Fleece-Lined Upcycled Woolicious Mittens

Intro: Fleece-Lined Upcycled Woolicious Mittens

These wonderfully warm, wonderfully comfy woolicious mittens are made from felted wool sweaters.   

These are some of the reasons I love working with wool:

Wool is not only reusable but also biodegradable.

Sheep wool has an incredible natural UV protection built right in. The same cannot be said for manmade fabrics.

Wool is composed of the same protein that makes up the outer protective layer of your skin. 

Wool is naturally mildew and mold resistant because it is a natural moisture repellent.  Wool has natural fire resistance, water repellant, and climate control.

Upcycle your treasured wool sweaters - send them through the washer and dryer and transform them into a soft, dense material that can be repurposed without unraveling!

STEP 1: Materials Needed

Deconstructed felted wool sweaters (I used three different sweaters.  If you choose, you can use one or two sweaters - depending on how it is made;  no rules here - be adventurous.)  

Mitten pattern (will be provided) - it is comprised of three difference pieces

Fleece

Sewing machine (not shown)

Scissors

Buttons (2) (not shown)

Tape measure

Pins

Thread

STEP 2: Laying Out Pattern Pieces

When laying out pattern pieces on fleece, ensure the give / stretchiness of the fleece is with the width of mitten.  For example, for pattern piece #1,  the width is the direction of the arrow for the 4 3/4" measurement.  It doesn't matter which way you lay the pattern pieces on the wool - whatever appeals to you.

For the cuff - cut off the bottom of the ribbed sleeve plus 3/4" of the sweater.  

STEP 3: Assemble and Sew

For double thickness, turn material (both fleece and wool) inside out with right sides together.  Pin each of the three pattern pieces to the wrong side of the materials (both fleece and wool).  Cut.

With right sides together, pin wool top back (pattern piece #3) and bottom back (pattern #2) together.  Stitch together with a 3/8" seam allowance - see how the mitten was pinned in the picture.  Pin to top front (pattern piece #1) - stitch all around the mitten leaving lower edge open.  When stitching around - it will be necessary to stop stitching at thumb stitching (be sure to backstitch) and continue stitching to lower edge.  See third picture.  

Pin and sew the fleece pieces as described above - but with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Turn wool mittens inside out, taking care to ensure seams are nicely turned inside out.

Do not turn fleece mittens inside out.

STEP 4: Inserting Cuff to Fleece Lining and Then to Wool Mitten / Completing

Insert sweater cuff inside fleece mitten.  The right side of the top of the cuff will be pinned to the right side of the top of the fleece mitten.  Stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance.  

Insert fleece mitten into wool mitten.

Turn cuff to outside over the wool mitten.  Sew a button in the middle of the cuff through the cuff, wool mitten, and fleece mitten.  (Optional:  whipstitch cuff to wool mitten - hiding stitching.)

STEP 5: Other Sizes

Increase the pattern by 1/4" for each additional size - with the exception of the straight edges (opening for hand) on pattern pieces #1 and #2.

STEP 6: Lots of Fun Mittens Made for Gifts

Lots of possibilities!

Thanks for your interest.

Comments

[annelippin]

Here is a pattern. When you print, 4 1/2 inches is the original width of each pattern piece. You can increase/decrease print percentage to change the size of the mitten.

[Speery]

Thank you

[BigSkyCntry]

Thank you!

[Leeleeperi]

Where is the pattern?

[amc1153]

Someone posted a pattern right after where it says 50 Comments. You can probably use this as a reference and make your own pattern. I've made quite a few pair. Thank you for sharing.

[BigSkyCntry]

You are so welcome.

[Lunabernard]

Hi, I don’t see where you shared the actual pattern. How can I find it?

[amc1153]

It's in a post right after where it says 50 Comments

[BigSkyCntry]

Good morning - I did not provide an actual pattern -- just measurements.

[Materrocks]

Hi where is the actual pattern it’s not on the pdf just the instructions?

[amc1153]

It's in a post right after where it says 50 Comments

[BigSkyCntry]

Hi - sorry; I did not provide an actual pattern - just measurements so you can create your own.

[Coolbiology]

No pattern... Is this site simply collecting emials? Bummer.

[amc1153]

the pattern is at the top of this thread. You can download and print it. I'll try to add it from my download. Sometimes you just have to scroll threw the comments or on the site to find the patterns. Hope this helps.

[BigSkyCntry]

Hi. Not sure what your comment is - although no actual pattern is provided to be downloaded - the measurements are provided to easily make your own pattern.

[LindaS186]

How do I get the pattern?

[BigSkyCntry]

Morning; there is not a pattern -- the measurements are provided to make your own.

[Pam Lee]

I love this pattern & have made mittens for my family which turned out great. Just curious why the instructions say to sew the fleece with a 1/4” seam & the wool at 3/8”. Other patterns I looked at say the opposite meaning the fleece is smaller than the wool. Is it because the wool eventually stretches? Thanks!

[BigSkyCntry]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. So glad the pattern works for you and the mittens turn out. Actually - you are right; it should be the other way around! Good catch!

[emmagrace21]

does the S inside the diamond shape mean size small?