Yesterday I told you all about my friend McCall’s snaptastic 365 photo project. I love it because every single day she delivers some new little inspiring tid bit of beauty. I’m amazed by the endless creativity she brings to the project.
McCall’s mad skillz don’t stop with photography though, she’s also one of the craftiest chics I know. Check out the post about her rad holiday decorations here. Today she’s going to show us how to make pretty much the coolest felted sweater mittens EVER out of, you guessed it, old wool sweaters.
(And if you can’t get enough sweater recycling like me, make some DIY sweater legwarmer/boot toppers next!)
Take it away, Caller!
Hello M&DC fans! I am flattered to be guest-blogging on this fabulous site (Jess- thanks for letting me “drop by”!) This felted sweater mitten project was inspired during a closet clean out session I was having one afternoon and, as I usually do while being productive, I found a distraction – “Hey check out this old 100% wool sweater I found down here that I have not worn in like 3 years! Let’s shrink it!” The red snowflake pattern screamed mittens to me, so away I went, leaving my closet spilling out all over the place. These mittens are a breeze to whip up and if you have a stash of old sweaters, they’re also basically free! Happy Mitting!
Felted Sweater Mittens Supplies
-felted sweater mitten pattern (Simply enter your email in the box at the bottom of this tutorial to gain instant access to this mitten pattern, plus all our other past and future freebies!)
-a 100% wool sweater
-a t-shirt (or similar soft fabric for lining)
-sewing machine (or your ambitious hands!)
-pins
-1-2 yards of wool yarn and a large darning needle
Instructions
1. Clean out your closet and find one or more old wool sweaters and an old T-shirt (or something soft to use as lining).
2. Felt old wool sweater(s) by putting each in a separate pillowcase and washing them in the washing machine on HOT. (Yes, exactly what you’re usually trying not to do.) Felting isn’t an exact science, so check them frequently. Get more details about how to felt sweaters here.
3. Cut 4.5 inches off both sweater sleeves for the cuffs. Set these aside for later.
Note: Your felted sleeves need to be about the same width as the mitten template, if your sleeves shrunk too much, you can use the bottom hem of the sweater by cutting a rectangle about 4.5 inches x 10 inches and sewing the short ends together to make a tube with a 10 inch circumference and 4.5 inch height.
4. Print out the felted sweater mitten pattern and cut it on the outermost line. (Later you’ll trim to the inside line and use the resulting pattern for the inside of the mitts.)
5. Pin template pieces to felted sweater(s) and cut out each piece, cutting 2 of the mitten backs.
6. Starting with the two palm pieces for either the right or left mitten, line up the thumbs with the right sides together (wrong sides on the outside). Starting on straight edge, pin around the edge of the thumb and down the side.
7. In order to mark how far down the side to pin, it is helpful to match up the palm pieces with the top piece. Line up the base and the top curve of the mitten and pinch the outside edge of thumb together until all excess the height of the palm piece matches the height of the mitten back.
8. Sew from marked point, around the thumb to the other edge of mitten, with ¼ inch seam allowance.
Wanna save this pattern?
We'll email you this so you can come back to it later!
9. Match up palm piece with mitten back, right sides together.
10. Line up and pin the edges. (It can be helpful to pin the thumbs out of the way, too!) Sew the edges with ¼ inch seam allowance.
11. Repeat steps 6-10 for the opposite hand mitten. Turn mittens right-side out.
11. Trim off the outer ½ inch of the paper templates you used for the outside, leaving just the lining portion.
12. Cut each template piece out of the lining fabric.13. Follow steps 6-10 with the lining fabric.
14. Put the lining on your hand (still right-side in) and slide the outside of the mitten over the lining. Wiggle your thumb and fingers to adjust the lining and tack into place.
15. Trim the mitten liner so it’s the same length as the outer mitten.16. Take the 4.5 inch long tube from the sleeve and turn it inside out. Slide the raw end (the end that you cut) about an inch into the mitten, inside both the lining and the sweater layer.
17. With a piece of yarn and darning needle, starting at one of the side seams, sew through all three layers, leaving a tail of yarn where you started. Sew around the mitten base two times, securely fastening the cuff to the inside of the mitten.
18. On the third time around, when you get to the inside of the wrist, flip the cuff up and around the outside of the mitten. Sew through all four layers in order to tack the cuff into place.
19. Continue to sew, only the inside three layers (not going all of the way through the outside cuff layer) until you get to the back of the wrist. Sew all of the way through all four layers, tacking the cuff in place and add a button or two if desired.
20. Continue to sew only the inside three layers around back to the seam where you left a tail of yarn. Tie off the yarn and trim short. Tuck tails into the cuff.
21. Sip hot chocolate and enjoy the winter!
And if you’re into adorable kids’ winter-wear, you might also like these free patterns:
Aspen Socialite Crochet Headband
Frosty the Snowman Hat
Just Like Mommy Knit Cowl
Santa’s Helper Crochet Elf Hat (With Ears!)
RELATED: Our Complete Guide to Temperature Blankets
Julie Hasiewicz says
Love it and got the pattern no problem!!
SHARON says
I would like a copy your pattern template. I have tried these previously from another pattern and they are great but yours has the slightest bit of a different take. They seem to be a little more on an angle where the 2 palm pieces come together and the thumb is a little different making them look more whimsickle which i like (but can not spell)! Thank you! Also, I do not know how to not have bulk where the cuff is.. I am guessing with the felted sweaters being sooo thick that is just the way they are.
Sharon
Mary says
Please email your patterns. Can’t wait. Thank you.
Kanta Kahn says
Could you please send the updated pattern? Can’t wait to make these!
If you want to make combos of felt pieces on the backs of the mittens, do you have suggestions on how not to have bulky seams? I was considering serging–
Thanks!
Make and Do Girl says
The pattern in the above links is the updated one, so feel free to download an enjoy! That’s a good question about the seams. I think serging is probably a great idea if that option is available to you. Otherwise layering one piece on top of the other and sewing them by hand embroidery-style might work. You could also intentionally have that seem facing out and whip stitch it. Might look cute?
Good luck!
j
Kanta Kahn says
Nice idea about the whip stitch, and I think I’ll try it. Thanks.
Douglas Edwards says
I would love to have the template please. I love these mittens and would like to make them as presents friends. thanks very much.
Gloria says
My elderly mother loved making sweater mittens. I regretfully didn’t learn how to make them before she passed away two years ago. I would like a pair for my secret Santa gift from mom’s sweater stash. Would you kindly email the pattern to me? Bless you in advance!
Catherine McLoughlin says
I was at a craft show and a lady sold at least 50 pairs each at $25.00.
I can’t wait to start looking for old sweaters…..
anita says
I have made several pairs. Thanks for the pattern. They turn out a different size eveytime. The biggest complaint I get is that they are too wide at the finger end. Am I doing something wrong or are they suppose to be that way? Maybe if u could email me the pattern it is a different size that what I printed out. Also could u please email instructions. Thanks so much
Jackie says
Fantastic tutorial I can’t get to the pattern to print. Would you please email me the pattern. I would really appreciate it. Jackie
Make and Do Girl says
Yup! You should have it now.
Enjoy.
j
Mary F Nelson says
Please send template directions. Thank you kindly!! Can’t wait to try it!!! Mary
(For felted sweater mittens )
Make and Do Girl says
Just sent the template.
Enjoy!
j
Donna Dooley says
Please email me the templates. I am so excited about making them. The possibilities are endless. Thank you!
Make and Do Girl says
You got it.
Ruth Ferrall says
Hi
on the site you have 2 different mittens but not the complete of either one the one I made one to look like yours turned out great but can you send me both of the mitten patterns. Both slanted top and bottom palms and the swooped one of the palms. Thank you for posting for use!!!!
Make and Do Girl says
Hi Ruth,
I’ve checked the pattern and I can’t figure out exactly what you’re missing. The pattern you downloaded should have 6 total pages and you need to cut 3 total pieces for each mitten (plus the cuffs).
Please let me know if this doesn’t make sense.
j
Ruth Ferrall says
I am still not understanding in your pictures you have on your site you have a mitten that is scooped down so that would be for a left and a right pattern top and bottom. The angled palm one top and bottom that would be a total of 8 and than one for the back of the mitten. So that would 9. Missing is the bottom angled and top scooped. I can just flip it over for the left and right hand I hope you understand this? thank you