Fleece Mittens

I was asked by a reader (thanks Anna!) to show a simple mitten tutorial. Her little guy hates mittens that are too tight and bothersome……so I wanted to show how simple it would be to make some very basic adjustable mittens.

We’ve got to keep those little fingers warm…

So how about trying something very simple.

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….but oh so cozy.
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All you need is some scrap fleece, ribbon, and some velcro.
Oh, and a sewing machine, thread and scissors of course.

Start by tracing your child’s hand, with fingers closed.

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Then use that as a guide as you draw a basic mitten shape, making sure to leave about 1/4 inch for a seam allowance along all of the sides, and about 1/2 – 3/4 of an inch along the bottom.
(Make sure that you are making the mittens wide enough, so that there is plenty of room to slide little hands in, and then you can just cinch it tight later.)

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Cut out 2 pieces of fleece for both hands.

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Then on the wrong side of bottom piece of each mitten, place a piece of thin elastic at the same level as the wrist. Sew a few stitches on one end of the elastic, attaching it to one edge of the mitten…. and then pull the elastic tight as you’re sewing across the mitten at wrist level. When you finish, the elastic will pull back into shape, and will gather your fleece a bit.

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Now you’ll attach your ribbon adjustable strap to the top mitten piece. First, cut your ribbon about 1 1/5 inches wider than the base of the mitten, fold under the raw edge and then add about 2 inches of the soft side of the velcro to that end of the ribbon. (securing the folded under end of ribbon under the velcro.) Your finished ribbon piece will be about 1/4 inch wider than the base of the mitten. Then attach about an inch of the scratchy side of the velcro about a 1/2 inch away from the edge of the mitten, opposite the thumb side. (And at the same wrist level as the elastic on the other piece.) But you’ll sew it to the right side of the top mitten piece.

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Then turn the ribbon strap over and pin it to the edge of the top mitten piece, right in line with the other velcro piece…..making sure it’s at wrist level.

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Then place the bottom piece together with the top piece, with right sides together. Pin in place and sew all the way around the mitten (using whatever seam allowance you gave yourself when you cut out your pattern piece).

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The fold the the opening down a 1/4 inch/ then another 1/4 inch….then sew into place.

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Now, turn right side out……and you’re done.

Nice and cozy little mittens…

…all from extra scraps and notions in your sewing stash.

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