How Not to Knit Woolen Mittens

Woolen mittens are soft and naturally waterproof and warmer than gloves. It’s no wonder that sewing woolen mittens is one of my favorite activities for winter.

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, I love knitting. Even after all these years, it’s mind-boggling to me that I can fall into a rhythm and forget what my hands are doing as they click along… and then I look down and I’ve made fabric. I still get the “I made that!” feeling about every single project, even the ones I frog.

And, perhaps most importantly, they trump gloves because my kids can get them on without help. (This is a plus when you have six hands to cover before you cover your own!) Of course, the downside to knitting half a dozen mittens is that it takes time. So when this time of year comes around and my littles start asking for hand-knits, sometimes I fudge it. Yes, instead of knitting, I sew woolen mittens!

The bonus is that I don’t get (as) irritated when someone loses one of these mittens.

You won’t need to know how to knit, but you will need to know how to sew — either by hand or machine — to complete this project.

Looking for an absolute beginner sewing project? Check out our easy fleece pillows.

How to Sew Woolen Mittens

1. Gather Your Supplies

sweater (used/felted)

Yep, that’s the secret. You need an old sweater. We are gonna cut this thing up, sew it back together, and end up with knitted mittens without ever knitting a stitch! After sewing woolen mittens, you’ll wonder why you ever knit in the first place. (Okay, maybe that’s a bit too far….)

Head over to the nearest thrift store. For about $3, you should be able to score a 100% wool sweater. It must be wool. Be sure to check the men’s, women’s, and children’s departments.

cardboard (for the pattern)

There are several mitten patterns available for purchase and if you sew much, you may even have one already. I prefer to make my own with scrap cardboard. This keeps the pattern simple, which saves the most time. Grab a piece larger than the mitten you’re planning to make.

fabric marker

A regular washable marker will work, too.

scissors

Your scissors should be extra sharp. Cutting through felted wool is trickier than cutting through cotton or linen.

sewing machine

No special foot or thread is needed for this project.

2. Felt the Sweater

Before you sew, you’ll need to be sure your sweater is at least somewhat felted. You don’t need to shrink it down to a quarter of its size, but you do want the fibers to start to fuse together. This will enable you to cut it without it unraveling.

A used sweater is likely already felted. You can tell by looking at the stitches. Are they fuzzy and blending together? If so, you’ve probably already got some felting going on. If you can still see or feel individual stitches clearly, it needs a good felting.

You can easily felt it at home. Grab a pillowcase and toss the sweater in. Secure it with a knot or rubber band and toss it in the washing machine. Set it to hot, run the cycle, then dry it in your dryer. That should do it!

3. Make Your Pattern

To make the pattern, trace your hand (or your child’s) on the cardboard, leaving ample room for the wrist. You don’t need to trace individual fingers, just the overall hand shape.

Draw another line all the way around the mitten. It should be about 1/4″ out for children’s mittens and about 1/2″ out for adult mittens.

Cut on the outer line.

4. Make the Cuts

Line your mitten form up to the bottom edge of your sweater. The ribbed edge will serve as the wrist of the mitten. Trace your mitten form with the fabric marker, then cut it out.

You will need 4 mitten forms for one pair of mittens. Most sweaters have an obvious inside and outside, so be sure to cut 2 forms with the thumb to the left and 2 forms with the thumb to the right.

5. Pin and Sew into Woolen Mittens

Pin your mitten forms in pairs with the right sides together (wrong sides out). Sew them together, leaving 1/4″ seam allowance. Trim thread as needed.

Invert the mittens so that the right sides are out.

How do you upcycle your woolen sweaters?