Off topic - how hard can this be to make

I don't think it would be difficult, but given the cost of fleece per metre, would it be cheaper to just buy one? I'm assuming that you'd need two to three metres of fleece, which sells here for $12-$15 per metre, last time I was looking. Just a thought... Louisa

Around here, you can get it for about $4 a yard for solids - Joann's this week. If she wanted to go fancy, she could get some hockey themed for about $6 a yard - it's regularly 50% off.

Linda

This is easy -- easy Easy EASY! The major problem is that the fabric used is probably pretty expensive since you will need a lot of it! You need 4 pieces of fabric. Two pieces need to be a bit longer than the persons shoulder to ground measurement and the width of the persons measurement across the back plus whatever you think is necessary for comfy ease of movement, seam allowances and hemming. The other two pieces are for the "arms" and would need to be the length of the persons arm plus seam, hem & ease of movement allowance and wide enough to accommodate the persons arms plus the same stuff as the length. Sew the large pieces together at the shoulder leaving a suitable neck opening and finishing the opening appropriately. Sew one arm piece to each side matching the center to the shoulder seam. Sew underarm seam from the bottom of the arm to the bottom of the body. Finish arm pieces appropriately. Sew velcro or snap tape, etc. to the bottom of the garment leaving enough area open at both side seams for each foot. If you use fleece, you don't need to finish the edges. Of course, the kiddo will be fairly rough on this garment, I would think, so you might want to hem the arms at the wrist -- maybe add a bit of elastic if that's not too girly for him. The neck will have a bit of seam allowance be turned inside to accommodate the shoulder seams and the same can be done to the bottom where the velcro or whatever is sewn. If you wanted to use snap tape instead of velcro, that would work and likely be a bit more comfy -- not as stiff as velcro unless you use the velcro buttons instead of a strip. If you wanted to go to the trouble, you could do buttons & button holes but that's more work than I would think necessary. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

And where is this paradise of inexpensive fabric so I can stock up next time we're south?

Louisa

I was going to say something similar to what Tia Mary said, but of course she was clearer and more detailed then I could ever be. lol

I do think it might be so much easier, and less time consuming to just buy them because you would need so much fabric and if you skimp it won't be comfortable to lounge around in.

Wally World (Wal Mart) here in Missouri always has fleece under $5 a yard and Joann's is the place I mentioned above - I was just there over lunch and all the fleece was 40% or 50% off; most expensive is $13/yd @ 40% =3D $8.40/yd - if you need 3 yds., still less than $28 ($19.97 plus S&H), but most runs in the $6.99 to $10.99 "regularly priced" range.

Cheryl could personalize the heck out of store bought one with team appliques

That's still $12 - $18 for the fleece and she wouldn't have put any time into it yet. I agree with those who say it's better to just buy one, unless you're looking for a better quality fleece than what they're made with, in which case, cost isn't the issue.

Elizabeth

I think my x-BIL used to call them Couch Potato Jackets.

Tia Mary, I don't mean to sound flippant, but haven't you just described the construction of a very basic dressing gown?

IMHO, a poncho is easier to put together and much more versatile, since you don't have to 'account' for sleeves, a neck and facings/turnings etc. Just MHO, though.

My DNephew (who is a rabid Rugby League footballer and surfer) asked me to make him a 'thing' that resembled the blanket his sister wrapped her baby in. Basically, it's just a fleece blanket with a corner pocket piece sewn on as a sort of hood (you know the things they make from terry cloth for babies' après bath wear?)

I had fun making a double-sided blanket in his footy team's colours. I blanket stitched the edges in perle cotton and added a 'secret' zippered pocket between the layers so he could hide his wallet and car keys while at footy practice or on the beach. This blanket has lived in all sorts of rude places (such as the floor of his jeep, the bottom of his kit-bag, beneath his baby Shar-Pei etc etc) and still comes up beautifully after a wash and a bit of fabric softener.

It's *hard* figuring out gifts for young men! I have to be secret santa to the same kid this Christmas. What on earth do I get him? He's 22 and a great boofy bloke of a boy who has everything that opens and shuts!

our local Wal-Mart (Halifax, Nova Scotia) has the Incredible Shrinking Craft section. I must check Joann's next time we're in MA. There wasn't one near us where we lived, but some friends have just moved, and I think there's one close to them. I'll have to have a look!

Louisa

What about a night out, like rugby tickets, concert, movie? I have two brothers and I understand! T-shirts with smart aleck sayings were also popular.

Louisa

Ooooo! That's *brilliant* Louisa! Tickets to an at-home match and a smart-alecky T-shirt will do perfectly! Thanks for that! ;-D

Some figures on the snuggie site look slightly, well, monastic - just add a cowl. That thought led me on a wild goose chase for similar robe- like modern clothing. Had no luck finding out whether burquas are warm or come in winter thicknesses, but this Arabian thobe:

-Fred.

Well, yes, that description is pretty close to a what you term a very basic dressing gown. Just one BIG difference -- the bottom is closed except for where your feet stick out. I have made loads of robes out of bath towels using the same directions except for the closed bottom and having to hem anything. Unfortunately, a poncho isn't really anything like what Cheryl's DS wants. It would be so much easier to make a poncho -- get a big square of fleece fabric, cut a hole for the head opening and you're pretty much done!!! I will agree with what others have said -- Cheryl should buy the silly thing and personalize the heck out of it for her DS :-)). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:>

The thing could be made of heavy toweling but I'm not sure that would be less $$ than fleece and it probably wouldn't be near as warm. Cheryl lives in New Hampshire and it gets bitter cold up there in the winter (remember my visit there in early January for the Birthday Stealth Sleigh Ride??). Anyone have other options? All I can come up with is to make the garment out of old blankets bought at a second hand store. The all time best thing would be to get some hockey print fleece at a REALLY good on sale price! Now THAT would be worth the time and effort since Cheryl's DS *IS* a hockey dude!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Or just leave it alone. He wants the blue one!

The real problem is if I buy one, I have to buy 4.....

And I agree with him. But with the price of heating oil not dropping like the price of gas, a extra layer is an extra layer.

Cheryl

On 11/18/08 8:38 PM, in article snipped-for-privacy@p35g2000prm.googlegroups.com, " snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote: SNIP

And if you're in MA, you ought to let the NE chapter of RCTN know and we'll arrange a get together.

Cheryl

On 11/18/08 8:40 PM, in article snipped-for-privacy@c22g2000prc.googlegroups.com, " snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote: SNIP

Stuff for his car, funky tools (all in one type), cool flashlights, gift cards to stores he likes. Plain old cash works well too.