After we finished making the snow hat, I begged Missy to teach me to make a pair of warm winter mittens!
Follow these instructions and tips to stitch the perfect pair of mittens from a sweater! The only "trick" is to open your thumb a little (so that it's not close to your other fingers) when chalking the line to stitch. This will make your new mittens more roomy and comfy! 
These mittens were easy as pie to stitch up! I want to make them in every color. Now I have another reason to collect sweaters! 
Practice makes perfect! Try sewing as many knitted pieces as you can. I loved making these and the stocking cap too. XO. elsie This sewing basics series was created in collaboration with Missy Creed of Momentum Fashion. Missy is a talented seamstress who sews for Red Velvet!
127 Comments
Brilliant idea…. now to find an old jumper!
Those are really cute 🙂
How adorable these are…..
Aaah! So excited to try this!!:)
These are SO ADORABLE! Such an easy and inspired idea 🙂
I will definitely be on the lookout for fabrics when thrifting!
xoxohannah
a cup of subtle tea
You can win products from RevitaLash for over 300 euros here:
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These posts are my favorite things ever!! Thank you dear!
xxo
Taylor
eyelashwishesfashion.blogspot.com
Cute and so easy!
Jewelry giveaway.
http://www.houseofavandan.blogspot.com
Such a neat idea! 🙂
Elsie! I love your jacket! I’ve been looking for something just like that! Where did you find it?
cute, but love your skirt fabric! 🙂
Cute! What dress are you wearing? It is Red Velvet?
So cute! The sweater print adorable. I’ve been sewing using a lot of thrifted sweaters lately, and you’re absolutely right – practice makes perfect. All your tips lately have been super helpful! xx
http://acleanercloset.blogspot.com
Ok, this is crazy!! I just made a pair of mittens from an old sweater this morning!!! When I checked your blog a second ago I couldn’t believe it!! Didn’t think about making a hat, though. That’ll be my next project. Thanks for the great idea. This is my new favorite blog.
These are awesome!!! I foresee Christmas presents a la 2012. Maybe a stop by the local value village to make some extra warm mittens for the extra cold weather here in Canada is how I’ll spend my evening.
So cute! I actually planned on doing this soon once I found my old sweater – but I would have made gloves! ^^
Such great idea! Can’t wait to make these someday soon 🙂
Rory
http://www.WearAboutsBlog.com
CHICTOPIA
I CANNOT wait to try this!
i love your blog my blog is http://wwwteenage-girls.blogspot.com/
omg those are adorable and i LOVE them
love the idea!
These look so comfy and adorable!
Such a clever idea! A very simple sewing project! Just how I like it!
So cute! Are they bulky?
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
For some reason the link to instructions on how to make the mittens goes to the stocking cap instead! Cute mittens nonetheless.
Absolutely amazing! 🙂 Love your blog!
xoxo
-S
You are so talented! Great job !!
Have you tried making things with felted/fulled wool sweaters? It’s great because the fabric doesn’t fray once you felt it (aka shrink it in your washer and dry it). There are a lot of fun possibilities there!
Very cute idea! I have a few old sweaters that I can definitely re-purpose to make new mittens! Great idea.
really sweet mittens =)
http://elvche.blogspot.com/
Ohhh my goodness. So adorable. Makes me want to run out to Goodwill and get a sweater with a cute pattern : )
Jenn
passengerseatperspectives.blogspot.com
But what about the rest of the sweater? I hope they don’t end up in the trash.
This is such a lovely idea! I am heading to the thrift shop to get a sweater! Oh, I just remembered I have a cashmere sweater in the attic that got shrunk…I will use that!
xoxo,
Sandee
from katespade-aholic.com
wow that’s awesome! so creative! I love the tips this week!
http://www.owlloveu.blogspot.com
This is so cute! I cant wait to try!
I cannot believe I never thought of this….doh!
*Zigzag stitch the edge of the seam allowances so they don’t fray!*
I can’t wait to make these for me and all my friends. How fun!
so lovely!
i find so many sweaters that have lovely pretty patterns but awful fits from good will.
i’m going to make endless sweater mittens i think!!
http://www.seacreaturess.blogspot.com
Those are very cute. I also love the pattern on your skirt/dress!
Those are so cute! I love the pattern on the sweater you picked. Adorable!
These are awesome! Such a great idea!
i love love love this idea! So easy and cute! I want to make my own pair right now!!
love, polly 🙂
I just love this series! Thanks for posting! 🙂
good idea, I’ll try.
thanks
😉
Bye bye sweater. Hello mittens.
Dani @ NerdyStrawberry.com
They are so cute. I love the pattern :)! I always have problems to find cute mittens, because I have such small hands, so this could help. Only problem: I can’t sew :)! I have to work on that!
Love, love, love this! I’m going to make some ASAP!
Jen
http://makesomerumi.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaway-is-here.html
Where did you get that coffee mug? I love the colors!
what a clever idea. the mittens are so cute!
http://www.absurdlypeculiar.blogspot.com
i was going to try knitting gloves, but considering even my scarfs are crooked, this will be a more successful method.
Such a clever idea! i love the idea of turning comfy Christmas sweaters as mittens
Thanks for sharing!
http://rainbowandtrees.blogspot.com/
Funny! In November last year I’ve submitted to you such project 🙂 Later I posted it on my blog http://baju-baju-marysiowe.blogspot.com/2011/11/they-were-made-from-same-felted-sweater.html
I Just bought all my supplies to make these can’t wait!! Super cute Idea! I will definitely be blasting the song Atlas Hands by Benjamin Francis Leftwich while attempting to make these:)
-Marlena
woah this is such a good idea!
Adorable.
Ky
http://www.thebirdssay.blogspot.com
Those came out soooo cute! Totally loving this idea!
xoxo
Sarah
http://www.thecoolhour.com
Great idea, as always… now if it would only get cold & snow out here in Tennessee so I could wear them!
http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/
So adorable!
I just got out my sewing machine today for the first time ever and made my very first stitches on a machine. This will be a fun, easy first project to tackle! Thanks so much for the ideas 🙂
The mittens are lovely! I always thought of home made mittens as something you knit or crochet vs. sew.
omg want!
http://www.tigerlilyleather.wordpress.com
I think i may find myself to a thrift store and cut up some sweaters!!
i always love your posts. best diy blog in my opinion 🙂
love kelly
http://www.paperdolltheory.com
Those are adorable and you make it look so, so easy. Can’t wait to get my own sewing machine 🙂
This is completely unrelated to those very cute mittens up there, but I spotted this article online and thought it might be of interest: http://www.retronaut.co/2012/01/the-instant-decorative-pick-me-up-1970s/
nice idea.. love it! 😉 http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
I can wait to make some of these for my little boys !!
This is so cool!!
I definitely want to try these out with an old sweater or something 🙂
xo
http://kittysnooks.blogspot.com/
These are so cute! I have to know where you got that GREAT jacket though! Do tell…
I love the blak and white- very cool.
niiiice!
if you found a massive sweater, then you could do the mittens from the sleeve cuffs and hat from the waist hem. matchy matchy! haha
those have got to be the most adorable thing ever! i can’t wait to figure out fun things to do with all the old sweaters in my closet.
I’m loving this knitted re-do feature!
Catherine Denton
MIttens!!! I love love mittens!!! My little hands are going to be happy in winter when I make theses for them. Thank you V
I really like this kind of gloves!!!
http://missbobino.blogspot.com
great for the little peeps too!
happiness…
dannelle@nestenterprises.typepad.com
So lovely! I love mittens.
You have done great work to make that winter mittens. I like your idea and it’s looking brand new pair. Thanks for sharing.
I love them!! i want to do them too! 🙂 i put a link on my blog to your tutorial!
ciao from itay!
http://chimplethings.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-see-diy-guanti-manopola-smittens.html
These are SO cute! And I just have to say – that skirt is REALLY lovely (oh and so is your blog) 🙂
Annie
The Other Side of Gray
Very informative blog. I always learn new things from your site. You gave me new idea to use old sweaters. Thanks for sharing this nice article with us.
Nice! Love your skirt!
Such a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing !
Lovely! Your diys are always so great 🙂
Xx
http://www.pretpenser.com
http://www.pretpenser.com
http://www.pretpenser.com
Amazing!
http://www.mykitschworld.blogspot.com
I will sooooo be doing this!!! Thanks so much for the GREAT idea! 🙂
Super cool. But I don´t have a sweater I could cut up to do this.
Great Gravy, Oh My! Love This. There’s this Star Wars fabric pattern I can totes use for this! Muhaha.
<3 jordan
http://www.jordandibb.com
Cute!
Incredible idea! I have been looking for some cute mittens recently but now I know my old Christmas jumper would make a perfect pair. Thanks so much! xx
http://cornishbunting.wordpress.com/
So amazing!! I am going to make them right now! It is -30 where I am now!!
http://www.blogger.com/home
Woodbridge Arbor Curvy Plus Coat
LOVE that Ruche has plus sizes!
Thanks for the opportunities you are presenting/sharing here!
🙂
So simple! Also, love the pattern on that skirt!
I’m so buying an old jumper tomorrow from a charity shop! Thanks for the tutorial. Soooo making them over the weekend.
http://www.eatenjoylive.blogspot.com
very sweet idea. the gloves are lovely.
such a sweet idea… almost looks like snowflakes 🙂
oh these mittens are adorable 😉 I saw it here and I made myself, too =) check my mittens here =)
http://irem-just-a-dream.blogspot.com/2012/01/eldiven-yapalm-diy-mittens.html
this is very cool. pitty its summer here (who says that?!) hehe cant wait to try this once winter rocks around! thank you x
sooo cute and such a great idea. They came out so great and look really professional!!!
xo
http://www.hourglass-fashion.blogspot.com
how cute and lovely <3
XoXo
Plami
http://www.fashionthrill.com/
Yes, yes, super cute mittens! But the jacket…love the jacket!
These look SO cozy! I simply had to feature your idea in my blog roundup today: http://blog.mixbook.com/make-your-own-accessories/. Thanks for the inspiration!
they look gorgeous, thanks for the idea
These are too cute! I’m never tossing sweaters again, especially ones with holes and flaws I normally wouldn’t try to give to a resale shop… Now I can make tons of mittens!
What a cute gift these would make!
How cute and fun! =)
I love those, they are adorable and I make themselves for me either 😉
I really like to hear your comment about mines =)
They are here: http://irem-just-a-dream.blogspot.com/2012/01/eldiven-yapalm-diy-mittens.html
I have been planning to try this! Yours look great. Love your boots too. 🙂
They look super cute! I’ll have to try this in winter.
Woo Hoo!! Thanks a bunch 🙂
Clever!!
this is so cute. i made some gorgeous mittens for my little girl following your tutorial. i added adorable red and white polka dot ribbons too (here’s a pic of them on my flickr photostream .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/byebyebirdieuk/6788232519/in/photostream.
i also mentioned this tutorial on my blog and linked. hope that’s ok with you xxx
Thank you for having content worth linking to! I love these sweater mittens and linked to them on my own blog. Cheers.
Really love these, and the mug that features in the first picture was given to my husband and I as a wedding present, super cute!
great ideas for the winter in michigan I love your DIY
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Making these today after popping down to the local thrift shop… so excited!
So this is crazy but do you mind telling me more about your jacket? I’ve been trying to find one similar but nothing quite looks like it and then I stumbled onto this picture which is exactly what I’m looking for!
heading straight up to the charity shop now… 🙂
Those should deeitinfly keep your mom’s hands warm! It’s a very lovely textured pattern. I’m sure it kept your interest up while you knit them.
The Cake Smash is brilliant you need to get these ideas out there, pelpoe would love them! You could even involve their pets!! lol! How fun would that be!!! lol!PS-I would totally let you borrow Tula and Brutus for an experiment, they are very good with babies .
My fav Hilary song is Holiday it an emotional song but it has a happy tone as well.My fav movie is metiraal girls it is about two sister going through a crisis of their father’s death.In the end they find out who their real friends are and most of all who they are. If I win the book it would be really nice if I had you sign it because you and Hilary did a great job at making it a best seller! Congrats to both of you. Also if I may add you most like heard this before from others but Hilary Duff is truly my role model.Thank you
closet is packed but yet I have nnotihg to wear nnotihg fits nnotihg is clean F K you clothes!! SEE, here I go again) and also of course ala L.A. in my car screaming or flipping off other stupid drivers doing stupid things (or going so slow when I am late that I ride their bumper til they get pissed and pull over or let me pass, which is what I want cuz I am late and of course, that isn’t MY fault or anything ) Or the item in my hand that won’t comply fast enough .BYAHHHHAAKKKKK!BAsically, what I am saying lady is I relate! LOLHugs!
HA! I saw that picture too and I thugoht almost the exact same thing (though I didn’t put it quite so eloquently in my own head it was more like what kinda baloney is this? Who lives like that, let alone creates something artistic like that. Then I went and ate an oreo or something because in my head I took it a step farther into the whole, I’ll never have a workspace that’s that tidy and therefore will never be crazy successful as an artist and I should really just hang it up now. Insane, I know, but there it is.)
Dear Mary, As I walked tgurohh my house this morning I heard the wonderful sounds of water dripping from each of the beautiful ice sickles hanging over the eaves. As I listened closer I heard different sounds and rhythms. I put on my jacket, wool cap and mittens and went out to take pictures of the different shapes and lengths of the instruments hang there creating a new song. As I got closer the dripping began to hit my cap and yes I began to smell like the sheep that produced the wool for my handmade cap. When I came in I placed the cap on the radiator to dry. I know your Mother understands these things happen when one is exploring. Tell Josh to read The Mitten by Jan Brett you will love how one mitten keeps many animals warm. Talk soon. sue t.
why can’t we do this in one year?we have no idea what the secrets are here that you’re takilng about for one.we don’t have your connections and partners either.where are you getting your traffic?what do you look for in offers?how do you test and decide on which one’s to scale?these are the things you might want to reveal.Without doing so, this is just an ego post
Hi Paul,What can I said.The moment I read this blog, I know this is great.The best part when i fiisnh reading your blogpost is this : I did this in one year, why can’t you?You are truly a uber affiliate.In fact, I admire your initiative of motivating people.More great things to come to you man.Keep it up.Cheers!