Cozy Mittens

Bee Wise Bags is at it again with our own mittens made form thrift store sweaters. You are all going to start thinking that I must be terrified to learn how to knit. Hey... I can knit - I’m just really lame at it. As my knitting guru at Permission to Unwind has mentioned I’m probably a little hyper vigilant and certainly strangle the poor little fibers in my creations. I made a sock this past summer and while it was perfect and beautiful, it was so small it did not fit my seven-year-old for it’s tight loops and twists. OOPS.

So I will just keep at my sweater upcycling until I am old and more relaxed. :)

By the way Merry Christmas!

Step One: Purchase the pattern for our original mittens for $9 for a printed and shipped pattern or $7 for a PDF. Hit the Thrift stores for 100% wool sweaters. Read this post for further tips on how to felt or use an old sweater.

After cutting out the pattern, lay it on the sweater and decide where the best placement is for each piece. I try to use the cuffs of the sweaters for the cuffs of the mittens. The edge is already finished and the ribbing makes the cuff work well.

Step Two: You will need to cut two of every piece, one for outer glover and one for the inside of the mitten. I chose the heavier wools for the outside and a combination of cashmere and fleece for the inside.

If your sweater cuffs are narrow, cut up the inside seam of the arm, open it up and lay the pattern on the widened piece of wool.

Make sure to flip the pattern piece over to get an opposite facing piece.

Step Three: Cut all the lining pieces times two as well.

Step Four: Sew the inner glove together. This can be done on a regular machine using a 1/2 inch seam allowance or a serger. Start with the thumb pieces as shown below.

Open it up and pin this piece to the main lining piece. Sew together.

Here is what it should look like. Do not turn it right side out because it will be put inside of the outer glove and all the seams will hidden inside.

Step Five: Repeat these steps to create the outer mitten.

Step Six: Put the liner on your hand and pull the outer part over the lining.

Step Seven: Finish the mittens by sewing the two sections together at the wrist and embellishing as you desire. I have sewn buttons on the back side of the mittens, added ribbon bows for little girls and also left them plain for the men and boys in my life. Hey, maybe I am afraid of knitting because this would have taken me a whole summer to finish and they would have fit my daughters doll when I finished. :)