Fan "Heat Seat"

So I have NO sewing skillsbut I have a Mom who does.  I wanted to submit something that I designed and we sewed up together.  We also have spent many days freezing watching sporting events and such and wanted to come up with something that would keep you warm at the game.

We present FAN HEAT SEAT for your Voteing pleasure.

This is designed to be used at an outside sporting event in the winter or while hunting or just trying to keep warm.

Step 1: Materials

This has few parts and a very low cost.

We purchased:

1. 2 Square Yards of Camo Fleece (any fleece color is fine)
2. an 18 inch by 36 inch piece of foam
3. one button

We also used a sewing machine, wheel cutter, scissors, thread, measuring tape, cutting mat and rulers.

I think we spent a grand total of $12 on this project.

Step 2: Step 1 - Measure Twice and Cut Once!

Cut the foam into two equal pieces that are 18 inches by 18 inches.  One will be used for the back cusion/insulation and the other will be used for the seat/insulation.

Lay out the 2 square yards of fleece and measure and cut off the bottom twenty inches.  This piece will be used later to sew a pocket for the foam to go in.

Step 3: Step 2 - Assembly (this Is Where I Had to Use the Whip a Few Times)!

Now we will measure and sew the pocket into the center back of the fleece that will hold the foam padding.

1. Position the two foam squares in the center of your fleece leaving about six inches from the bottom.  Leave a one inch space between the two foam sections.
2. Next, place the piece of fleece that you cut off the bottom in the previous step over the foam.
3. Trim off the extra length at the bottom and save this piece to make the ties and handle later on.
4. Use pins to secure the two pieces of fleece together to keep them aligned.
5. Remove the foam squares and set on the side.
6. Sew up one long side side.
7. After you have sewed the first side, sew the center seam that will be between the seat and back sections.  DO NOT sew up the other side yet.

Step 4: Step 3 - Adding in the Foam Squares

Once you have completed the sewing in the previous step, lay out your fleece flat again.  This step will have you insert the two foam squares into the pockets that you have just sewed together.  Once the foam has been inserted, you will then sew up the remaing openings on the other long side and then across the bottom.

1. Lay out the fleece flat again on your table.
2. Insert the first foam square into the top pocket and snug it as close as possible to the seams you have sewed.
3. Next, insert the remaining foam square into the other pocket you made.
4. Sew up the long side that is open
5. Sew the bottom closed.

You now have the basic done.  At this point you have a padded seat and back section and two sides that will fold over you to keep you warm.  You can stop here if you are happy or continue on and add some finishing touches.

Step 5: Final Touches - Ties and Handle

At this point, we added three ties evenly spaced to keep the sides closed with the need to hold them.  These are completely optional.  We used the extra material we had cut from the bottom of the piece we used to sew the foam in.  We cut a total of six.  I noted three and we sewed them to one side of the fleece.  The noted I made left small loops at the ends that you slip the fleece in from the other side.

On the other side, we sewed the fleece so that we had the ends open.  These get inserted into the loops on the other side to tie the two sides around your shoulders.

The last step was just for fun.  We laid the fleece out flat again on the table and folded each side into the middle on top of the foam.  We then folded the top down and the bottom up so that you are basically left with the two padded sections.  These you fold together like a sandwitch.

We sewed a button onto one side at the opening and a section of fleece that we had doubled over onto itself on the other side of the opening and this formed our handle.

This was a fun and inexpensive project that let me spend some quality time with my Mother.  I was only forced to use the whip on her a few times and once the tears subsidded, she was able to get back to work ;)