Starfish Sleeper
Make a pattern. It should be several inches longer than baby, with generous width for legs, tummy, and arms.
All you need is one half of the starfish, like so.
Leave a 3/4 in seam allowance along the center seam for attaching the zipper. You will cut out this pattern 3 times: twice for the front panels, and once on folded fabric for the back.
First, let's cut the back. Fold the fabric and pin the pattern with the inner edge of the seam allowance along the fold. (leave the seam allowance hanging off the edge of the fabric) Cut out the pattern.
Next, cut the left and right front sides. Make sure you cut the pattern once right - side - up, and once upside down, so your two halves are mirror images of each other. This time, make sure you include the zipper seam allowance.
Lastly, we need an inner zipper cover piece. This is simply a long strip that is 2 inches wide and 5 inches longer than the length of your whole sleeper. Then cut the strip to taper the last 3 inches into a point.
Prep the zipper cover (ZC) by folding it in half, right side out. Use a edging or zigzag stitch to bind the open edges together. Then it should look like this:
Choose one of the front panels to attach the zipper and zipper cover strip. Either one will do. (In my photos, I'm using the front panel that will cover the baby's right arm. As you're looking at the baby, it will be on your left) Fold the seam allowance on the center of the front panel under, right side out. Iron this fold flat.
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Now line up the zipper so the end of the teeth are even with the top edge of the collar fabric, and the center fold just barely covers half the width of the teeth. Pin in place, from the front (outside)
Before we sew this, we need to pin on the zipper cover (zc). Line the ZC up behind the zipper with the angle portion sticking up above the collar.
Here's what the "tuck" process looks like in photographs:
That was the hard part! Now just sew the zipper onto the panel. I found it best to start at the collar and sew downward. (That way if there's any slack, it will get pushed down toward the bottom, and not mess up the collar.
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Sew a few horizontal rows across the bottom of the zipper to secure it.
If your fabric might fray, now would be a good time to finish the inside raw edges next to the zipper.
Then lay the back panel on top of the front, right sides together, and sew all the way around the border, being sure to leave the collar open.
Finish the raw edges, and flip right-side-out.
Cut a long 3/4" strip of fleece or other non-fraying fabric. This will be the collar lining.
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The end!
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How much fabric did you need for this?
ReplyDelete1 yard 60" knit
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo you have the measurements for a equivalent for a small zipadee-zip?
ReplyDeleteSo happy to find this pattern. My newborn grandaughter hates the arm down swaddlers. My daughter bought an arms up one but it was $38 for one. I hope this will work for her. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHow do you close the bottom of the front two panels below the zipper?? I’m not understanding how to get that part closed :(. Appreciate the help!
ReplyDeleteJust flip inside out and sew across the bottom being careful of the zipper teeth and finis with a zig zag or serger :)
DeleteDo you think this would work with a snuggle flannel fabric? Or would it be too restrictive then? I don't have any knit at home.
ReplyDeleteI'm using a 2xl t-shirt to make one.
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ReplyDeleteHello! So glad I found this pattern! Thanks for posting it. I'm wondering what fabrics you are using. Cotton, flannel, cotton/lycra, knit, fleece?
ReplyDeleteWould you show your measurements? Wing span? Length?
ReplyDeleteThis is so so cool thank you for sharing! What would the measurements be for a 2t 3t zip?
ReplyDeleteMeasurements for a large?
ReplyDeleteI just made this! Your instructions were very helpful. The one thing I would do differently next time is cut the collar deeper in the front than the back (as it is, it bunches up under baby's many chins). Also, I used a pretty stretchy knit fabric, which was hard for a beginner sewer on a borrowed machine to work with, especially sewing the zipper on (although it did mean no fraying edges to finish inside!).
ReplyDeleteThank you for such detailed instructions. I about have everything ready to begin my first one, and then hopefully, many more. We were blessed with twin girls 5 months ago.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I download the pattern?
ReplyDelete