Upcycled Mittens With Poly Filling From an Old Sweater

Living up in Canada having a good pair of warm mittens is an essential piece of your outer layer wardrobe.
I really enjoy reusing items and up-cycling them into a new piece. I had this thin sweater which was a little discolored on the bottom but I did not want to throw it away. So when I needed a new pair of warm mittens for walking and driving, I turned to my old sweater. The sweater itself was a little too thin so I decided to fill it with quilt batting. I also wanted to show my seems and not hide them.

This is how I made my very warm mittens up-cycled from an old thin sweater.

- Old Sweater
- Quilt Batting
- Plain Paper
- Pencil
- Paper Scissors
- Sewing Scissors
- Tape Measure
- Pins
- Coloured Thread
- Sewing Machine

- The first thing you need to do is make a pattern of your hand. I tried to pull one from the internet but was not successful. I was not able to find any good patterns.
- When drawing out your pattern you need to ensure that you allow for seams. Also remember that the pattern is not flat.
- I made some adjustments to my pattern as I was drawing it. You may need to do the same.
- Cut out your paper pattern with your paper scissors.

- You will need a total of eight sweater pieces.
- Four pieces for each hand.
- Take your paper pattern and pin it onto your sweater.
- My sweater was thin enough that I was able to double it up and cut out two at a time.
- Depending on the thickness of your sweater, you may not be able to do this.
- Once you are done cutting out your pattern pieces, save the remaining sweater for future projects.

- You will need your Quilt Batting for this step.
- I doubled the layers before I pinned and traced them out.
- Lay your paper pattern on top of the quilt batting and carefully pin it.
- Using your sewing scissors, cut out the batting.
- You will need to this same step three more times for a total of four times.

- In order for the quilt batting not to bunch up when I go to wash my mittens, I needed to secure the filling.
- I did this by sewing a snow flake onto the mitten.
- First you will need to put four pins into the mittens, in a square shape.
- This was my guide for sewing the snowflake shape.
- Ensure that you have the top layer of the sweater, filling and bottom sweater.
- I wanted a contrasting colour so I used Blue thread for my top colour and Off White for my bobbin.
- Staring at the top, stick back and forth twice.
- Go back to the middle and sew the middle section of the snow flake.
- You will need to sew all four directions of the snow flake.
- It is ok if the lines are not perfect, each snowflake is unique, different and sometimes not perfect.
- Outside of the mitten has a blue snowflake and the inside has a white one.
- Sew the snow flakes onto each set of sweaters.
- Two pieces make one mitten.

- Pin the bottom of each mitten.
- Sew with a straight stitch.

- Taking both pieces of mittens and pin them together.
- Ensure that you push the filling in so you do not sew it.
- I stared with the thumb and went around the mitten from there.
- I found it easier to start sewing half the mitten to ensure it fit before I finished pinning.
- Once you are done pining, sew the remaining part of the mitten.

- Went for a 30 minute walk, then played in the snow. The mittens kept me dry and warm.
- A successful sew!