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.
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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
Joanie says
Pattern request
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Joanie,
If you subscribe using your email in the pink and green box above this comment area, you’ll immediatly get a link to download the pattern from the subscriber’s Vault.
Happy sewing!
Jess
Mila says
Can you please send me a copy of the template too? I can’t wait to make some for the whole family.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Mila,
Simply enter you email address in the box above this comment area and you’ll receive a link to download the pattern. (Check your spam folder if you don’t see an email from me.)
Happy mitten making!
Jess
dorie kaelberer says
Great looking mittens…can’t wait
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay! I hope you enjoy them, Dorie!
joe says
cannot print the template for the mitts do you have it in multiple sizes please send it to me cannot find it
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Did you gain access to the Vault? If not, feel free to subscribe in the box above and you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to get the pattern. (It’s below the photo of the mittens in the Vault.)
Colleen G says
Very cool idea to turn some ugly sweaters into very cute mittens and boot cuffs. I am always looking for repurposing ideas and this one is a definite one to put on my to-do list. Thanks
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay Colleen! I love repurposing too and when I find a great thrift store sweater, I can’t help but buy it, even if I don’t have a plan for it right away. I hope you enjoy the pattern!
Connie says
would love the mitten pattern please
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Connie!
If you enter your email address in the box on the upper right side of the site, you’ll receive an email that tells you how to download the full, free printable pattern. 🙂 (And if you’re on mobile, the box to subscribe will be toward the bottom of the page.)
Happy mitten season!
Jess
Mary says
Can’t wait to try this!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay! I’d love to see a photo if you’d like to share. This project is such a fun excuse to go thrift store sweater shopping. 🙂
Kim says
Can I get the printable pattern for these mittens emailed to me? I didn’t see a link!! Thank you
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Kim,
If you subscribe in the box on the sidebar or at the bottom of the post, you’ll instantly receive an email with a link to access the pattern. It’s in the subscriber-exclusive “Vault.”
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Jess
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Kim,
If you subscribe in the box at the bottom of the post or in the sidebar, you’ll immediately receive an email with download instructions. The pattern is in the subscriber “vault” with other exclusive free patterns and templates.
Hope that helps!
Jess
Janett Scott says
Would you please email the mitten pattern from old sweaters?
Thank you!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Janett,
If you subscribe in the form on the side of the site or at the bottom of the post, you’ll immediately get an email telling you how to download it. Check your junk/spam if you don’t see it right away.
Happy sewing!
Jess
Andrea D. Kasper says
Wow, very cute and does not seem too hard to do it. I will try out this lovely product result by a new sewing machine and my husband bought will show you my product when completed. Wait for it offline. Thanks writer!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
How fun to have a new sewing machine! Enjoy the pattern! I’d love to see your mittens when you finish.
Jess
Judy says
How do I get the templates for the pattern pieces? . I signed up, got the password, but I still don’t see how to get the pattern templates. Thank you!
Dorothy Worthington says
can you email me the pattern,,,and ty
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Dorthy,
I’d love to help you get the pattern. If you enter your email address in the pink and green box above, you’ll be sent a password to access our exclusive Subscriber’s Vault, where you’ll find this pattern, plus lots of others. (Once you enter your email address, be sure to check your email for a confirmation email. It might be in your spam folder. Click that big “confirm” button and you’ll have the password in your inbox in no time 🙂 Let me know if you need more help. I don’t want anything to stand in the way of your crafting!
jess