ASG Safe Sleeper Project with Grace Health Center

Kit for sleeper includes:

  1. Cut out pieces for one sleeper, with 2 sleeves, back & two front pieces
  2. Zipper
  3. 2 pieces of sleeve ribbing, each 2.5” x 6.5”
  4. One piece of sleeper fabric 2.5” x 14” for neck band

Sewing instructions use flat method as much as possible. Use 5/8” seam allowance except where narrower seam is indicated for neck area. A serger may be used for all except zipper & neckband sewing.

  1. Sew zipper in the front two pieces using the Exposed Zipper method. Measure the zipper on the fabric to determine where to sew the seam below the zipper. Sew that seam at 5/8th”. Place the end of the zipper tape at the cut edge of the neck.Turn under about 3/8” on one side, being careful not to stretch the fabric. (Double sided seam tape is a good help here if you have it.) Sew down one side with the zipper foot. Repeat on the other side. It is good to topstitch a 2nd line outside the first one to hold the zipper tape in place inside the sleeper.
  1. Put ribbing on each lower sleeve edge using a serger or zigzag stitch on the sewing machine, stretching ribbing as you go to fit the sleeve edge.
  2. Sew raglan sleeves to the front & back pieces
  3. Neck band for flannel sleeper: Fold in the short edge approximately 1/4 - 1/2”. Fold the band in half, wrong sides together. Sew the long edge to the front neck edge of body with 1/4” seam. Then fold band in half toward the back & over the seam. Pin place & stitch in the ditch from the front. The neck is now finished.

5. Neck band for fleece sleeper: Fold the short edge in approximately 1/4 - 1/2”. Attach a single thickness of the band to the raw edge using 1/4 - 1/2” seam. Trim seam to 1/4” & wrap fleece around edge & stitch down (stitch in the ditch). Trim excess fleece away on back, cutting close to stitching, but not into it.

WHEN FOLDING THE ENDS IN, EACH NECK EDGE MEASURES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, SO THE SHORT EDGE THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLDED IN WILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTED TO FIT.

6. Last seam coming up! It is one long seam to finish the sleeper: Putting right sides together, pin at underarm seams & wrist, & around the lower edge as needed. Serge or sew from the wrist edge to the underarm to the side seam down & across the bottom, up the other side seam to the underarm, & down to the wrist. All done and ready to provide warmth in safe sleeping conditions for a new baby.

7. Fold & put in the plastic bag you received it in. Return it to the designated place or person. Thanks so much for your good work!