Convertible Mittens The best part about cold materials and tools weather is fashionable • ¼ yard stretch fabric (see Tips) accessories. These mittens will keep your • Two Ǫފ- to ½ފ-diameter buttons hands cozy and stylish, • Elastic cording and flip out of the way • Sewing shears when you need your fingers to use your touch • All-purpose polyester thread phone, keys, etc. It’s a • Size 80/12 Ballpoint needle perfect (and clever!) opportunity to reclaim • Hand-sewing needle an old sweater or knit garment. Keep your fingers happy this winter! Tips This pattern is designed This pattern is designed for knit fabrics that have a to create a pair of teen/ Created by Stacy Schlyer great deal of stretch. Ideal adult mittens—one size materials include sweater fits most. knits, interlocks, most fleeces, and thermal knits. If your hands are smaller or larger, or if your fabric Reclaimed sweaters are is less stretchy than those also a good choice, but recommended, reduce or avoid using felted sweater enlarge the pattern seam material as it will not have allowances as needed. enough stretch. 1 Convertible Mittens step one x Cut four Main Mitten pieces—two right, two left—using the template on page 7. x Cut four Mitten Cover pieces using the template on page 8. xTFoldips f theor Se ½ wyarding Kofn ivinylts in half, right sides together. Place Usthee bag a sma patternll zigz onag thestit cvinylh with Ithente rbaglock shandle, polar onfle ethece ,fold, fusingor se apatternms. Th weightsis will al ltoow hold it ina nplaced ma whileny swe youate cut.r kn its them to stretch, preventing do not ravel, so it is not the stitches from popping. necessary to finish the edges of the fabric. To keep hems stretchy, However, if you opt to sew them with a small use a loose sweater knit zigzag stitch. Alternatively, or fabric that unravels, use a straight stitch and a small zigzag stitch can a Twin (Double) needle; be used around the the bobbin threads form a edges to keep them neat. zigzag, allowing the hem to stretch. step two All seam allowances are ¼Ӏ. x With right sides together, sew the “straight” sides of the main mitten pieces together, beginning at the cuff and stitching to the top edge (see Tips above). 2 Convertible Mittens step three x With right sides together, sew the other side edges of the main mitten pieces together, beginning at the cuff and stitching up the side and around the thumb, then pivoting and stitching the upper side edges together. Do not stitch the top and bottom edges! step four x Trim the seam allowances close to the stitching (to a scant ǩފ), being careful not to clip into the stitching. This will reduce bulk at the seams and make the mittens more comfortable to wear. step five x At the upper edge of each mitten, turn under ǫފ. Stitch the hem in place (see Tips on page 2). x Repeat for the second mitten. step six x At the lower edge of the mitten, turn under ǫފ. Stitch the hem in place. x Repeat for the second mitten. 3 Convertible Mittens step seven x Turn mittens right side out. x Decide which is the right and which is the left mitten. x Referring to the template markings, sew one button onto the back of each mitten. x Set the mittens aside. step eight x Cut a 1½ފ piece of elastic cording. x Fold the cording in half and center it on the rounded edge of one mitten cover, matching the raw edges. Baste in place. x Repeat for the second pair of mitten cover pieces. step nine x With right sides together, stitch each mitten cover with elastic to a mitten cover without elastic, leaving the lower edges free. step ten x Trim the seam allowances close to the stitching (to a scant ǩފ), being careful not to clip into the stitching. This will reduce bulk and make the mittens more comfortable to wear. 4 Convertible Mittens step eleven x At the lower edge of each mitten cover, turn under ǫފ. x Stitch the hems in place. step twelve x Turn the mitten covers right side out. Place the lower, hemmed edge of one mitten cover along the hemline on the back of one main mitten piece, matching the side seams. x Repeat for the remaining mitten and mitten cover, being sure to reverse the button/mitten cover placement so you have a left and a right mitten. step thirteen x Sewing from side seam to side seam, stitch the hemmed edges of the mitten covers to the mitten bodies. Be sure to leave the front edges of the mitten covers and mitten bodies free. 5 Convertible Mittens To Wear as Mittens: Place mitten covers To Wear a over fingers and pull tightly over upper edges s Fingers-F cove ree: Pull bac o rs and slip k mitten f mittens. elastic loops hold flaps over butto in place. ns to 6 Convertible Mittens Convertible Mittens— Main Mitten Pattern Convertible Mittens Main Mitten Pattern Cut 4 (2 right, 2 left) Greatest Amount of Stretch Button Placement 7 Convertible Mittens Convertible Mittens—Mitten Cover Pattern Visit Stacy at her blog, Stacy Sews: Diary of a Fabric Jumkie, at http://stacysews.com/ Convertible Mittens Mitten Cover Pattern Cut 4 Greatest Amount of Stretch 8 .