Before we start the mitten tutorial, I want to share my favorite story from the mitten class. Marie was using a sweater that belonged to her grandmother. She was making mittens for all 5 of her sisters from the sweater, so they could all have a memory keepsake of their grandmother. Sniff, goosebumps, smile. Love it!
If you go to the new and improved version in the link below, the link to the pattern isn’t working, so you can download the old pattern here.
Click here for my new and improved version of this mitten tutorial.
So many possibilities~ Have fun!
First choose and old sweater. For your warmest mittens, it should be at least 60% wool, but it works with many other sweaters as well.
Use your pattern to cut 2 of each piece from the sweater and 2 of each piece from some fleece for the lining. Make sure you are cutting opposite pieces so you will have a right hand and a left hand.
Also, cut 3 or 4 inches from the bottom of each sleeve to use for the cuff of the mitten.
Cut off a sleeve and open it.
You can get 2 mitten top pieces from each sleeve.
This is what your mitten pieces will look like so you will have a right and a left.
Next, sew pieces 1 and 2 (the two thumb pieces) together. Starting at one notch and ending at the next. Right sides together.
To make sure you have a right and a left, make sure you place them on top of each other like this:
Notice piece 1 (the rounded piece) is on the bottom and piece 2 (the flat piece) is on the top.
Then, placing right sides together. Stitch the thumb pieces to the mitten top by sewing around the entire edge.
Now repeat this process with the fleece lining pieces.
Turn the fleece lining pieces inside out and attach the cuffs, right sides and rough edges together. (Remember, the cuffs are the 3 or 4 inches you cut from the bottom of each sleeve.) Then stitch around the rough edges.
Once the edges are stitched together, turn the lining inside out again.
And turn your piece mitten right side out.
Place your hand inside the lining section and slide it into the mitten section.
Fold the cuff over the bottom of your mitten.
Attach a button to hold all the sections together.
And you’ve got a great new pair of mittens. Oops, how’d that hat get in there? For directions on how to make the hat, check out my hat tutorial.
You can download the mitten pattern here.
The Renegade Seamstress 
Got it now! How about a dog sweater? You inspire me!
Oh Marty, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! Can’t wait to see the dog sweaters!!!!
Oh my goodness. That is the most amazing mitten tutorial ever. Jumpers are no longer safe in this house…. I want some!!!! Thank you so much for sharing such brilliance! 🙂
… meant to ask if you have a pattern download… or is that too cheeky?! 🙂
I’m so new to this blogging thing that I’m not sure how to make a download. I’ll figure it out and let you know.
Beth, I would love tomake your mittens but when I click on your links to the patterns it gives errors. Help! 🙂
Hi Nancy, Thanks for the heads up on the problem. I’ll check on the link but in the meantime, here’s a link to one of my old patterns. Make sure to print it out at 100% .
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
Hope this works. If not, please let me know and I’ll try something different.
Happy Mitten Making!
Beth
Hi Nancy, the patterns are up and running again
https://www.ehow.com/13559466/sweater-to-mittens-smittens-diy
Please let me know if I can be any help.
Such a wonderful idea with sweaters into mittens. Thank you so much, I hope to try a pair soon.. I need to go to a Goodwill or some place to find sweaters. Thank you, Geri
Have fun Geri. There are thousands of sweaters “hanging around” the thrift stores just waiting to become something new. 🙂
THANKS so much for posting this! Came just in time for me to finish up my mittens yesterday 🙂
Your mittens were beautiful!!! I meant to take a picture of them today so I could post them on the blog. Would you bring them back tomorrow?
I’ve got some sweaters that would make wonderful mittens!
I loved making these and after I gave the class, almost everyday, I’d come to work and somebody would bring in a new pair they made. It was so much fun! I’d love to see what you make!
Beth
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My daughter is Gaye Young. She told me aout your web site. I am now a big fan and am going to add you to my favorites on the web. I started to sew when I was in the 6th or 7th grade and it has been a major part of my life. Now I have another reason to go to the Good Will. I like the way you give clear instructions and great pictures to see the actual project from start to finish.
Well, nice to meet you, Carol! It’s fun to work with Gaye. We have lots of fun. Thank you for all of your kind words about my site. I’m so glad you are enjoying it. Happy sewing!
Beth
Hello Carol, When you said “another reason to go to Goodwill”, I related right away. I just got 4 sweaters from Goodwill, and can hardly wait to begin! Fortunately I also have a stash of fleece for the liners. I LOVE a new project!
Have fun with this Heather and let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
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Great Tutorial as always Beth! Keep them coming!!!
Thank you, Mary!
hi there may I use cotton sweaters
Oh yes, cotton sweaters work fine.
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HI! It doesn’t look like you have a pattern download. Would you be able to show us how you made your pattern? Like the distance along the bottom, distance from bottom to top. Did you use your own hand as a guide? If I could understand the basic way of making the pattern itself, then I could do these for my kids as well. Any info is much appreciated! We are always missing a glove or mitten so new ones are in order 🙂
Hi Julie,
There is a pattern download on my tutorial here: http://www.ehow.com/ehow-crafts/blog/sweater-to-mittens-smittens/
Have fun!
Beth
I followed your like to your new and improved tutorial but the mitten pattern won’t download. These are so cute and would love to make them. Can you update the link?
I’ll check into this for you, Celeste. In the meantime, the this old pattern might work:
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
Just make sure it’s printed out at 100% and check to make sure it’s the right size.
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Hi Beth! I haven’t commented in a very long time but I have always remembered this project – I’m going over to ehow as soon as I have finished commenting – yesterday, after about 2 years of debating, my husband (I think he go tired of hearing me debate) gave me a sewing machine as one of my Christmas presents! I have always wanted to do this and now I have the ability to do it. …well, I have the machine anyway. I hope I’m able to do it and you can bet I’ll send you a picture once it’s done. Thanks for inspiring me these last few years and you know, even if I don’t comment, I’m always reading!
Hi Kelli! I’m so excited that you’re going to start sewing. Please let me know if you have any questions, I’d love to help if I can. I also read everyone of your posts but I don’t always comment either. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Great! I need to find a table now to put it on and then I’ll be all set……….I think! 🙂
I am going to be making this out of an old wool fisherman knit sweater that had seen better days! Thanks! (I live where it is currently below zero…) Can’t wait for my warm mittens….
Love these mittens, but still need dimensions? Pattern downloads don’t give measurements , can any one help? I have tried a few trial runs just don’t fit right. Thanks, freezing here in Canada.
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If the gal in your class is making 5 pair of mittens from one sweater, what does she do for cuffs on the other 4 pair? I love this idea and want to do it..
This story made my night!
you have to wonder how much is this person giving back to the person who actually came up with the idea and made the pattern? hmmm …
I didn’t wonder that. I figured the pattern maker would be thrilled to know that something they generously and freely shared has been so life-changing for someone who was struggling. That’s the greatest feedback ever, knowing that you, even indirectly, helped change somebody’s life.
Redoing drop shoulder seam shirts from 20yrs ago, make into 2016 style
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Great tutorial. Interesting take on the cuff construction. Thanks
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Thank you so much for sharing this sweater mitten tutorial. It was super helpful:)
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