How to make a plush sleeping bag

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one outfit for a 20 cm plush)

• Main fabric (light cotton or quilted cotton) — about 30 × 32 cm
• Lining (light cotton) — about 30 × 20 cm
• Thin wadding (optional) — about 28 × 18 cm
• Snap fastener, 5 mm — 1
• Size 9 needle and fine thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Fandom” → “Plush sleeping bag” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the chest, length and the rest. Presets cover 10, 15 and 20 cm plushies and a 27 cm doll.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure the plush
   Chest at its widest, and the length you want from the shoulder. Two plushies both sold as "20 cm" can be quite different, so measure yours.
2. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines. At this scale a fine chalk pencil works better than a marker.
3. Cut the pieces
   If the fabric frays, seal the edges or zigzag them straight away.
4. Transfer the notches
   The smaller the garment, the more the notches matter. Do not skip them.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew outer and lining

1. Place outer and lining right sides together (with the wadding, three layers) and sew around.
2. Leave about 5 cm open along the bottom.
3. Trim the corners diagonally.

4-2. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn through the gap and ease the corners out.
2. Fold the gap's allowance inwards and topstitch all round.

4-3. Fold into a bag

1. Fold at the marked base line.
2. Stitch both sides from the right side.
3. Leave the flap section unfolded.

4-4. Handle and snap

1. Fold the handle in four, topstitch and attach it to the end of the flap.
2. Fold the flap over and decide where the snap goes.
3. Put the plush in first — that gives the right position.

✏️ Sew the sides from the right side, after the piece is already finished. Sewing it as a tube and turning it leaves the allowances inside the bag, where they press against the plush. Finish flat first, then fold — that order is what matters.

5. Tips & variations

• Pre-quilted fabric saves work: it removes the wadding step entirely.
• The handle earns its place: clip it to a bag and the plush comes along.
• Add the pillow: the pillow from the plush futon pattern fits inside.
• Seam allowance is 5 mm: at 1 cm the allowances collide and the garment will not turn out cleanly.
• Size 9 needle, fine thread: a heavy needle leaves holes in the fabric.
• Mock it up in paper: assembling it once in interfacing or copy paper shows up any problem with length or ease.