How to Make a Baby Cocoon & Baby Pod

I have always loved little ones and any chance I get to love on them, so I was really excited to hear that a close friend of mine was going to have a baby. I immediately began to think of all of the things that I could "craft" for baby and decided to enlist Mom and Marissa's help making a baby cocoon and a baby pod.

Swaddled baby

Since each baby is born a different size it was hard to guess the size this baby was going to be. However we used jersey knit for each of these projects so each will have some flexibility.

To make the baby cocoon we cut two pieces of jersey knit (for extra strength) 22" wide by 21" long. We wanted the bottom of the cocoon to have a circular shape so on one end of the 21" long side we traced half of a lid that was 10.5" in diameter and left 1" on the outer side of the half circles for the seam allowance. We used tailoring chalk to trace the half circles.

Measuring for our circles.

Marissa cutting out both layers.

To accommodate for the baby's growth we wanted the cocoon to be long enough to cuff. In order for the cuff to have a finished edge we sewed the tops of the 21" long sides together, right sides together. Then we turned the seam to the inside and ironed the seam down.

Cut cocoon pieces.

Then we turned down 2 " and sewed the side seam and circle halves together all at once.

Marissa turning down cuff.

This project only took us about 30 minutes to complete, including making the pattern.

Finished cocoon!

Our master plan!

To begin the baby pod we made an oval pattern piece from quartered newspaper 15" wide by 8" long. Then we cut two oval shaped pieces of jersey knit, again for stability. These ovals will be used as the bottom of the pod.

Pod bottom

The we cut the one rectangular piece 38.5" by 10" and folded it in half on the shortest side or "hot dog style," with wrong sides together, making the piece appear 38.5" long and 5" high.

"Hot dog" style

Using a 1/4" seam allowance we sewed both of the 5" tall pieces together. For the final step we sewed the raw edges of the open circle to the raw edges of the oval. Another quick project completed!

Both pieces of 5" material pinned together

It is VERY important to note that all projects sewn with jersey knit should use a stretch stitch and ball point needle.

Stretch stitch.

Mid-process.

Finished baby pod!