Snuggy, anyone?

In the spirit of being thrifty for x-mas this year, I am trying to make a lot of my gifts for people. Last year I made a fleece tie blanket for my father-in-law, Tom. I used a Gopher's panel which was the right size for a lap blanket. For x-mas, I made a bigger, bed sized one for Jordan's cousin exchange. It was THE gift to steal in the dice game. When Tom saw it, he was immediately jealous of the size. So this year I went out on Black Friday to Hancock Fabrics and bought a snuggy pattern for $1 (originally it was $16.95) and some Gopher's fleece. I had to go to Joann's for some of the fleece (you'll see which ones, I don't want to give one away!) because Hancock's was out. Of course I used my 50% off coupons. The fleece actually ended up being slightly more than what just buying a Gopher's snuggy would have cost, but I now have the pattern and can make lots of them. I was a bad blogger and didn't take any pictures of the making of snuggy #1, but I remembered part way through #2 and snapped a few. Here's the second one. This Vikings snuggy is for my little sister for x-mas. One reason I opted for the pattern and buying my own fleece is that the pattern also included a front pocket and more importantly a foot pocket. The store bought ones are missing this critical feature. Here I am pinning the foot pocket in place to sew it down.

I think I was sewing on an arm here. No fancy sewing needed, just straight stitching for the whole thing. It was all pretty easy really. There were only 4 pattern pieces to cut; the body, arms, foot pocket and front pocket. You then sew the arms into rounds and hem them, create the pockets, sew them on, hem the body and sew the arms on. Less than an hour sewing.

Jordan was a helper and tried it out.Clearly I had to try it as well, so Jordan put on his dad's (which is longer anyway).While at Hancock's I saw this pattern for a buck as well.

It was completely necessary to then but this fabric so I can be ready for outdoor baseball this spring. Go Twins!

House pants

So for those that don't know, I live my life in my house in house pants. The second I get home, off go the jeans and on go the comfy pants. Now comfy pants are not pajama pants. PJ's are worn to bed, house/comfy pants are not. They are to be worn around the house and occasionally to the grocery store when I'm feeling to lazy to throw on a pair of jeans. I decided one day to try and make my own comfy pants. I went online to find a free pattern. No go. So I found this Kwik Sew pattern at Hancock fabrics. It was $12, but I used one of those beautiful 40% off coupons that sewing and craft stores like to send out. This is the pattern.

Cutting the pieces out was a challenge, but only because the cat kept pouncing on it. He was eventually given some paper scraps to keep him occupied. The pattern consisted of only 5 pieces, of which I used 4. It came with different pieces to make different waistbands. I chose to make mine out of the same fabric as the rest of the pants.

My first pair was made out of grey sweatshirt material. The legs are pretty big, but oh so comfy.

After I made these,I lived in them for quite some time. They came up to the cabin and basically ruled the whole weekend.

I had originally planned to make the pants out of a knit jersey, but couldn't find it the first time out to the fabric store. After the joy I got from the first pair, I decided to look again for some knit jersey. I found the fabric for this pair in the Dance/Swimming fabric area of Joann's.

I changed up the waist for this pair. The first pair called for some elastic in the waist, but I thought it might make it a little uncomfortable in a lighter fabric. To make sure the pants looked good and didn't fall off, I doubled the waistband and now I can fold it over. I have lots of house pants, but these two are my favorites. I think the fabric for the grey ones was $12 and the blue ones were $14. They took about an hour to make each (after the pattern was cut) and I think they rule. If you'd like a pair (size medium), I'd be happy to make them for you! It takes 2.25 yards of fabric.