Long pile fleece easy hat or welly socks

[Emerion]

Hello, I’ve got a gorgeously soft, thick, long-pile fleece dressing gown that makes me look like a barrage balloon, so I don’t wear it. I’m wondering if I could make a cosy winter hat and/or welly socks from it? My skills are very basic, and I’ve got an old fashioned Singer machine, so I can’t use it to sew stretch fabrics. I’m maybe getting a newer machine just to sew stretch fabrics if my new sewing hobby lasts, but in the meantime, I’m happy to hand sew if that would work better. Any ideas, or should I donate the robe to a charity shop instead?

[Renegade Sewist]

@Emerion , you can still sew knits. The finishing will just be different. Here's a Youtube video by Ann Steeves that does cover it.

A serger gives a cleaner more RTW like narrow finish to the seams. For your welly socks your seams might be a bit bulky on a standard machine. Also, depending on how plush the fleece is, it might not feel good under your feet. Too smushy perhaps. The hat would be great! You'll have plenty of fabric for both. Perhaps a nice scarf or cowl as well.

[BrendaP]

Much as I love my vintage straight stitchers I wouldn't use them for fleece - that's a task for the overlocker.

Handsewing would be OK to make a warm hat, but not good for socks as getting them on and off would put non-stretchy seams under stress, and I agree that seams in socks are not good for comfort.

[wrenkins]

  I look like an igloo in mine but I still won't be chopping it up. 
Neck warmers are brilliant for out and about. No hat part to give you hat hair and no dangly bits, like a scarf, to trail about the place.
@Vezelay made some as gifts for Christmas.

[Emerion]

Thank you, I see what you mean about socks, so I’ll look at neck warmers and hats.

[Lilian]

I was browsing the shopping channels this morning and saw a clever garment, that would be easy to replicate.  They called it a Polo Pancho, Polo Pancho,

As it happens I have just found    in my stash a large amount of soft grey fleece  And will be having a go at making one.  Just need to work out a pattern 

[Catllar]

@Lilian  They look like a tube of fabric to me, just self lined and turned through. A bit like a buff but thicker.

[Lilian]

@Catllar Yes they do with the front and back left unstitched so they hang down front and back, very warm for the colder months and they can be worn a number of ways.