Recent guidance from the UK Government Product Safety board called our various sleep bags, swaddles and hooded sleep sacks for being hazardous to babies. The report says “The sleep bag presents a serious risk of suffocation, overheating and death as it has a head covering.”
It notes that babies can overheat in the sleep bags, which is associated with SIDS, and the hood can cover their face and lead to suffocation. Products have been removed from Amazon listings in the UK as being in violation of the 2005 General Product Safety Regulations, and they have advised parents who own these types of products to stop using them. (They are still for sale in the United States and I assume elsewhere.)
Yarn company King Cole has responded to this report by announcing it is removing its knitting and crochet patterns for similar style bags from circulation and calling on yarn stores that might have printed patterns to destroy them.
King Cole said on Instagram that the patterns being recalled include 5766, 2766, 2823, 5000, 4534, 5945, 5603, 5972, and Aran Book 2. Some older patterns (such as 4672) may also be in circulation and should not be used. (One of the patterns is shown above; there are pictures of all of them in the Instagram post linked above.)
The company advises knitters and crocheters who have these patterns not to use them. If patterns were purchased, they can be returned to a King Cole stockist for a replacement pattern.
If you knit or crochet for babies (in the UK or anywhere else) it’s helpful to be aware of this guidance and consider it when making projects for little ones. If you want to knit a swaddle for a baby, make a sleep sack that slides over the body but doesn’t cover the head for safety. Likewise, if you have a little one in your household you might want to consider discontinuing use of these sorts of products to ensure your little one doesn’t get too hot at night.
[Photo: King Cole via Instagram]
Easy Peasey Beginner Bag – Free Knitting Pattern
This Easy Peasey Beginner Bag is exactly the sort of knitting project you want when you need something simple, useful, and not too precious. It’s worked in garter stitch with chunky texture from feather yarn and 8-ply wool, then finished with bag handles — or oversized bangles if you’re raiding the bargain bin like a true crafter. A great beginner-friendly knitted bag pattern for using up novelty yarns.
Easy Peasey Beginner Bag
Felted Tote Bag – Free Knitting Pattern
This Felted Tote Bag is a fun knitting project if you’ve been wanting to try felting without tackling anything too complicated. The bag is knitted in the round using worsted wool, then felted in the washing machine to create a sturdy, practical tote with lovely handmade texture. It’s one of those projects where tiny knitting mistakes magically disappear during felting — always a bonus.
Felted Tote Bag
Cleo Evening Purse – Free Knitting Pattern
This Cleo Evening Purse is a sweet little knitted bag pattern with a dressier feel, using metallic or slub-style yarn paired with a fuzzy yarn for texture. It’s a lovely option for knitters who want to make a small handmade purse for evenings out, weddings, parties, or gift-giving. Add ribbon handles or decorative ties and you’ve got a cute statement bag that feels far more special than a basic pouch.
Cleo Evening Purse
If the sleep bags are used when you take baby out in the cold! Then I don’t see the problem as you would put a hat on!
I would not use this type of sleep bag in the house it’s more for out door use.
Most countries I know would use this for out door use. It all comes down to common sense and warning labels.