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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

February 27, 2014

Baby Sleep Sack

baby-sleepsack1

A couple of days ago, I had coffee with one of my funnest (and funniest) friends and hung out with her four-month-old cutie pie son. Babies! It’s been so long since I’ve held a tiny baby. The little guy was as mellow as can be and happily let me bounce him on my knee while my friend and I nearly spurted coffee everywhere from excessive laughing. We got quite a few askance looks from the other coffee shop patrons.

I had been planning on gifting this wee baby sleep sack I started designing for a collaborative project and wanted to see if it would fit him, but it’s funny how you forget actual baby sizes when you haven’t had one in oh, almost eight years. I determined that I must have been designing for American Girl dolls instead of real live babies. Or preemies. The project ended up falling through for non-design related reasons, but it was a good thing since this sleep sack needs more work.

baby-sleepsack2

I still think the design itself is cute with the colorblock bottom, and the dotty double-gauze is definitely upping the sweetness factor. I used this same fabric for a french style dress a while ago. This will become a birthday present for K’s friend, who is having an American Girl birthday party in a couple of weeks. K asked why there were armholes if it was meant for a girl doll and not a baby doll, to which I told her it’s the new trend. I don’t think she believed me.

I like it so much, I’m thinking of grading it up into multiple sizes and offering it as a downloadable pattern – anyone interested? Of course, it would probably take me a gazillion years to get around to it…

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Comments

  1. greta clark says

    February 27, 2014 at 5:33 am

    The mint zipper and the gray polka dots is such a nice combo. I like all your color combos. Could you post your thoughts on color combos some day? They are sophisticated and classic, but not too mature. Thanks for everything you do. Greta

    Reply
    • sanae says

      February 27, 2014 at 6:50 pm

      Oh, that would be a fun post to do, Greta! Thanks for the idea. I guess I lean toward very particular color combinations, though what I have available often dictates the combos.

      Reply
  2. Adri H. says

    February 27, 2014 at 8:16 am

    Super cute! I’m expecting in May, so I’d be interested. 😉

    Reply
    • sanae says

      February 27, 2014 at 6:50 pm

      Congrats, Adri! So happy for you!!

      Reply
  3. An (Straightgrain) says

    February 27, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Beautiful! I love the mint zipper as well. And Nani Iro is always gorgeous.. .I’m currently grading a sleep sack (my next pattern) and I must say that it has given me quite some worries. It should be so simple, but I keep making these stupid mistakes…

    Reply
    • sanae says

      February 27, 2014 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks An! I should leave the pattern drafting to experts like yourself. I’m quickly learning that pattern-drafting isn’t a calling of mine 😉 I’m sure your baby sleep sack will be brilliant!!

      Reply
      • An (Straightgrain) says

        March 2, 2014 at 9:44 am

        Ha ha, I hardly feel like a pro when I’m messing up like this! Sleep deprivation and pattern drafting are the worst combination ;-p
        Hey, we should join forces some day, and bring out a pattern together 🙂

        Reply
        • sanae says

          March 2, 2014 at 4:34 pm

          Ooh, that would be fun, An! (Though I think you might be horrified at how bad I am at the whole pattern-drafting thing). Hope sleep is increasing every day and that Norah and Ava are enjoying all the fabulous projects you’re cranking out – that bean bag!! Want! 🙂

          Reply
  4. Ute says

    February 27, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    It is gorgeous! I want one, even though I don´t have a baby or a baby to sew for! I guess polka dot double gauze can do that to you 😉

    Reply
    • sanae says

      February 27, 2014 at 6:52 pm

      Polka dot double gauze will make you do all sorts of things! Most of which involve over-consumption, I think :-). Thanks, Ute!

      Reply
  5. Julia says

    February 27, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    Well I’m disappointed there isn’t a pattern already! My 3 month old likes to be warm and snuggly at night (don’t we all?), and I know he’s going to outgrow his current sleep sack before too long (which is fine by me, it’s a kinda offensive fleece number). I’d love to sew one for him!

    Reply
    • sanae says

      March 2, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks, Julia! I had one of those fleece numbers for K too, and always longed for cuter ones. By the way, I’ve been thinking of creating my own planner lately so it was serendipitous to see your post about DIY planners!

      Reply
  6. Asmita says

    February 27, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    Love it! I would love to have a pattern!

    Reply
    • sanae says

      March 2, 2014 at 4:19 pm

      I’ll see what I can do, Asmita! I think it would be such a handy go-to gift for newborns, you know? Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Beth says

    February 28, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    It’s very cute! I’d love to make one.

    Reply
    • sanae says

      March 2, 2014 at 4:22 pm

      Sweet! Glad you’re interested!

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    February 28, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    Definitely do it! I don’t have babies any more either, but plenty of my friends do. Soon please!! 🙂

    Reply
    • sanae says

      March 2, 2014 at 4:25 pm

      I’ll try, Michelle! It’ll probably be a quick and dirty, rather unprofessional pattern cobbled together, but we shall see…

      Reply
  9. Amy says

    March 2, 2014 at 12:03 pm

    I would love this pattern, it’s great!

    Reply
    • sanae says

      March 2, 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Thank you, Amy! I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested so it’s great to get the feedback 🙂

      Reply

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May 5th is a very special day for me. Not only is May 5th is a very special day for me. Not only is it Japanese children’s day and Cinco de Mayo (a very big deal in Los Angeles where I grew up), it’s also the publication date of my very first book that I wrote and illustrated. Today, Little Kunoichi is 10 YEARS OLD!!! Crazy, crazy. This wee ninja girl completely changed my life. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 I’m pleased to report that a decade later I’m still in cahoots with @lbfbooks and we have a new book releasing this summer. Little K is back, albeit in a slightly different format…excited to share more soon!! 🥷🥷🥷🥷🥷🥷
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