| |

Step By Step Guide: Sewing A 18″ Doll Sleeping Bag With Pattern Included

Create a cozy and adorable sleeping bag for your child’s 18 dolls with this easy-to-follow sewing pattern. Perfect for sleepovers and imaginative playtime!

Today, I’m going to show you how to make this fun and easy sleeping bag for an American Girl doll (or any other 18″ doll)! Just a note: this doll sleeping bag sewing pattern has a zipper in it!! But do NOT be afraid!! Zippers are NOT SCARY! Just go slow, and you will be fine.

My girls loved playing with American Girl Dolls when they were younger. They had a few different dolls and enjoyed dressing them up and taking them with them on adventures. They loved reading the books that went along with the dolls just as much as the dolls themselves, which made me a fan.

This project is so cute and would make the perfect Christmas or Birthday gift! They would be so cute to take to a sleepover. We used polyester batting to make the bag feel like real sleeping bags!

I’m excited to share a fun project from the archives with you. This sewing tutorial for a sleeping bag sized for an 18″ doll dates back to 2012, if you can believe that. It’s been cleaned up, improved, and is “all-around” more user-friendly! Enjoy!

Sewing Pattern for a Sleeping Bag for an 18″ Doll

Here’s what you need to make this doll sleeping bag tutorial: All fabric shown is from the Sunny Happy Skies Fabric Line by Riley Blake. This line is now a few years old, and I do not believe it is still for sale.

Supplies and Cutting Directions for the Sleeping Bag and Matching Pillow

  • 3 pieces of fabric 8″ x 36″ for the outside of the sleeping bag.
  • 2 pieces of fabric 18.5″ x 23″ for the bag lining.
  • 36″ separating zipper- you could use a parka zipper- the zipper MUST separate; it’s very important .
  • Quilt Batting- I recommend something fluffy (you can use 2 layers if you want to make the inside extra fluffy). You can also use cotton batting, but it will be more quilt-like and less sleeping bag-like.
  • 1 yd jumbo Ric Rack.
  • 1 yd medium Ric Rack.
  • 2 pieces of ribbon 36″ each.
  • If desired, embellishments for the sleeping bag, I used crocheted flowers.
  • Thread.
  • Supplies For the pillow:
  • 3 strips of fabric 3.5″ x 8″ (for pillow front)
  • 1 piece of fabric 8″ x 9″ (for pillow back) 
  • 2 pieces jumbo rick rack cut to 9″ wide stuffing

Note: as this project features ribbon, it is not intended for small children.

Instructions

american girl doll sitting on pink and blue sleeping bag

18″ Doll Sleeping Bag Pattern

Melissa Mortenson
Create a cozy and adorable sleeping bag for your child's 18 doll with this easy-to-follow sewing pattern. Perfect for sleepovers and imaginative playtime!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes

supplies

  • 3 pieces of fabric 8″ x 36″ for the outside of the sleeping bag
  • 2 pieces of fabric 18.5″ x 23″ for the bag lining
  • 1 zipper 36" separating zipper- you could use a parka zipper- the zipper MUST separate; it's very important
  • 1 piece Quilt Batting- I recommend something fluffy you can use 2 layers if you want to make the inside extra fluffy. You can also use cotton batting, but it will be more quilt-like and less sleeping bag-like.
  • 1 yd jumbo Ric Rack
  • 1 yd medium Ric Rack
  • 2 pieces of ribbon 36″ each

Supplies For the pillow:

  • 3 strips Fabric 3.5" x 8" for pillow front
  • 1 piece Fabric 8" x 9" for pillow back
  • 2 pieces Jumbo rick rack cut to 9" wide
  • 1 package Polyester batting

Instructions
 

  • All seams are 1/4″

Step One: Create the Sleeping Bag Outside

  • Stitch the 3, 3″ x 36″ strips of fabric together along the 36″ sides. Press seams either open or to one side. It does not matter which way you press.
  • If desired, apply jumbo and medium rick rack to the sleeping bag front over the top of the seams between the strips.
    You can stitch down the center of the ric rack or iron it on using fusible seam tape. Since this project may take a lot of wear and tear, I recommend stitching it in place. The ric rack is optional. Add it only if you like it.
    3 pieces of colorful quilt fabric on white table

Step Two: Add the Ribbon Ties to the Sleeping Bag

  • Fold the two 36" pieces of ribbon in half lengthwise and stitch to the bottom of the sleeping bag on what will be the back.
    Think of the sleeping bag as a book; it will open, one side will be the front and the other the back. When folded up and zipped the sleeping bag will be approx 18" x 23".
    Finish all raw edges of the ribbon with Fray check.
    fabric with ribbon attached
  • Stitch the first piece of ribbon 6″ in from the outside edge of the sleeping bag. Stitch the 2nd piece of ribbon 6″ away from the first piece.

Step Three: Add the Zipper

  • Separate your zipper- Mark the wrong side of the zipper with a marking pen (sometimes, it’s easy to mix up the right and wrong sides of the zipper).
    blue fabric with white zipper
  • Pin one side of the zipper to one half of the sleeping bag- starting 1″ in from the center bottom of the bag and wrapping around to the top of the sleeping bag.
  • You will pin the zipper upside down (so that the right side of the zipper faces the right side of the fabric) with the teeth of the zipper facing IN. (see photo)
  • To get the zipper to go around the corner- clip a “V” into the zipper tape where it meets the corner of the sleeping bag. The zipper will reach within 1″-2″ of the top of the sleeping bag. It does not need to go all the way to the top.
    zipper on bag
  • Now, pin the other part of the zipper to the other half of the sleeping bag so that the zippers mirror each other.
    illustration of zipper layout for sleeping bag
  • Using your zipper foot, stitch the zipper to the sleeping bag’s front. It is helpful to “move” the zipper pull as you sew so it does not get in the way of your zipper foot.
  • TIP: TEST your zipper before you proceed. Ensure you have it installed correctly before moving on to the next step.

Step Four: Create the Bag Lining

  • Sew the two 18.5″ x 23″ pieces of fabric together along the 23″ seams to form the bag lining. Press the seam open.

Step Five: Add the Batting

  • Place the sewn bag lining piece right sides together with bag’s outside piece. Cut a piece of batting to the size of your bag. Place this on the wrong side of the bag lining piece.
    batting in sleeping bag
  • You will have a "sandwich" with batting at the top, then bag lining and bag front. Remember bag lining and bag front are right sides together.

Step Six: Sew Sleeping Bag Front & Lining Pieces Together

  • Start stitching at one top corner of the sleeping bag, and stitch all the way around, leaving a 3-4″ opening on the top of the bag to turn it right side out. Make sure you don’t catch your ribbon pieces in the seams.
  • Stitch along the line you JUST made to attach your zipper- this will ensure the zipper is placed correctly in the bag.
  • Note: you are still sewing with your zipper foot. Clip corners and turn right side out.
    sleeping bag folded over
  • It should look like this, with an opening like this at the top:
    closing the opening in the sleeping bag
  • And the base of the zipper should look like this:
    zipper detail of sleeping bag
  • Hand stitch opening in the top of the sleeping bag closed.
  • If desired: To finish the sleeping bag, hand stitch on crocheted flowers to the front.
    sleeping bag rolled up

How to Make a Matching Pillow

  • To make the pillow, stitch the three 3.5″x 8″ pieces of fabric together along the 8″ sides. Press seams open
    Adding ric rac to pillow front piece
  • Stitch 2 pieces of rick rack, each 9″ long, to the top and bottom of the pillow piece. Stitch right down the center of the rick rack.
    adding stuffing to pillow
  • >Place right sides together and stitch 8″ x 9″ piece of fabric to pillow front. Leave a 2″ opening to turn the pillow right side out. Stuff pillow and hand stitch opening closed.
PRINT
Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram

More Doll Sewing Patterns That You May Like:

Wonderland Mini Quilt Pattern (Doll Sized)

Doll Twirly Skirt Sewing Pattern

Apron Sewing Tutorial for an 18″ Doll

Doll Carrier and Backpack Tutorial

Similar Posts

27 Comments

  1. Hi
    I used your directions and made 2 sleeping bags for a girl with 2 American girl dolls. I had no trouble following your steps! (Okay…I put the zipper in backwards with the tab on the inside of the bag….found the problem before all was done!) I’m a quilter but I don’t sew using zippers so I really appreciate the photos.
    thanks
    dee

  2. Hi!
    Thank you so much for posting this tutorial! I just finished the sleeping bag and pillow for my daughter’s American Girl doll. It is adorable, and the tutorial was so easy to follow! The pictures were really helpful, too! Thanks again!

  3. This is nice. It gives me confidence in making things for my daughters doll, instead of buying commercialized things. I want to make that effort for her. 🙂

  4. Pingback: Getting My Learn On | Monsters & Minions
  5. I made one of these today, I am so proud of myself. It is my first project with a zipper, your instructions are very clear, couldn’t be better. The only difference between mine and the pictured sleeping bag is that I chose only one print instead of three. Thanks for sharing. I will be making another to use up scrap fabric.

  6. Pingback: Tutorial: PB Kids + Hello Kitty® Toddler Sleeping Bag |
  7. Finished mine today. Unfortunate part for me, the sleeping bag is actually inside out and the ribbon is now forever encapsulated inside with the lining. Clearly, I misunderstood something, not sure where it all went wrong. Good news, I am the only one who knows it is inside out!

  8. Hi,
    I like this sleeping bag (i’m a beginner sewer). I have one quesiton-what’s the size of the sleeping bag when complete? I don’t plan to use 3 strips of fabric, but one piece instead but it doesn’t seem from the materials that the would be line up-for example :
    3 pieces of fabric 8″ x 36″ for the outside of the sleeping bag
    2 pieces of fabric 18.5″ x 23″ for the bag lining 1

    when I do the deminsions-it doesn’t seem to match up? Can you help? I just want to use one piece of fabric; so what’s the deminisions for front and back??

  9. Made this for my niece who loves Wonder Woman and her American Girl doll. I gave her a Wonder Woman sleeping bag for Christmas and wanted her doll to have one, too. I’m a very novice seamstress but it was easy and turned out great. Couldn’t find Wonder Woman fabric so did a red, white & blue theme w/ gold trimmings.

  10. I just turned my sleeping bag inside out and the zipper is in the INSIDE of the bag! What did I do wrong? Feeling frustrated

    1. The zipper has a right and a wrong side the same way fabric does. When you sew the zipper in make sure that the right side of the zipper is facing the right side of the fabric. My guess is you had it the other way around.

  11. What do you mean when you say cut a V in the zipper at the corner? I’ve never turned a corner with a zipper before. Thank you!

  12. Hi – can you please tell me where I can find the crocheted appliques – I checked the Riley Blake site – I cannot find them.

    Thank you – Marcia

  13. so creative. can’t wait to make this. So generous of you to share with such wonderful instructions and pictures. thank you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.