Supplies:
Polar Fleece Scraps (you can use up to 3 colors) or ¼ Yard of Polar Fleece
¼-½ yard of ¼ inch elastic
Sewing and Embroidery supplies
Making the Pattern:
You will be creating a custom fit 3-piece pattern for each individual that you will be making mittens for.
I have tried to be very
precise in these instructions, so don’t let the length scare you. See the
attached images for illustrations.
Trace the outline of the individuals hand on a sheet of paper. You only need
to trace one hand, but it should be done with the fingers together and the thumb
sticking straight out to the side as illustrated. Mark the center line from the
wrist to the finger tips, mark the wrist, and mark the thumb placement.
Next, you need to rough-in a basic outline for the pattern. Add 1½ inches to
the lower edge of the tracing starting at the wrist marking. Add about ½ inch
to the tip and one side of the hand for an allowances and ease. Connect the
lines to create ½ of the pattern.
Using the rough pattern as a guide, create a full sized pattern that is
symmetrical. You will have best results if you make sure that each side of the
pattern is identical. Mark in the wrist line and the thumb line making sure they
are straight and at right angles to the centerline. This is Pattern Piece A.
On a separate piece of paper, trace from the thumb line down. Add ¼ inch
above the thumb line. Measure in 3/8 inch from one edge and place a mark along
this top line. Measure the length of the thumb from where it comes out from the
side of the hand to it’s tip. Draw in the thumb coming straight up from this
lower pattern piece; it should fall between the center of the pattern piece and
the mark that you made, and its central line should slope in. You need to add
about 1/8 inch to the edges of this area for seams. This is Pattern Piece B.
Now, you need to do the same thing to the upper area of pattern piece A.
Trace from the thumb line up, add ¼ inch, mark in the thumb extension, and make
sure this piece matches piece B. This is Pattern Piece C. Embroidery and
Cutting: On a scrap of fabric large enough to hoop, stitch the embroidery design
of your choice. You should make sure that the embroidery is an appropriate size
for the mittens; I also recommend using a low stitch count designs so that the
mittens stay soft and flexible. Mirror the design and stitch again for the
second mitten, making sure that you leave enough fabric around the embroidery
for cutting out the pattern piece.
Carefully cut out pattern piece A from the embroidered fleece. The embroidery design should fall between the thumb line and the finger area of the mittens; it can be sewn with the bottom of the design at the finger tip area or at the thumb line - the choice is yours.
Cut each of the other pattern pieces making sure that you cut a left and right for each piece. These can be cut from the same color as piece A, or you can use other colors as you desire.
Sewing:
Place one of the B pieces and one of the C pieces with right sides together making sure that the thumb extensions match. Sew them together with a 1/8 inch seam making sure that you catch both layers the whole way around.
Place this joined piece and one of the A pieces with right sides together and stitch half way around the outer edge with a ¼ inch seam. I suggest that you stitch the side farthest from the thumb for this first stitching area.
Open the mitten and find the wrist line. Cut or mark a piece of elastic the exact measurement of the individuals wrist. Zigzag the elastic to the mitten along the wrist line stretching the elastic to fit and making sure that both ends are secure.
Turn the lower edge of the mitten up ¼ inch and straight stitch in place. (If desired, you can hem the mitten after the remainder of the seam is stitched.)
Place right sides together again, and stitch the remainder of the outer seam.
Repeat each of the previous steps for the other mitten.
Do not clip any of the seams, simply turn right side out and wear.
If you find that the thumb extensions are too long, stitch the seam again and trim as needed. Make adjustments to the pattern also.
Tips for Stitching Embroidery on Fleece:
This project is meant to be stitched using polar fleece, so I thought I would take a little time to include some information on how to embroider on fleece.
Generally, I prefer to embroider on polar fleece fabric in a very typical way. I hoop it with tear-away stabilizer and stitchaway. Make sure you don’t stretch the fabric when hooping. After you finish stitching, steam the fabric to help remove the hoopmarks. Test first on a scrap of fabric to make sure you can remove the marks. If you can’t remove the marks, try using a sticky stabilizer or spray adhesive so you don’t need to put the fabric in the hoop. If you are stitching a heavy, fill design, you may need to stabilize the fleece with an iron on stabilizer, or with an adhesive stabilizer. Test this on a scrap of your fabric first. You may find that the adhesive pulls out some of the fleece. If this happens, you may want to test other stabilizers or use a different design. For best results, use a low stitch count design. Satin stitch designs and appliqué designs work best.
Use a water soluable, plastic type stabilizer on top of your fabric. This will help keep the design from sinking into the fabric. If the project is reversible (like a blanket or a winter scarf), use matching thread in the bobbin. This will allow the design to look as nice from the back as it does from the front.