How to Make Women's Mittens out of a Felted Sweater

Mittens made from a sweater sleeve

Felted items are a hot fashion trend right now. Felted purses, mittens and other accessories are all popular women's accessories. However, you don't have to purchase "off the rack" to take part in this trend--you can easily make your own felted items. The following article explains how to make your own mittens out of a felted sweater.

Things You'll Need

• Felted sweater
• Scissors
• Needle and thread or a sewing machine
• Ink pen

Instructions

1. Begin with a clean and felted sweater.

2. Decide what part of the sweater you wish to make mittens out of--include part of the pattern or design on the sweater, or a plain spot if you wish. You may also want to consider using the bottom hem of the sweater or a sweater sleeve cuff as the bottom cuff for the mittens to produce a clean seam at the opening.

3. Turn the sweater inside out and trace the outline of your hands on it with a marker (have a friend trace your dominant hand if you have trouble). Be sure to trace an extra half-inch around your hands to leave plenty of room for the seam.

4. Cut out the outline of your hands with a sharp pair of scissors, being careful to mind the lines and leave enough room for sewing them together.

5. Keeping the material inside out, sew up the seams around the mittens with needle and thread or a sewing machine.

6. Turn the pieces right-side out and try on your new mittens!

Tips & Warnings

• Use the finished bottom hem or the cuff hems of the sweater for a finished edge for your mittens.

• Use as much of the finished sweater hem in your mittens as possible to reduce the amount of sewing you will need to do.