As you burrow back into your cold-weather clothes, you're probably taking stock of your sweater supply. Here's an option for the ones that are too shrunken or moth-eaten to donate: Turn them into fingerless mittens.
They're cozy, chic, and (we promise!) much easier than you think. All you need is a formerly loved sweater, scissors, a few pins, a needle and some thread.
Tools and Materials
- Sweater
- Scissors
- Pins
- Needle
- Thread
Fingerless Mittens How-To
1. From the hem of the sweater, cut (through both the front and back) a rectangle 12 inches high and 8 inches wide. Then cut along the side seam, so you have two pieces.
2. Fold each piece lengthwise with the insides facing out. Mark the thumbhole with pins. It should be 2 1/2 inches wide and 2 inches from the top.
3. Sew 1/2 inch from the edge, leaving the thumbhole open. Reinforce the thumbhole with a separate topstitch. Then sew a 1/2-inch hem at the bottom.
Yes, I've used the sleeve. Sometimes you need to sew it up a bit just because the angle is a bit "off", but it's easier than starting from scratch like this one.
I have also felted wool sweaters a bit and done the same thing - then when you cut the thumb [filtered word], nother ravels.
Is there a reason why we wouldn't just cut the sleeve off part way up and open up the seam where the thumbhole would be? Am I missing something?