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Mitten Making

IMG_3561I'm trying not to get totally frustrated with my lack of 'free time' these days. The evenings, which were always reserved for any sewing or making that I wanted to do are now filled with more important things like sweet baby snuggling or putting the children down (Kate got out of bed 38 times last night…I am not kidding.) I have a handful of things on the list to be made but when it comes down to it, I am exhausted by 8:00 p.m. I was, however,  able to eek out some mittens for Kate yesterday. They aren't for Christmas- just a project that has been on my to-do list for ages. All you need is a wool sweater (this was a brown thrifted one which happened to be from the BR) Trace the outline of your child's hands on card stock  and add an additional 1/4" around each side. Cut out and place on bottom of sweater. Pin and cut out.IMG_3563 I thought I would be all tricky ricky (only to later find that said idea was neither tricky nor ricky) to put a heart on the inside of the gloves so if you cupped your hands together you'd see a heart inside…IMG_3565So I cut out a heart (from a wool sweater as well) and pinned it to the right side of the gloves…IMG_3566and then I zig-zagged around the edgesIMG_3568(sorry the coloring is so weird in all these photos- it was getting dark…) Pin right sides together & sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right side out. Badda boom badda bing. Mittens.IMG_3575

Kate was a little freaked out by them. Henry wants to know when I'm making his.

Why does red always photograph so weird? 

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17 responses to “Mitten Making”

  1. Megs Avatar
    Megs

    How CUTE! I want some!
    PS: let me come visit and give you some more crafting time 🙂

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  2. jenjen Avatar
    jenjen

    Those are darling. What a fun idea! I know what you are saying about not having enough time 🙂 Enjoy your little ones!
    XOXO
    Jen

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  3. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Really cute! My reds are often funky too. I’ve wondered the same thing!

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  4. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    Ooooo! This would be perfect to make some without thumbs for my 7 month old. VT winters get SOOOO cold!

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  5. monique Avatar
    monique

    SWEET! I love them! I bought a sweater that got half way transformed into a cardigan and then I found a cardigan I loved and now I can make something with the sweater! thx!

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  6. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    very cute. yesterday… somewhere… i saw adult gloves made from a thrifted sweater and wanted to make them, now i can make some for my kids too. thanks.

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  7. Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife Avatar
    Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    I make this kinds of mittens all the time. I love how you’ve added the heart motif
    Red is very difficult to photograph because the camera sees it as “hot”. It’s a little easier with a film camera but digital does not love red.
    – Suzanne

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  8. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I tried this years ago, I should try it again. I read about women making them this way for the men that were in the war(can’t remember which war, WWI or WWII) I thought it was a fun Idea. When I did it I did it from a wool sweater that I had felted in the washer. The tighter fibers are good for a warm glove for cold Utah.

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  9. bec Avatar
    bec

    I’m impressed not only with your mittens but with the fact that you’re sewing with such a new baby! I was out of order for months! {I’m pregnant now with my second; hopefully I’ll bounce back a little faster with this one.} Either way- awesome work. You’re such an inspiration.

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  10. Abi Avatar
    Abi

    Don’t worry, I remember feeling like I’d never have free time again when Vaughn came. But it does happen and third babies make time go by at an unreasonably cruel pace so just soak as much in as you can. It will come 🙂
    Super cute mittens! I have a pile of old woolen sweaters saved up. Is it hard to sew knits? I am a newbie?

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  11. Becky Avatar
    Becky

    I love these, but am in the midst of a creative time squeeze as well. Our third baby was born two weeks ago, and oddly enough, my daughter (age 3) is also having some sleeping issues now. Two little girls and one mom up all night=yikes!
    Best wishes to you and your family, and here’s to more time for creative endeavors soon!

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  12. Erin Sorensen Avatar
    Erin Sorensen

    So cute, I love them!

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  13. Pumpkinbear Avatar
    Pumpkinbear

    Mittens from sweaters are super-fun. I’m fonder of the style that has the thumb underneath the fingers, not next to them, if that makes any sense, but it takes three different pattern pieces, not one, so is not suitable for one-week-til-Christmas crafting.
    That pattern, enlarged, is also AWESOME for potholders with an outside layer of old blue jeans.

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  14. Grace Avatar
    Grace

    These are awesome and I will probably copy you!!!

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  15. Stacie Smith Avatar
    Stacie Smith

    Red is classically difficult and over saturated, blowing out all details. Esp. with digital. Try working with levels in the red channel… that might help. But really, I haven’t had to do that so who knows. When I come across the problem, I’ll let you know the fix… not that you really care. HA!

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  16. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    These are adorable! What a great idea!!

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  17. Ester Kiely Avatar
    Ester Kiely

    Very cool mittens! I love that they are recycled from a sweater, that the pattern is traced from the child’s hands and the heart on the inside is very cute. A great project to share with kids.

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