Really, I need to stop now.
This mitten making craze I’m on is getting ridiculous! You need to be careful what you wear around me. Be very, very careful. Each sweater I lay my eyes on these days becomes a potential mitten fantasy to me. While you think I’m talking about your elf on the shelf adventures, I’m most likely envisioning myself cutting up your sweater to make more SMITTENS!!!! You can’t say you haven’t been warned.
There, I said it.
They say, that’s the first step to recovery. Right? Ahhhh, but so many sweaters, so little time.
Speaking of so little time, I don’t mean to alarm you, but, there are only twenty days left to make all those holiday gifts. So, as I promised, to make it a little easier on all you do-it-yourselfers, and as my gift to you, I’m going to bring you tutorials for quick, easy and inexpensive DIY gifts throughout the month of December.
So naturally, what would this season be without a new and improved easy sweater mitten tutorial? And what would this post be without another giveaway?
First, gather up a couple of (your own :)) preloved coordinating sweaters, a few buttons, and a little fleece.
Then click here to see the rest of the tutorial on my eHow post.
And here is a my one minute video on how to Make “Smittens”.
Enjoy!
And to thank you, once again, for your continued encouragement and support, I’d like to give away a pair of “Smittens”. All you have to do is pin the eHow tutorial to one of your Pinterest boards and leave a comment over there. I will choose and announce the lucky winner on Saturday, December 14.
Each time you take the time to make a comment and each time you pin one of my tutorials, you are giving me more than you will ever know.
Thank you soooooo much!!
Beth
The Renegade Seamstress 
Love those! I’m going to have to add this project to my list – so cute!
I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but I always get in the mood to make Smittens! Have fun, Laura!
These are so cute! Great tutorial, too!
Thanks so much! Happy Holidays!
I’m SO glad you posted this! I was hoping you would share the tutorial but since you sell the smittens I wasn’t sure you would. Thank you for being so generous and sharing with us! I can’t wait to try this when my little guy naps today!
You are so welcome, Tricia! Have fun!
You make me happy too, thanks!
Oh, such a nice thing to say, Mary! Thanks!
These are too adorable!! Why did you do this to me?!! I thought I was just about done making all of my Christmas gifts, but these are way too cute to pass up! I have to make them for someone!! Hmm….maybe I will just make them for myself! I love them!
Hehehehe!!! I’m tricky that way……
Have fun!
It is so wonderful and generous of you to share the pattern and tutorial! I can’t wait to try it! Thank you so much!
Have fun, Liza!
Adorable! Love these.
Thanks Laura!
OK, so I have my machine on the dining room table and my stack of sweaters next to it. You have me motivated to sew a few SMITTENS this weekend. Miss our days of crafting together!
Yay! Smittens here, Smittens there, Smittens EVERYWHERE!!
Those are so cute! And look super warm, too!! I’ve linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-smittens-sweater-mittens/2013/12/05/
–Anne
Thank you, as always, Anne!
These are adorable, Beth. Your craftiness inspires me. 🙂
Thanks so much, Cara! Here’s to a wonderful 2014 for you and your family!
Hee hee! I was just looking through MY sweaters last evening – sadly none of them were good candidates. Now I’m looking at the hubby’s side of the closet …
OK, that made me laugh!~ It is exactly what I would do 🙂
Oh yes, nothing is safe around here either!!
These are darling!
Thank you, Sarah!
There is a chill in the air today and just this morning I realized I wanted a pair of mittens! These are perfect!
Hi Laurie,
I hope you had a chance to make some “smittens”.
Happy Holidays!
Beth
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. I looooove mittens and a mittens are even better!!
Sent from my iPad
You are so welcome, Kathy! I hope you’ll have a chance to make some!
I share your addiction to upcycling. If someone asks me to mend something they usually have to tell me several times that I can’t cut it up. When I go to thrift stores my daughter knows I’m looking at the fabric not the clothing. I refuse to pay full price for fabric when I know there’s so much out there waiting for me.
I agree wholeheartedly, Marie!! Sounds like we are cut from the same cloth (so to speak) 🙂
Do I get smittens for Christmas??? 😉
Maaaaaaaaaybe…..
Absolutely love it! School was cancelled for the day and I can’t imagine a more perfect way to spend my “free” time!
Snow days are the best!!!
gorgeous mittens, I pinned it!
Thanks for pinning!
I thought I was a nerd because i’m often thinking of changing my old clothes into something new. My husband once remarked ” I get rid I’d my old clothing”, with an accusatory facial expression.
However now I know I’m not “special”. Because others likevyou share my passion.
Those are some awesome mits by the way!
Thanks, Candice and it sounds like we think alike!!
So cute. Pinned your tutorial, but I’d rather win a pair than make them. So pick me!
Thanks for pinning! 🙂
Love, love, LOVE this one!!!!!! Can’t wait to try to make some!
Have fun, Jenni!
I am smitten with Smittens! Thanks for the great tutorial.
You are so welcome, Sue!!!
These look so cute. I may have to try making some.
I hope you do, Mary!
This are so cute! Now I have to find some old sweater! Pinning
Thank you, Katie!
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Do you have a similar one of these for slippers out of the same materials? or old fleece coats, blankets?
THanks!
Hi Lenora,
I haven’t done a slipper tutorial yet, but….. never say never! 🙂
Happy Holidays!
Beth
PLEASE< PLEASE<PLEASE we are not big gloves fans BUT we always keep our feet covered and we have 12 of them to cover in our house. Needless to say one of the pair is often missing. I would LOVe to see you do this!
Thanks and Have Blessed New Year!
Hi Lenora,
Here is a link to a slipper tutorial that I did last year:
http://www.ehow.com/how_16355_make-pair-slippers.html
Hope this helps!!
Beth
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Thanks for this tutorial. Here’s a tip: check online to see if you have a “Goodwill Outlet” in your area. They sell BY THE POUND! You can get a bunch of sweaters for less than $10. It’s a great source for repurposing crafting. There’s a link to the list of their sites on my website: http://www.thegreenqueenofmod.com/WP/category/greenchoice/ Sadly, not every city has one.
Thanks so much, Andie for tip. I’ll have to check and see if I have an outlet nearby. I’m heading over to your site right now.
And yes! A slipper tutorial please!
🙂
These are so cute! Have pinned and hopefully one day will have time to make them!
Thank you, have fun!!!!
My girls and I are going to try making these this weekend. They are the perfect gift for the girls to give to their Nana’s. Thanks for the idea! 🙂
What a great idea! Must teach girl scouts how to make these!
Perfect project for Girl Scouts!
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I have looking for this pattern!! thanks!!! I will be making some!!
Have fun, Eileen!
I have a sweater already. Wonderful tute!
Have fun!
I left a comment yesterday. Not sure what happened to it:(. I went on your etsy site to buy some and there were none available to by. Are you making more soon? How much are they? I love them:)
I’ve been so busy this year with my book and creating content for eHow that I haven’t had time to make any. Hope you can find some.
I love these gloves and it looks like something I could actually do!
Have fun, Shawn!
I was just about to start out making mittens from sweaters…and WINGING it! Now I don’t have to – I actually have instructions! YAY!!! You’ve saved me a lot of trouble – and probably a few sacrificial sweaters too! Thanks – very easy to follow tute!
Have fun, Rosieo!
We can never find mittens for my 7 year-old we think are cute enough. We LOVE these. Your tutorial is great, but I’m afraid my sewing machine, (and possibly sewing skills), would turn turn the knits into knots! Would love to win a pair, if we’re so lucky. She turns 8 on the day of the drawing! 🙂
I do love the Scout idea. I might have to get my older daughter’s troop to try them!
Just realized I’m about 2 years late. My life story! 😀
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I made a pair of these yesterday!!! A friend of mine shrunk her favourite jumper and I thought it was a shame that she couldn’t use it anymore. I made these mittens, and she LOVES them!!
I love the ideas you come up with. I like to sew but never thought of ideas like this. There awesome and useful. Thank you.
Thanks so much Janice! Once you start thinking like this the possibilities are endless. Have fun!!!
I have 6 grandsons and this will make a nice warm gift, can’t wait to try it for this winter☺️
So glad I found your tutorial! I was given a pair of “smittens” as a gift a few years ago and I’ve worn them to shreds and I’ve been wanting to make a pair for myself. Thank you so much for sharing this!!! 🙂
I love this idea! I just recently tried for the first time to sew with my sewing machine. I didn’t do to bad I think. I’d live a pair of these and maybe I will try to make my own.
These are great! I never have the courage to cut up my own sweaters, but I look for hopeless sweaters at the thrift store. Will definitely save and share this!
Thanks Linda! Isn’t thrift store shopping fun. All those pre loved sweaters just waiting for a new lease on life! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
Awww….I just found you today and missed out on the giveaway for a pair. Bummer. Going to try to do this. I have a sweater 50%acrylic and 50% wool and mohair. Will that work?
Yes, that will work just fine, Linda! Have fun and be sure to print the pattern out at 100%.
Great idea. Thank you for sharing this. Will keep my hands warn during the swedish winter.
Thank you so much for this.I do xmas stockings for homeless military.This would be wonderful for the men and women. I was wondering how i was going get for them hat,scarf and gloves(mittens).This is wonderful.I think hats could be made also and scarfs.THANK YOU
Oh that’s so wonderful Sharon!!
Here’s a couple of links to my hat tutorials:
https://therenegadeseamstress.com/2011/12/29/sweater-to-hat-tutorial/
therenegadeseamstress.com/2015/01/17/add-some-hattitude-to-your-winter-wardrobe-with-a-diy-pom-pom-sweater-hat/
https://therenegadeseamstress.com/2014/02/14/diy-upcycled-sweater-beret/
And here’s a few scarf tutorials:
https://therenegadeseamstress.com/2014/02/01/diy-upcycled-sweater-scarf-tutorial-and-giveaway/
Please let me know if I can answer any questions you might have.
Happy Sewing,
Beth
Great fundraising idea for me to raise money for my 17 year old son who struggles daily with asthma and P.O.T.S. (Postural Orthostatic Intolerance) -a Dysautonomia conditionwith many other very difficult symptoms.
I’m so sorry about your son, Diane. It must be very difficult. Good luck with the fundraising!!
Great fundraising idea for me to raise money for my 17 year old son who struggles daily with asthma and P.O.T.S. (Postural Orthostatic Intolerance) -a Dysautonomia conditionwith many other very difficult symptoms.
I’m so sorry that your son struggles with health problems. That must be very hard for you and your family. I hope this will be helpful in raising money for him. Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, I’m filming a video on how to make these mittens which will be airing in a few weeks. Stay tuned….. 🙂
Love the tutorial, adorable mittens, would like to know if there is a printable pattern? I must be missing it somewhere
I’m so happy you like these. They are so much fun to make. I just finished producing a video on how to make these which will be out soon. Yes, there is a printable pattern here: https://www.ehow.com/13559466/sweater-to-mittens-smittens-diy/
or here:
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
Just make sure that when you print it out, you print it at 100% and place your hand on it to make sure it will fit. For some reason it has printed out a little smaller than 100% on some computers. Have fun!!!
Thanks so much for your ideas and patterns. I definitely pinned this one.
Thank you for pinning Debbie! Here’s a link to my one minute Youtube video on how to make Sweater Mittens.
What an awesome pattern.I finished a pair today;but I have a little problem with the thumb laying right.I will continue to work on it.Thank you for sharing your skill.God bless.Ann Sorocco
Oh I’m so glad you had a chance to make these. Clipping and reducing the bulk in the thumb seems to help quite a bit.
What a brilliant idea. My husband’s jumpers are now in the firing line to be cut up the same as his old shirts disappear into my fabric stash 😁
Have fun with this Irene. Here’s a link to my one minute video that shows how to make these:
This Smitten thing is soooo happening at my house this week!!
Have fun Lisa!!
Such a great tutorial! I cannot wait to try this. I care for several children and am going to make them each a pair. I also provide support to breast cancer patients. I will also be making some of these for those ladies as a little gift to provide a bright spot in their day during a very difficult time in their lives. I’ve been there myself very recently. Thank you for sharing!!
Oh, that is such a wonderful idea Karen. They are lucky to have you in their lives!!!
These are soo cute!! Where do I comment for the contest?
I am in an auxiliary so this pattern and how to’s came in very handy! I make mittens, hats and scarves for children at a Shriner hospital and I think your pattern is very easy to follow! Thank you so much.
Oh Julie, what a wonderful thing for you to do. Your local hospital is lucky to have you there. 🙂 Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. Happy Holidays!!!
I love these mittens! I have used up our stash of once loved sweaters( although I have my eye on one of my husband’s) and have been scouring thrift stores. I even scored a cashmere sweater and used it as lining!
Oh that’s such a great idea to use cashmere for the lining!! I might have some cashmere scraps that would work perfect for that. Thanks for the wonderful idea, Jean. Happy Mitten Making. 🙂
What a great invention
Love them
Must try. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Susan! I hope you get a chance to try these sometime. I’d love to see them if you do. 🙂
Ican’t wait to try these for the grand children. Thanks for the great DIY project. Love this.
You are so very welcome Renee. Your grandchildren are so very lucky to have you for a Grandma. Have fun!
These look really cool and simple to make. Thank you for sharing
Thank YOU for your nice comment, Brenda! Happy Sewing!
So cute!
Thank you Elaine. Happy Holidays!
Where do I find the pattern pieces?
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
You can find them here: https://www.ehow.com/13559466/sweater-to-mittens-smittens-diy
How do I get the pattern pieces, please?
You can find them here: https://www.ehow.com/13559466/sweater-to-mittens-smittens-diy
I’m sorry, I still don’t see the pieces. Is it a pdf download? The tutorial is lovely, I would love to have the paper part of the pattern to pin to my fabric so they all turn out the same, like you have in the photos. They’re labeled 1-3.
Maybe this will work https://chicenvelopements.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/mitten-pattern.pdf
Yes! Thank you SO much! I am going to try these on Monday. Is it ok to sell items from this pattern? If someone asks where I got it I would of course direct them to your site.
We are a small mother daughter shop. 😃
https://m.facebook.com/alittlescrappy5/
Absolutely! Feel free to sell what you make. Just be sure to print out the pattern at 100% and place your hand on it to make sure it’s the right size before you cut into your sweater. Have fun and let me know if you have any questions. Happy Holidays!!
looking for pattern link
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
This is the old pattern link. Just make sure you print it at 100% and put your hand on it to make sure it will fit before you start to cut. 🙂
Where can I print the pattern for the smittens?
Click to access mitten-pattern.pdf
They look so cozy! Thank you for putting this up.
These look like a cute and simple project. I want to try, but I’m wondering about the raw edge of the outer piece that doesn’t get sewn on, but just held in place by the turned up cuff and the button. Will it unravel overtime since the raw edge is unfinished? Will it hold up in the wash? Should they be handwashed to prevent this? Or maybe it is a issue?
I meant non-issue. 🙂
Hi Tina, Thank you for your nice comment. If you’re using felted wool for your mittens it will most likely be a non issue. If you’d like to be sure they don’t fray you could us a little Fray Check around the edge. Hand washing would definitely be a good idea. Happy New Year!
Ah yes, fray check! I hadn’t thought of that 😊 Thanks for your reply!
You’re so very welcome, Tina! Happy New Year!
Are the sweaters you use 100% wool and felted? Or have you made them without felting?
Hi Dana, I usually don’t felt them but you could try doing that. It would depend on how thick the original sweater is. The one I felted ended up being too thick to use for mittens.
These are adorable and I’d love to try them. Thank you for sharing. I didn’t see a printable pattern. Is there one?
Thanks!
Wendy
Here’s a link https://chicenvelopements.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/mitten-pattern.pdf or you can make your own based on these and to your own size.
Love the mittens and thank you I am going to try these
Oh I hope you get a chance to try them. They are so much fun to make!!
Nana5xo@hotmail.com Cheryl. Love these
Thank you Cheryl!
Thank you again for sharing this pattern. I made 21 pairs of smittens for Christmas gifts. I even was able to modify the pattern to fit those with smaller or bigger hands. I experimented with wool (I felted it first), acrylic and cotton sweaters. The smittens were definitely a hit with everyone who received a pair and I even made some for myself! Thank you!
Oh Karen, that’s so wonderful! You are very welcome and I’m so happy that you were able to make these for gifts. I know I LOVE making them and it’s fun for me to know that this was helpful for you, too. Happy Smitten Making!! Beth
Great tutorial. Thanks from Iowa
Thank you so much Lynne! I hope you’ve finally thawed out over there.
Oh my gosh! How cute are these!
Thank you!!! And they’re super fun to make!!!
I really want to try these. I am just unsure about what sweater material to buy. I will have to try and look harder. Great winter project.
Oh I hope you find a perfect sweater for this, Laura! Happy sewing. 🙂
Love it, can’t wait to try
Those are so cool! Your very creative! Amazing how an old sweeter can be recycled into these. I can see how they can be addicting to make. 😊👍
Besides being creative, you’re very pretty…nice to then be able to model the beautiful things you think up! My daughter is hiding her sweaters from me!
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I absolutely love your mittens and I really need to make about a billion of these for my whole family. However I cannot seem to find the pattern for them. Can you help me with that please?? I pinned this post and sent it to my sisters so they can make some too.
Thank you
Great project!
Thank you Susan!
Wauv what a great Idea! They look sooooo lovely
Thank you!
I am ready to dive right in. Do you have to use wool sweaters or would any sweater do? Thanks for sharing your talent. Have a blessed day.
Hi Sheryl, You can actually use any kind of sweater. Wool sweaters will, of course, be warmer. Have fun and let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Sheryl,
You can use any sweater you like.
Have fun!
Beth
I collect warm “stuff” for the homeless and would love to get a patter for this to make them for the less fortunate. Love the tutorial , great idea
Thank you for your selfless acts of kindness Diane! What a wonderful thing to do for the homeless. Here’s the links to the patterns:
Click to access 343374c30ac24670bd11790cd6c76a00.pdf
Click to access 5a193342dad54bdaa7c7c8136d6d7acf.pdf
Just make sure to print them out at 100%
I like your strategy of sewing the cuff to the lining, then slipping the lining into the outer mitten…
Makes the cuff less bulky 😉
Thank you Janice!
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Where can I get the “Smitten” pattern?
Hi Kelly, You can download the pattern from the Materials Needed section here:https://www.ehow.com/13559466/sweater-to-mittens-smittens-diy
Thank you for posting your “how to” smittens video. I find this reuse, repurpose, recycle article very clever, sensible & fun! Look forward to going through my sweaters & giving this a try!
I’ve been making your smittens for a few years now and they are a HUGE hit! Thank you for the wonderful pattern and ideas.