Sleeps with the Fishes Sleep Sack

[citizengeek]

Another new baby is due to arrive in the next few weeks.  I made my friend a fishy little sleep sack for the darling new boy.



The charming fabric is snuggle flannel from Joann's (circa 2005- I'm working through my fabric stash these days).

For a link to the pattern (it's from Jan Andrea)
and view of an earlier sleep sack look here:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=193481.msg2038955#msg2038955.
I also wrote a little about sleep sacks on my blog http://babytoolkit.blogspot.com/2007/08/snug-little-bugs-swaddling-sleep-sacks.html.

Thanks for looking!

[southern5footer]

These are an adorable idea.
They look great.

[k^2]

That looks great!

[chatterchicky08]

this is great! I need one of these for sure AND i love that fabric, so cute

[italianchildhood]

Very cute! I love the fabric.

[Tanzie]

where did you get that fabric?
i am in love the it!

[citizengeek]

Thanks, Tanzie.  It's a snuggle flannel from Joann Fabrics.  I think I got in 2006 or 2005, but it may still be available.  They have their snuggle flannel on sale for $2.50/yd this week if you can find it.

[mari_13]

Looks great and cozy!  I bought some of these for my son and now hope to sew some for my expecting friend!  They are extremely valueable on cold Wisconsin nights!

[OriginalKat]

I want to make one of these. I have the fleece and the zipper, but I don't have any baby clothes to use as a template. I'm making it for my SIL. Her baby's about 6 months old, but wears size 18months. Any tips?

[citizengeek]

I want to make one of these. I have the fleece and the zipper, but I don't have any baby clothes to use as a template. Any tips?

I've been there, and I didn't have anyone I could even borrow baby clothes from for almost a decade.  So my first tip- borrow one from a friend with kids may totally be worthless.

Tip #2.  Throw some big paper (I like wax paper- but only succeed in drawing on it with pencils) in your car and hit the baby store.  Buy a sleep sack in the largest size (usually 12 months is the biggest, but that's okay for our purposes). 

Take the sleep sack to your car, fold it in half, and carefully trace its outline.  Tuck a piece of paper inside the unfolded sack and trace the front neck line.  Flip and trace the back of the neck hole.

Return sleep sack immediately- before you have a chance to lose the receipt (tell them you called and found out it was the wrong size).  Use the paper template when you're home and make a second template with seam allowances on all sides (I use 1/2 inch for fleece and 3/8 for flannel).  Also add 1 1/2 inches for the size jump from 12 months to 18 months.

Cut your fabric off the folded in half template- then make neck adjustments based on your front and back neckhole tracing (remember to leave size adjustments and seam allowances when altering the neck).