Baby sleeping sacks keep your baby warm and comfortable while eliminating the need for blankets. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development advises parents to remove soft comforters and blankets from baby's cribs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A baby sleeping sack will keep your baby warm and safe.
Step 1
Fold the baby gown in half lengthwise, matching up the sleeves and hem. Fold the fabric in half.
Step 2
Lay the folded gown on the folded fabric, the folds on top of each other. Pin together with straight pins.
Step 3
Trace around the gown onto the fabric with your pencil or chalk. If your gown has sleeves, fold them back out of the way and trace around the armhole. Your sleep sack will not have sleeves. Remove the pins and set aside the gown.
Step 4
Draw a second line 1 inch out from the first line. This will be your cutting line. The first line is your stitching line.
Step 5
Measure 18 inches from the waist of your gown and place a pin at this point. Your sleep sack needs to be at least this long to allow plenty of room for your baby to kick his feet and move his legs. Draw a line out on either side from this pin, copying the curve of your model gown. Connect this to your stitching line. Draw a second line 1 inch away for your cutting line.
Step 6
Cut along the cutting line.
Step 7
Cut out a second piece for the front of your gown, using the back you just cut as a pattern. Make this piece 1 inch wider on either side to accommodate the zipper.
Step 8
Unfold both sections. At this point, both sections should look just alike. With your scissors, cut the neckline a little lower on the piece you want to use as your front. Refold the front and cut it half along the fold. You should now have three pieces.
Step 9
Pin the two front halves together, right sides facing. Set your sewing machine to its longest basting stitch and sew all the way down the garment 1 inch from the edge. Press this seam open. This is where you will sew your zipper.
Step 10
Install the zipper foot on your sewing machine. Set the machine to a normal stitch length. Spread out the two halves with the wrong sides facing up. Pin the zipper in place, face down, on the seam allowance. Sew the zipper to the garment by sewing a line of stitching down either side of the zipper, using the zipper foot.
Step 11
Pin the front and back of the sleep sack together, right sides facing. Sew along the stitching line, from 1 inch below the armhole on one side, around the bottom, so 1 inch below the armhole on the other side. Pin the shoulders together at the top of the garment and sew these two seams.
Step 12
Press under ½ inch at the neckline and armhole and sew to finish the edges.
Step 13
Turn the sleep sack right side out. Use the point of the scissors to pick out the basting stitches on the front seam and open the zipper.
Tips and Warnings
- Decorate your sleep sack with ribbon or embroidery. Avoid any decorations that might come loose and be swallowed by the baby.
Things You'll Need
- Baby gown
- 1 ½ yards cotton flannel
- Straight pins
- Tape measure
- Pencil or chalk
- Scissors
- 24-inch zipper
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Zipper foot
