Make your own Snuggie to wear to our Snuggie Slumber Party!

So you’re finally ready to give into the Snuggie phenomenon. But those blue and red robes are SO overdone. Right?

We’ve got good news. Snuggies (or Slankets or “Freedom Blankets,” pick your trademarked term) are easy to make, even if you haven’t touched a sewing machine since that middle school family and consumer sciences class. And when you make your own faux-Snuggie, you’re not limited to the official company colors. There are tons of options, both solid colors and prints, in local fabric stores.

Faux-Snuggies can be cheap, too: we’ve seen fleece on sale for as little as $4 a yard. A fun (or trademarked) pattern will cost you more.

With a sewing machine, you can put together a custom faux-snuggie in about 30 minutes. Don’t have a sewing machine? Go old school with a needle and thread or stop by the workshop at Home Ec Workshop (http://homeecworkshop.com) in Iowa City, where you can use sewing machines (not to mention a huge cutting table and nice scissors and rotary cutters) for just $6 an hour.

Step one
Gather your materials: 3 yards fleece, matching thread, scissors, tape measure and chalk or a fabric marker

Step two
 Fold the fleece in half lengthwise and lay out flat. Measure 2 feet (24 inches) from the bottom of the length of fabric and cut. You’ll use this smaller piece to make the sleeves.

 
Step three
Cut the 24-inch piece in half lengthwise so that you have two 24-inch-by-30-inch rectangles.

 
Step four
Fold each of the sleeve pieces in half to make 12-inch-by-30-inch rectangles. Sew along the longer edge of each piece to make a tube. Set aside.

Step five
Go back to the bigger piece of fabric. It should still be folded in half lengthwise. Use chalk or a fabric marker to draw a 6 1/2-inch circle about 12 inches in from the top of the length of fabric, and 10 to 12 inches in from the fold. Cut out the circle on both sides of the fold. These will be the armholes.

Step six
Pin the sleeve into the armhole, keeping right sides together and placing the sleeve seam at the bottom of the armhole. Sew in place. Repeat with other sleeve.

– Anne

Special THANKS to our models: Kim Lamon and John Whaley