DIY Toddler Sleeping Bag TUTORIAL

Today, I’m sharing a project that I made for Natalie a few months ago, when the weather still felt like summer, and our lawn was this Utah, thick, green suburbia grass. The kind you want to lay down in and try to make grass angels.

Sigh… 🙂

I had been admiring all these cute little sleeping bags from the Land of Nod  and decided to DIY my own version for my daughter Nat. I had just collected all the materials to make it, when we decided to move. Instead of moving the loose materials, I decided to just “get’er done.” I am SO glad I did! One…because it was way easier to pack it and move it in finished form. Two…I have it done so I can share it with you today!

You know…in case you want to make one for Christmas. 🙂  Natalie uses it as a quilt too. It’s super cute and versatile.

I added a little tied quilt detail to the outside, similar to this linen quilt by Martha Stewart. I love, love it.

MATERIALS

100 inch separating zipper*

Main/outer fabric** – 1 3/4 yards if using 50″+ wide fabric, 2 7/8 yards if using 43″-45″ wide fabric

Lining fabric – same fabric allowances as main

Batting – same as lining and main, add 1-2 layers as desired

Yarn – worsted weight, any type, about 10 yards

Basic sewing supplies (sewing machine, scissors, pins. matching thread, etc.)

Zipper foot

Yarn/tapestry hand sewing needle

 

Materials Notes:

* 100 inches is plenty of zipper. Expect to trim off over 20″ for this toddler sized sleeping bag. I sourced my zipper at Jo-Ann and the only suitable zipper I could find was 100 inches. If you can find one that is 75 -80″, that would suit this project perfectly.

** For the main or outer fabric, choose a bottom weight, or something heavyweight. I actually used a painter’s drop cloth. For the lining, choose a flannel or cotton fabric. I used a quilter’s cotton from the Ribbon Retreat (sorry, they don’t sell fabric anymore!). For the batting, I used polyester quilt batting and I used two layers.

ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE 1/2 inch. 

STEP ONE: Prepare main and lining pieces.

You want to cut or create rectangles of fabric that are 50″ by 57″. If your fabric is wide enough, you can simply cut your fabric to size. If it isn’t, you’ll need to sew two smaller rectangles together that are 50″ by 29″.

You should now have:

This illustration only shows one layer of batting. Remember to include more layers for a fluffier sleeping bag, if desired.

STEP TWO: Prepare zipper.

a. Carefully, remove the zipper stops at the top of the zipper. Set them aside and save them for later.

b. Measure your zipper to about 77 inches. Zip your zipper up to the 77″ mark, mark about 1 inch above that, and cut the excess zipper off at that mark.

c. Using needle nose pliers, clamp the zipper stops back onto the trimmed zipper at the 77″ mark. You can also sew new zipper stops into the zipper tape by hand, if your original stops are not salvageable. Simply whip stitch on the inside edges of the tape, until you built up a strong knot/zipper stop.

d. Now, your zipper is ready to be sew into the sleeping bag.

STEP THREE: Pin and sew all layers together.

a. Lay the lining down, right side face up. Lay the main fabric down on top, with the right side facing the right side of the lining.

b. Lay the batting on top of the wrong side of the main fabric.

c. Now, unzip zipper all the way. Place the top of one side of the zipper about 1/2 inch from the top of the sleeping bag, close to the edge, with the zipper tape lined up with the raw side edges, and the teeth facing inward.

d. Pin all layers together, all the way around, making sure the separating zipper bottoms line up and meet up at the middle seam of the sleeping bag, and that both sides are 1/2 inch from the top on each side. You want to keep thing as even and symmetrical as possible.

e. When you get to pinning the corners, clip the zipper tape a couple of times , without cutting too close to the zipper teeth, to help the zipper curve with sleeping bag.

f. Using a zipper foot, sew all the way around and through all layers. Start at the top and then end about 5 inches short from where you started, leaving an opening.

g. Trim all four corners to reduce bulk for when you turn it right side out.  Be careful not to clip through any stitches, and take extra care around the corners with the zippers. You may need to clip the fabric seam allowance as well so that it will turn right side out neatly.

h. Through the opening, turn the sleeping bag right side out. Check your corners to make sure they came out clean and without puckers. Go back and re-sew and clip the zipper tape more, if needed.

STEP FOUR: Top stitching and square knots.

a. Fold the raw edges of the opening inward and press in place with an iron, or pin in place. Top stitch all the way around the sleeping bag, close to the edge, and stitch the opening close.

b. Tie rows of evenly spaced yarn square knots into the sleeping bag. Make sure the knots are square knots, or they risk coming undone over time.

It’s easier and can save you yarn, if you keep sewing and knotting yarn knots without stopping to clip your yarn. Do this until you’re done or out of yarn on your needle. Clip the yarn tails down at the end.

That’s pretty much all there is to it!

Connect your separating zipper ends, and give it a test zip to ensure everything is working and matching up properly.

I didn’t add elastic loops to the bottom, but you  are certainly welcome to do that, so that it’s easier to roll up and store.

The finished dimensions are 49″ x 56″ or 49″ x 28″ when folded and zipped. It fits, a toddler/preschooler with room to grow…as well as a 6 year old…apparently. 😉

She’s pretending to sleep. I die….

I think it’s safe to say she loves the sleeping bag. 😉

Aside from just being large, and a little cumbersome to sew that way, this project is really quite simple. I was surprised at how quickly this one came together.

I’ve considered making more, maybe with some plaid flannel, and some cotton batting. How cute would it be to make Christmas sleeping bags!? We’ll see how far sewing Santa gets this year. 😉