How to make Glittens (fingerless glove-mittens)

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I love to wear big rings so i wanted to make a pair of gloves that didn't have individual fingers, and flap over mittens to keep my fingers warm.

This instructable shows you how to make an old cardigan into a pair of fingerless gloves that transform into mittens. Includes a free pattern that can be easily resized so you can make these for any sized hands.


 

A new instructable every Monday on www.alittlestranger.com

Step 1 You will need

A donor cardigan - i picked one with cabling detail as i thought it'd look cute on the backs of the gloves. What the cardigan is made of is down to personal preference, but one with a tightish weave will be easiest to work with. You could always use a sweater you'd just have to buy matching buttons separately

a) pins
b) scissors
c) needle
d) thread
e) pen

Printed copy of the pattern

Comments

[themadjeweler]

whoa these are great! your fingernails are lovely and totally match :D

[chatool101]

Nicely done, thank you for posting this

[Kahpow]

They look really nice, I'm a fan of your instructables ;)

[alanabert]

Hi,
How do I get the pattern for the glittens?

[teckner]

Try this:
http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FV5/Y2OY/G5KP9BCJ/FV5Y2OYG5KP9BCJ.LARGE.jpg
and this:
http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FSM/1S54/G5KP9BCG/FSM1S54G5KP9BCG.LARGE.jpg

[karacolor]

In your pattern it looks like the cutting line is inside the sewing line, but I think it is supposed to be the other way around.

[Nikki213]

You're awesome, I love this 'ible!

[AthleticTrainer]

Your instructable came just in time...I was about to throw away a wool sweater that shrunk four sizes in the dryer. I was going to throw it out but now I can have a better use...I shrunk a cashmere sweater too but will have to find it...that would be awesome a cashmere mitten.

[handmade.annie]

Never throw away shrunken wool/animal fiber garments!

There is a whole plethora of fun things you can do with them.

Once felted (or fulled I guess) the wool won't unravel when you cut it so you can make appliques or cut strips and add buttons for coffee sleeves. You can make these mittens or cut flower shapes for broaches or earrings. You can make a coin purse or a big purse. The only limit is your imagination.

I would suggest stuffing it in a pillowcase and rewashing on hot with a little soap, 1/2 cup baking soda (increases felting) and a few towels or old pairs of jeans. This will tighten it up even more making a thicker fabric which won't fray when cut. The pillowcase will protect your washer from the ton of fuzzies that the felting will release.

Then I would google "felted sweater crafts" or something like that.

Good Luck!

[AthleticTrainer]

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know it wouldn't unravel but it makes sense. I plan on making the mittens but probably with half fingers added in. I am hoping to design a way to put the seams on the back of the hand and fingers rather than between the fingers or on the palm. We'll see what happens.

[alittlestranger]

waa i hate when that happens! My washing machine has no gentle cycle, so i have to save up my delicate cardis for when i see my mum cos im so worried ill 'felt' them! look at me - a 26 year old saving up her washing for her mum ha ha!

[AthleticTrainer]

My problem tends to be the humidity. Nothing gets dry unless I set it to HOT then promptly forget to take the wools out to hang dry. I rarely wore that sweater but it still irritates.

[imrobot]

your instructables are awesome and ur really crafty so do you mind reviewing my instructable? tell me what to change.

thanks,
  ir

ps it was like my 4th time sewing

[alittlestranger]

no probs ill go have a looky now...

[WickedSpindle]

 Awesome, I can't wait to go to find an old sweater to try making my own!!

[CherubVonCherry]

They're amazing!! I have a pair I bought but  the they have fingerless thumbs so when I wear them as mittens my poor thumb gets chilly! These are soooooo much better! When I figure out what material I wanna use I'll make some n send a pic =]

[firehorse]

I  love it!  How do you keep the fabric from stretching while sewing???

[alittlestranger]

try adjusting the tension on your machine or place a layer of tear away interfacing underneath when you sew :)

[maniminy]

I love love love these!!!!! I just made some... check them out on my blog....
http://atadbitspacey.blogspot.com/

[alittlestranger]

thats great!

Would you mind crediting my website (www.alittlestranger.com) at the top of the post - i put a lot of time and effort into my instructables and pictures :)

[maniminy]

Oh for sure, I love your website :]

[sarahfish]

 And the glitten catches on! well done!

[alittlestranger]

yes! glitten makers unite! :D

[sarahfish]

 we both have the same t-shirt mod as well, except, yours seems to be in british...   hehehe :)

[alittlestranger]

great minds think alike! :D

[Jur]

I got a bought pair of glittens from my parents for christmas, and apparently they weren't very high quality since the seams are already starting to fail in different places. Someday I'm gonna get my sewing machine up and running again and fix them or make a pair of my own =)

[Raikou-san]

I'll have to get my mom to make me some out of an old sweater sometime. Those look comfortable. Well done.

[alittlestranger]

ooh if you make some please share a picture! :)