Seattle Forrest

This morning on the way in to work, it was snowing hard enough to look like warp speed in Spaceballs. Weather forecasts had been predicting snow since Saturday, so this wasn't a surprise. On the other hand, after I'd been here about 45 minutes, we had a fire drill ... which turned out not to be a drill. Everybody wound up standing around in the parking lot for a while, in the cold. Last night I finished a pair of merino leg warmers, anticipating bad weather. These are very easy, and very cheap, so I'd recommend them to anyone. Personally, I prefer wool long underwear most of the time, but they can be a little much in a heated office.

You'll need a wool sweater, which is about $5 at the thrift store. You'll also need some elastic, which is about $1 a yard at the fabric store. And, of course, you'll need a needle, some thread, and a pair of scissors or a razor blade.

Cut the arms off the sweater. Now you have a vest. The arms will face downward, so that the wrists go around your ankles. They're tight, which keeps drafts out, but more importantly it keeps them out of your chain. At this point, the only problem is that they won't stay up on your legs ... which is what the elastic is for. Pull it around your leg so that it's stretched about half as much as it can, then cut it. Sew one end into the seam, right below your knee, loop the elastic around the outside, and sew the other end in. Fold the excess fabric down, and sew the bottom to make a casing for the elastic, sort of like belt loops. Then cut whatever is left away, and you're done.

I'm going to add a few small pockets to mine with the spare wool I cut away. I'd like to keep a house key in one, and some cash ( a $20, a $10, and 5 $1s ) in another. Anything bigger would be uncomfortable, but these are great for emergencies.

Sorry for the lack of pictures - I don't have a working camera.

jdgesus 

im kinda tall, need to find extra large sweaters, or i'd just end up making long socks.

Maddox

Used wool sweater from a thrift store: 5 dollars.

One yard elastic banding: 1 dollar.

Being seen in public in do-it-yourself legwarmers: ...Priceless.

monsterpile

DIY is fun. You had a thread about making these a few weeks ago didn't you? Well either way I used that inspiration to buy a couple wool shirts recently and last Friday I made a nice little lightweight beanie hat which is great for under my helmet and having my ears covered. I am making another hat with the other sleeve that will be just a cycling cap and will be made when the oatmeal container is empty because thats what I am making the plastic bill from. LOL

Seattle Forrest

Yep. A couple weeks ago, I made the most ridiculous wool pants I've ever seen. They're warm and great on the bike, but don't fit terribly well. I'm working on attempt #2, cutting the merino to the same shape as a pair of pants that fits well.



I started doing this because I keep winding up being cold, and thinking of ways I should have stayed warm. But it turns out it's actually a lot of fun to work with your hands, too.