Saturday, September 19, 2009

Recycled Mittens Tutorial

This week has been the first indication of the changing seasons where I live in Madison. The air is a bit more crisp, sweat shirts are coming out of closets, and flip flops are being put away!
Due to this change of weather, everyone is getting their last minute yard sales in this weekend before the cold weather comes (still a while off, but obviously well on its way.)
While I was looking through almost all of the yard sales off of Willy St. I met a lovely old, shrunken, and felted sweater from Anthropologie...for FREE!
Yes please.

I decided to give it a second chance at life,
and here is how you can give a shrunken sweater of yours new life too!


Felted Sweater ---->Recycled Felt Mittens
What you'll need:
  • a felted sweater
  • scissors
  • paper
  • something to write with
  • a sewing needle with a big eye
  • thick thread or thin yarn

Directions:
  1. Cut the seams of the sweater.
  2. Take a piece of paper and trace your hand, then cut it out. This will serve as a templet. Remember to leave seam allowances!
  3. Lay your templet upon the sweater (pin it down if you choose to) and proceed to cut out two pieces with the thumb in one direction, and two with the thumb in the opposite direction. This will provide you with a front and a back to each mitten.
  4. Now lay your pieces together like they're supposed to look when you would be wearing your new mittens if you want the stitching to show, if not lay them out as they would look as if they were inside out. Thread your needle and begin to sew in blanket stitch around the edge of the mittens.
  5. Oh hey, you're done! Don't forget to reuse the rest of the sweater for another project and recycle your leftover paper! Good work!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Love it! I love anything where you don't waste. Oh no though, I dont want to put away my flip flops! Suzie. x :)

merelythemoon said...

Keep those puppies out if you choose to, there are no rules! However, I do know people who wear flip flops in the winter and although they insist it doesn't bother them, I know their toes must get awfully cold in the winter! My goodness!

Tin Marin said...

I like the picture of the final mitt. with Jason in the background!!!! Wasn't he helping to sew? Playing songs of encouragement as you sewed? It seems like he was on his technology!!!! Cool mittens, Connie! If I ever find such a cool sweater, I'll be sure to follow suit!

Erica said...

Yes! Yes! Yes!
This is the perfect answer for my favorite, now shrunk sweater. I'll let you know how they turn out. Shoot, I might even post a picture.

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