http://hookedonhouses.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/sears-modern-homes-house-kits-from-catalogs/ From around 1909-1940 Sears sold house kits from their catalog. You have probably seen these houses all your life and didn't know that they were home kits. From the page above there is also a link to the Spite House..a 7ft wide house.
Despite the fact that I consider by buds and I to be very handy I don't have any faith that we could build a house with just materials and a 75 page handbook (provided by Sears), at least a house in which you want to live.