Snuggle Up!

Some may remember that last Christmas Alyssa asked for a Snuggie. At the time, I was anti-Snuggie and was not looking forward to buying a cheap piece of fleece for her. So I decided to make one because the fabric I could buy was much more attractive than the Snuggies sold at the store. Once I had completed the project I realized that making a personalized Snuggie was not the worst thing I've ever done. In fact, I actually enjoyed the project.

Now it is one year later, and Alyssa is once again home for the holidays. With her came the Snuggie. The first thing she wanted me to do when she got home was wash her beloved Snuggie. Apparently, she has a bed-bug phobia and she did not want any dormitory bed-bugs to be transferred to her bedroom at home. Can I just add a big-fat eeew right here? I mean, really... the thought repulses me. And so into the wash went the Snuggie - heaven forbid those [imagined?] bed-bugs inhabiting my house. Eeew again. When I took the Snuggie out of the dryer, I had to inspect it - not that I would be able to see the bed-bugs or anything, but I guess I just wanted to make sure that there were no visible creepy-crawlies hanging around. What I noticed as I checked every single seam of the Snuggie was that the darn thing looked as good as new. One year later, three trips back and forth to college, and Lord knows how many washings in her dormitory industrial machines, and the thing still looks brand new. Clearly, these Snuggies are indestructible.

After seeing how much Alyssa has loved her Snuggie, I decided to open up the workshop and make a few to give as Christmas gifts again this year. Here is what Snuggie Central looked like last week:

Since I posted my original instructions on how to make a Snuggie, I have perfected my pattern - and I want to share the updated version. I can now make a Snuggie in two hours using these new and improved instructions, which I consider to be great time management. So for those who are crafty, and for those who are looking for last minute gift ideas - here you go. Get out your dusty machines and put your foot to the pedal. I guarantee that teenagers will love this gift. Bonus that fleece is on sale at JoAnn's from now until Christmas Eve. Seriously, you can't go wrong with these Snuggies.

You will need:
3 yards of Polar Fleece, 60" wide (I prefer the no-pill fleece)

Cutting:
1. Cut 24" off of one short end of the fleece
2. Set this aside - it will become the sleeves
3. Fold the remaining piece of fleece in half the long way and mark the armholes

To make the armholes:
1. Draw an oval to measure 9" x 6" on a piece of paper; use as a pattern
2. Place this oval on the fleece you have set aside (keep that piece folded in half the long way)
3. Placement of the oval pattern is DOWN 13" from the top and IN 11" from the fold
4. Trace and cut the oval through both layers of fabric

To make the sleeves:
1. Take the 24" piece you have set aside and cut on the fold to create 2 sleeve pieces that measure 24" x 30" each
2. Fold each piece in half the LONG way to make a tube that measures 12" x 30"
3. Sew or serge the LONG edge of the sleeve
4. Pin the sleeve to the armhole of the main fabric piece and sew or serge to Snuggie
5. Repeat for second sleeve
**NOTE: Folded in half the arm hole measures approximately 14". This equals around 28" when opened flat. This measurement is the key to having the sleeve fit exactly into the openings you have cut.

Hemming the neck:
(the following photos were taken after the Snuggie was done - the side seam stitches were completed during the "finishing" step)

 Hemming the sleeves and lower edge of the Snuggie:

 

Finishing:

Fleece does not ravel. Therefore, you have several options for how to finish the edges. A serger was used in the above photo to overcast the sides. I did not use a serger last year when I made Alyssa's Snuggie. Instead, I selected an overcast stitch on my home sewing machine to finish the sides - either way works, although using a serger is much faster.

Other finishing options are:
* Leave the edges raw
* Trim the edges with a decorative rotary cutter
* Fringe the edges
* Bind with a strip of lycra
* Fold over and top stitch to create self-banding

And that's it - you're finished! An easy-breezy holiday gift that is perfect for any teenager or college student.

In case anyone is wondering how the pattern was tweaked to make it new and improved: I altered the neck hem and I added a bottom hem. My reasoning for this was that I wanted the fleece that was up around the neck to be softer and a bit thicker - it just "feels" better with a wider rolled hem. The bottom hem was added to reinforce the Snuggie so that when it was tucked under the feet, the fleece would not stretch or wear out.

So there you go... a Snuggie update. Who knew that me, the anti-Snuggie girl, would take the time to perfect something that I shunned for so long? By way of a disclaimer, I will confess that I personally do not own a Snuggie... just because I like to make them, and just because I write instructions for them, does not mean that I actually use them <pfft>. I prefer a good, old fashion quilt when I snuggle up because I don't like things around my neck - a quilt can be tucked under my arms rather than under my chin. But that's just me... and I've always considered myself to be a bit of an oddity :grin:.

And with that I can announce that as of 2:15am Friday night, both my kids are finally home for the holidays, so the workshop is now closed until after Christmas. I doubt that I will be able to stay away from the machines for longer than one week because I've got more Snuggies to make for my friend JoNell's boys, as well as three quilts lined up as my January projects. Which is exactly why I enjoy the winter months - the cold weather gives me an excuse to stay inside and sew guilt free, not to mention the fact that December brings my kids home <insert Facebook heart right here>.

Happy holidays to all,

 

 

Comments

[Amanda - mandolyn9909]

I came here to see how easy this project was...I would love to make one for my kids but it looks WAY too complicated for me....I can make a nice pillow sham though ;)

Just wanted to say though that I love your blog....all the pretty quilts. Loved when you send JoNell a quilt last year...it made me cry. haha.

[kaholly]

Great tutorial!!

[slammie]

Fun!!! You know that was like reading Chinese, right? At least for those of us that don't sew. LOL!

[Randi]

The Sunggies I make I use 3 yards + 24 inches of material. The extra 24 inches I fold up in the back at the bottom and sew a seam then I sew in 14 inches on each side. Makes a pocket for the feet to go into so there is no tucking it under. Keeps the feet and lower legs warm and cozy. Everyone that I made one for likes this pocket. Jim asked me to make it on his and I have done it ever since. The Crazy Aunts really like theirs alot.