sleeping bag tutorial

This sleeping bag was made for my daughter, so it’s pretty little, but the same tutorial would work for any size! Let’s get started!

Step 1:  So, obviously the first thing you want to do is pick your fabric and lining. I picked a brown damask fabric (OK, they were old curtains from Walmart…) for the outside, and a pink and white flannel for the lining.

Step 2:  Figure out what size you want your sleeping bag, and cut both your fabrics in that size. For example: my daughter is still pretty small, so I made hers 38"X45”, which is 38"X22” finished size when it’s folded.

Step 3:  If you want to embellish it with polka-dots (or whatever you want! Get creative!), trace a cup or bowl in the size you want your dots onto felt, and cut them out.

Step 4:  Lay your cut-outs onto the fabric you’ve chosen for the outside and pin them where you want them. I recommend only putting them on the front of the bag, so you’d just pin them on the right half of the fabric.

Step 5:  Set your machine to zig-zag, and sew all the way around all of the dots.

Step 6:  Once you’ve sewn on all your appliques, place your lining fabric on top of the outside fabric, right sides together, and sew up three of the sides, leaving the top side open.

Step 7: Cut 4 layers of batting (you may use more or less, depending on how puffy you’d like it to be) to the same size of your fabrics. Turn your sleeping bag shell (the fabrics you sewed together) right side in, and stuff your batting in through the open top. Smooth everything down.

Step 8:  On the open side, fold the outside fabric over the lining fabric, with edges tucked under, and pin all the way down.

Step 9: Sew all along the top side.

Step 10:  Mark several lines across the width of the bag with a measuring tape and pins, I did three lines on mine, you’ll probably want more if it’s a bigger bag.

Step 11:  Sew along the lines that you’ve marked, stopping(with a back-stitch) before and after your appliques so you don’t sew through them. You may want to change your bobbin thread to match the color of the lining at this point, since it will show on the bottom. I forgot to! Oops! :o)

Step 12:  The (almost) finished product! At this point you’ll want to choose a closure. I don’t know if you can buy a zipper long enough to use on a sleeping bag, so if you want you can use ties, buttons, hooks, whatever you fancy. I actually just used velcro, which was nice and easy!

Step 13: You may sew the Velcro right on with your machine (being sure, again, that your bobbin thread matches the color of your outer fabric!), or you may hand stitch it, so you don’t create another line on the outside.

Step 14:  Ta-da! You’re finished! Isn’t it cute??

I have no idea why I made my toddler a sleeping bag. We never go camping, and at 2 years old, she probably won’t be having sleep-overs any time soon. But as they say, cute needs no reason, right?