DIY Neckwarmer- 12 Days of Homemade Christmas

Yesterday I helped you out with keeping your hands warm. You didn’t pitch the rest of that sweater did you??

Today we’re going to chop it up some more and make some other lovely gifts with it. Or get another reject sweater and whip this up.

This is a seriously easy project, but one that will keep your loved one warm on cold winter nights.

Here’s what you’ll need

-A sweater, its sleeves actually. I recommend a tight knit so that the rice can’t find it’s way out. You could use a long sleeved t-shirt for this too.
– Rice – I used about 3 cups, but it will depend on the length and width of your sleeve.
– Funnel
-Scissors
-Your preferred method of sewing- I used the machine, this would be pretty simple to hand sew though. You will do a little hand sewing at the end either way so have a needle and thread handy.
–Essential Oil (optional) I like to add lavender
– A ruler or other straight edge
– chalk

Ok here’s what you’re going to do.

First lay your sweater out flat. Where the sleeve connects to the body is where you’re going to cut it off. A nice straight cut so that your ends will be flat.

Now turn your sleeve inside out.

What you want to do now is figure out where to sew to make it the same width all the way down. Most sleeves get wider the closer they get to the armpit, so we have to adjust that.

Take a ruler and line it up with your seam along the wrist of the sleeve. Make it nice and straight and you’ll have overhang at the bottom.

Draw a chalk line down your straight edge. This is where you’re going to sew.

To double check you can measure the wrist, the armpit end, and halfway down to make sure everything is equal.

Now go to the sewing machine. Start at the armpit end and get sewing. Back stitch a few to secure it and sew down your line until you meet up with the seam at the wrist. Now back stitch again.

You should now have a nice tube. You can turn it right side out and make sure it looks good before moving on.  Then turn it inside out again.

Now sew straight down the armpit end to close it up. Then move on to the wrist end and sew about 3/4 of the way down, you’re leaving room to turn it right side out and fill, so adjust accordingly.

If you’re sweater is bulky you might want to think about leaving the whole end open.

Now using your funnel fill it with rice until it is nice and plump.

If you’re adding essential oils put a couple of drops in now to scent the rice.

Using a needle and thread sew up the opening.

Voila! You are done! Just pop it in the microwave for about 45 seconds- 1 min (this depends on your microwave and how hot you want it, use caution the first time)  Sit it across your neck and enjoy… or give it as a gift… yeah that’s what it’s for… not for you… but the sweater does have 2 sleeves!

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