How to Make Mittens From an Old Sweater
with
Lea Elleseff
An old wool sweater is a terrible thing to waste. Why not turn it into a pair of mittens you can design any way you want? Find out how to make a cozy pair of mittens in a snap.
Transcript: How to Make Mittens From an Old Sweater
Hi, I'm Lea Elleseff for About.com, and today we are going to make a pair of mittens out of an old felted wool sweater.Homemade Sweater Mitten Supplies
Here's what we'll need:- a threaded needle with a sizable clump of knots on one end
- scissors fit for cutting through fabric
- buttons for decorating
- an old felted wool sweater
Felt the Wool Sweater
To felt the sweater, throw it in a washer and dryer on high heat. This will shrink your sweater making it more durable, more resistant to wind and easier to sew. And we are set to go.Measure the First Mitten
Lay the sweater out flat, making sure to line up the back with the front the best you can. Place one of your hands at the bottom of the sweater towards its corresponding side. Include at least one inch of your wrist in the measurement. Spread you fingers out slightly with a little extra space between your pointer and your thumb.Cut the Mitten From the Sweater
And simply cut out the sweater around the perimeter of your hand leaving half an inch between your hand and the cut. Once you get to your pinky cut the sweater straight off, leaving the side of the material in tact. This will save you some sewing time.Cut Out the Second Mitten
Place your recently cut fabric over on the other side with the thumb pointing in the opposite direction, and cut out the second mitten using the first as a form.Custom Design the Mittens
Next, sew on any designs you might want to. Today, I'm simply sewing on a button on each mitten to give the effect of an eye.Sew the Homemade Mittens
Now take one mitten and fold it over so you can no longer see the button. And you are ready to sew your mitten shut.Start at the bottom of your mitten to the side of the wrist. Make sure not to sew the wrist shut so eventually you or someone you know can actually wear it.
Homemade Mitten Tips
Once you do this to both mittens, you'll be left with these, and here comes the best part: turning the mittens inside out to see just what you made. In our case it's a pair of fish mittens!Well, that's about it and remember when you try this at home you need not be an expert sewer. All you need is a little creativity. Don't forget to play around with your design to get it just the way you like it.
Thank you for joining me, to learn more visit us on the Web at www.about.com.