Upcycled Arm Warmers

I woke up this morning and it was snowing.  Snow in April!  Gives the feeling that warm weather is never going to come around.  It does make this weeks project very appropriate though.

Every have that favorite pair of socks? That pair that has holes in the toes and heels, but you can't bare to toss out so you just keep repairing the holes. Well, I have a pair like that. And after pulling them out of the wash for repairs for the hundredth time, I wondered if it was even worth the time. The thought of tossing them out made my stomach feel all knotted. I had spent forever looking for these socks, and was thrilled the day I found them. They are toasty warm, and have cute designs. I set them on the table and pondered what their future could possibly be.

Here's what I came up with. It's cold out, electricity isn't cheap, and nor is clothing. I can't afford to raise the thermostat, and going out to buy another sweater isn't going to fit into my budget. So how do I stay warm in my house without breaking the bank or resorting to wrapping myself in a thick quilt all day? Turn my favorite, worn out socks, into arm warmers of course!

Materials Needed:

Old pair of socks (clean of course)

Needle

Thread

Scissors

Bobby Pins

Measuring Tape

Ruler

Step 1. Turn the socks inside out. Cut a straight line across just above the heel. If it makes you feel better, use a ruler on this part as a guideline. Put the foot pieces aside to use as bedding for your hamster, chew toys for your puppy, or dust rags for your TV.

Step 2. Measure and fold 1/4" from cut edge and pin with bobby pins. Pin all the way around.

Step 3. Using the needle and thread sew the folded edge. I sort of eyeballed it and sew across the middle of what I had folded up.

Step 4. Measure and fold 1'' from bottom and pin with bobby pins. Pin all the way around.

Step 5. Sew the newly folded edge down. This makes a clean seam with no raw edges sticking out. I used a back stitch on this part.

This project took me less than a day from start to finish. In fact the first set of arm warmers turned out so well that I made two more sets in the same day.

So now I have three sets of arm warmers to get me through the rest of this winter. All without spending a single penny.

Note: I hand stitched this entire project since my sewing machine is hanging out at my mother's at the moment. So if you want to use a sewing machine, the time spent on this project will be greatly reduced (as if it's not quick enough to begin with).

If you like this tutorial, consider donating to my transplant fund at http://cota.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforSolanaC/