Back to the mittens. I saw barrels full of recycled sweater mittens lined with flannel. Fabulous and comfortable and warm. Perfect for the snow I know is coming our way soon. They couldn't be that hard to make, could they?
I found a pattern somewhere on line (can't remember where) and got up bright and early this morning ready to try it on some scrap fabric. I had to tweak the pattern a few times to feel comfortable trying it for real.
Goodwill stores and thrift shops have old wool sweaters just perfect for this project. These were all close to 100% wool.
After washing them in hot water and drying on high heat, they did shrink up. I decided to use the red sweater first, as it seemed to be the tightest felted wool. Seems a shame to cut up a pretty sweater, but I wouldn't wear it anyway. And it was only $5 bucks. Awesome.
So, by noon I was sewing mittens, realizing I'm only getting one pair of mittens out of this sweater. And by 1 o'clock I was cleaning my sewing machine of lint. By 1:30 I was fighting with the messed up tension on my sewing machine.
%$@#@%#@$%^&*$%^#!!!!
I started panicking, wondering where I could take my machine to have it cleaned and tuned up and back within a week to sew more boutique items. Yikes!
By about 3:00, I had the tension corrected and everything was under control. Ugh. Wasted time experimenting and fixing - again! I seem to do more of this than I'd like to admit. BUT, I accomplished my task and completed a pair of mittens. Hands will NOT get cold in these babies. Not my neatest work, and not exactly the right size, but they will be warm.
I love the mittens, and I love the fact that they are recycled. The pattern is simple, but sewing on this thick wool is a bugger, and the pattern still needs a little tweaking. I believe I will reconsider making an abundance of these for the boutique, and just make a few pairs with the sweaters I have. Darn! It was a good thought, but now I've wasted a day on a whim. I'm disappointed. But whoever ends up wearing these will definitely not have cold hands :)
But will they be in your boutique? They look very warm!!
ReplyDeleteI have a pair like like those that I purchased at a craft show a few years ago. They were called swittens, and they were very pricey! Mine are lined with polar fleece, and they are the warmest mittens I've ever owned!
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with those mitts! You are so talented with your sewing machine. For me, unfortunately, they instantly morph to implements of torture...
ReplyDeleteFox : )