewing machine has one. Use a straight stitch.

Sewing the Edges and Arms

1. Sew around all the edges of the sleep sack. Start below the arm hole where the armpit would be and stop at the other side's arm hole where the other armpit would be.

2. Fold a 1/2 inch of fabric down on the arm hole fabric to make a clean edge when the fabric is turned right side out.

3. Sew along the edge of the fabric of the arm hole.

4. Trim any excess fabric or threads, but do not cut too close to the stitches.

5. Turn the sleep sack right side out, and wash it before using it on a baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a pattern if desired. A pattern is especially useful if sleeves are made for the sleep sack.

• Trace the pre-made sleep sack outline larger or smaller for different sizes.

• This project is very forgiving. The lines and cuts don't need to be perfect in order to get a useful sleep sack made.

Resources

• Pattern Review