It has been about ten years – and at least that many grandchildren ago – when I sewed my first snuggly. Back then they were being advertised on television as “snuggies” – with two-for-one specials – and one of the grandkids saw them and asked if I could make one. I found directions online, bought a lot of fleece, and that first year I made all the grandchildren a snuggly for Christmas. They were a big hit and every Christmas since I have made at least a few. That first year, I mentioned them at the nursing home where I was on staff and before I knew it, I had orders from patients and family members. I made one for my sister Rodema as she was fighting a loosing battle with ovarian cancer. I made one for my brother-in-law Delano after he miraculously recovered from a near-fatal stroke. When I returned home from spending a snowbound week with my sister Elizabeth in Ohio, I made one and sent it to her. I have made them for friends, neighbors, and for grandkids as they outgrew their first one.

A few years ago my daughter Rachel asked me to make new ones for several of her children (she has nine) and she bought the fabric – a new, softer type of fleece that was much more cozy and lots harder to sew. It was what my mother – the consummate seamstress – used to call “crawly” fabric. I invested in a new sewing machine, adjusted my technique and began turning out the snugglier version of my snugglies.

When I saw a lovely cobalt blue throw on sale, I had an idea to turn it into a snuggly.  A snuggly is basically a blanket with sleeves, so cutting it from a throw is much easier and less-time consuming as the sides are already hemmed. Surprisingly, throws usually cost less than the three yards of fabric needed for an adult snuggly.

After making many snugglies for others, I finally broke down and made one for myself. Love, love, love it! This past summer when I was a rehab patient at Duke Hospital following my bout with Guillain-Barré syndrome, it was the most-wanted item I requested from home. Wrapping up in it was comforting; and I received many compliments from the staff.

One morning I woke up in the hospital with this message flashing in my brain: You’ve got to make Hoyt and Gaynell snugglies for Christmas. Hoyt and Gaynell are two of the sweetest people in the world. They are my son-in-law Hoyt III’s grandparents and had visited me the day before.

That early morning impulse stayed with me, so when I saw Hoyt and Gaynell at one of the grandkids’ soccer game, I asked each their favorite color (Hoyt chose blue and Gaynell hot pink: the search was on.) I found a fetching blue plaid for Hoyt. Gaynell’s hot pink was more of a challenge. I settled for an elegant embossed rose-colored throw that was as charming as Gaynell. This was October; I was way ahead of the game.

I spoke on the phone with my neighbor Liz after hurricane Michael, the culprit that uprooted a huge tree in her yard, taking out power lines with it. She told me that her mother – age 95 – was staying with her and had some serious health problems. She also mentioned that her mother was often cold.

“Liz’s mom needs a snuggly,” I contemplated as I wrote, “pretty throw” on my shopping list. Thanks to the electricity provided by our generator, a few days later I delivered a blue and purple floral throw to their home. When I visited a few weeks later, her mom was sleeping soundly, wrapped up in her snuggly. Liz told me, “Mom says it feels like you put a heater in there.” Yes, those snugglies are designed to capture body heat.

As the days became cooler and I began asking for suggestions for Christmas gifts, I was surprised that six of the grandkids requested new snugglies. When my daughter Amy saw the blue plaid throw I had purchased to make one for her grandfather-in-law, with a gleam in her eye she asked, “Oh, could you make one for Hoyt III (her husband) and surprise him?”

Well, of course.

Then my youngest daughter Emily, when replying to, “What should I get Steven (her husband) for Christmas,” answered, “Well, if you don’t have time it’s okay, but I think he would love a snuggly.”

Okay, so I’m up to nine – possibly ten (if I have the time). It took some searching, but I found throws to make seven of them. Meia and Izzy decided they wanted fabric because there were more color choices. Both of them selected gorgeous and colorful designs, although the one Meia chose – which she said reminded her of a mermaid’s tail – made me a bit dizzy.

When making a snuggly, it takes almost as much time to cut as to sew; there is no pattern, just measurements. As the orders started piling up, I decided to make Hoyt and Gaynell’s first and give them as Thanksgiving gifts. I surprised them with the snugglies one cold afternoon and they were very pleased. A few days later I received a lovely thank-you card letting me know they were greatly enjoying their snugglies.

The three grandsons that asked for snugglies – Caleb, Joshua and Blaise – made a special request: they wanted hoods on their snugglies. I found this strange, as a snuggly opens in the back – hoods would cover their faces. Their mom Jessica explained that they have always worn their snugglies “backwards” (like robes) so, what they really wanted was a robe with a hood. Hmm…finally got that figured out.

With Christmas still over two weeks away, I was working on the last one – Hoyt III’s. So far, all had gone reasonably well (for a self-described mediocre seamstress) but when I started to sew in the first sleeve the hole was much bigger than the sleeve. I ripped it out (an almost impossible task with fleece) and tried again, basting carefully so the sleeve would fit. It didn’t.

Maybe I could cut another sleeve that would fit? Depending on the size of the throw, there is usually some extra fabric. I measured. Not enough. What could I do? The throw was a handsome green plaid and I had already showed it to Amy and she enthusiastically approved. One more attempt. No way was that sleeve going to fit. I was tuckered out. It was late. I folded the not-quite-snugglie on my sewing machine table and ran a tub full of hot water for a soak.

The next morning I woke up feeling refreshed and decided to give the sleeve one more try. I unfolded the snuggly…and almost immediately I realized my mistake. The cutout for the arm is oval, and the sleeve seam should be matched to the bottom. (If you are not a seamstress, just speed-read this part.) Because the snuggly is a big blob of rectangle-shaped fabric, it is easy to get it “turned around” and that’s what I had done. I was trying to sew the sleeve in sideways. Carefully, I pinned the sleeve into the hole. Voila! Perfect fit. I sewed it in place quickly. The other sleeve was a snap.

What a relief! All the requested snuggies were ready to present as Christmas gifts.

That evening my granddaughter Talise hinted to me that her fiancé Alex would love to have a snuggly. He will be my first grandson-in-law. How could I turn down Talise’s suggestion? And of course, if I’m going to make one for him, I will have to find time to make one for my son-in-law Steven.

I had planned a shopping trip with three of my granddaughters (Talise’s sisters) and they helped me find the perfect throws – king size for these tall guys – to make snuggies for their future brother-in-law and their Uncle Steven. With just over a week left before Christmas Day, I completed the last two snugglies in record-breaking time.

So, here are some lessons I learned from sewing a bunch of snugglies this most wonderful time of the year. They are practical ones for all of us but particularly pertinent for caregivers.

1. When you wake up in the morning with a distinct impression on your mind, take note of it – you may even want to write it down. When possible, follow through, especially if your idea will give you the opportunity to be a blessing to someone.
2. Sometimes you have to change your ways to meet the needs – or desires – of others. Flexibility – as opposed to rigidity – can be a very good thing, especially when dealing with humans.
3. When everything seems out of control – stop – and sleep on it. As caregivers, we sometimes reach our wit’s end and see no plausible solution to whatever difficulty we are facing. After a good night’s rest, we may see the problem – and the remedy – from another perspective. We may even realize we have made a mistake and have to make amends. (And yes, a nice hot lingering bath may help induce sleep.)
4. Find ways to make your task pleasurable. For me that means turning up the volume on my favorite Christian radio station (they are playing real Christmas music all month long – not the likes of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”). Before sitting down at the sewing machine, I made myself a pot of hot tea. When I began to feel fatigued, I took short breaks, sipped the tea and checked something else off my list such as writing a thank-you card or making a phone call. Caregiving can drain you dry, especially during typically busy times of the year such as Christmas. Remember to take care of yourself.
5. Do what you can realistically do but do not feel pressured to do more. Know when you have reached your limit. Tomorrow is Christmas. If someone asked for a snuggly today, I would put it on my list for next year – or maybe New Year’s.

Whew! Twelve snuggies. I enclosed a note with each one that reads, “Every time you wear this, think of it as a big hug from me.” Hope that doesn’t discourage my sons-in-law from wearing theirs!

Have a blessed Christmas – and stay warm and snuggly.