Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 20 February 2020
Crafts: Turn stained, shrunken sweaters into cozy mittens

By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A
certain groundhog’s pre-
diction notwithstanding,
there’s plenty of winter left
where I live in New Hamp-
shire. That means it’s time
to restock my supply of mit-
tens, an alarming number
of which seem to disap-
peared since the tempera-
ture started to dip last fall.
Luckily, in addition to losing
accessories, I also have a
habit of accidentally shrink- This Feb. 4, 2020 photo taken in Hopkinton, N.H., shows three
ing or staining sweaters, pairs of handmade mittens, each constructed from sweaters us-
which makes them perfect ing slightly different techniques. If winter is lasting longer than
for upcycling into handy the groundhog predicted where you live, consider restocking
hand warmers. your mitten supply and clearing out your closet at the same
time. Instead of tossing stained or accidentally shrunken sweat-
I found numerous patterns ers, turn them into cozy mittens. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)
and tutorials online for Associated Press
turning old sweaters into This Feb. 4, 2020 photo taken in Hopkinton, N.H., shows three
mittens, some of them as pairs of handmade mittens, each constructed from sweaters us-
simple as tracing around a ing slightly different techniques. If winter is lasting longer than
hand and sewing a single the groundhog predicted where you live, consider restocking
your mitten supply and clearing out your closet at the same
seam. Others were more time. Instead of tossing stained or accidentally shrunken sweat-
complex, involving multiple ers, turn them into cozy mittens. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)
pieces, linings and cuffs. If Associated Press
you’re less accident-prone
than me and don’t have sweater. I cut around the each mitten: a mitten back
a pile of usable sweaters, pattern and then sewed plus two pieces that get
check out your local thrift around the shape, leaving sewn together to become
store for inexpensive op- the bottom open. While it the palm and thumb. The
tions. Sweaters with plenty took me closer to 15 min- same process is followed
of ribbing at the cuffs and utes than the 10 minutes to construct a fleece lining
hems are particularly use- promised in the tutorial, this layer. The lining is placed
ful for mitten-making. Wool was indeed a super fast over the finished sweater
sweaters are ideal in terms way to make a pair of mit- layer, right sides together, This Feb. 4, 2020 photo taken in Hopkinton, N.H., shows three
of warmth, especially if tens. But the result was the and the two pieces are pairs of handmade mittens, each constructed from sweaters us-
they’ve been shrunk and least professional looking sewn together at the cuff, ing slightly different techniques. If winter is lasting longer than
felted to make an even of the three methods, and leaving a small opening the groundhog predicted where you live, consider restocking
your mitten supply and clearing out your closet at the same
more durable fabric. the least warm, given that for turning so the lining can time. Instead of tossing stained or accidentally shrunken sweat-
Here’s what I found, with there is no lining. Still, this then be pushed down into ers, turn them into cozy mittens. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)
each method rated from would be a good way to the mitten. None of the Associated Press
1 to 10, with 10 indicating use up old sweaters, and steps would be difficult for
the least expensive, easiest in climates warmer than anyone with a bit of sewing could be a bit longer. is just tucked into the mitten
and best results: New England, a single layer experience, but between COST: 7 and the cuff extends out
TRACE AND CUT: might be plenty. cutting out six pieces and EASE: 7 and folds over the mitten
If you remember tracing COST: 9 sewing nine seams, this RESULTS: 7 exterior. Though this tech-
your hand to draw a tur- EASE: 9 project took just under an LINED AND CUFFED: nique requires sweaters
key in kindergarten, this is RESULTS: 5 hour for one pair of mittens. The most involved tutorial with narrow or ribbed cuffs
even easier. Following the FLEECE LINED: I had fleece on hand, but I tried was written by Beth (I had one sweater with bell-
instructions on a craft blog I next tried a tutorial on purchasing it would add a Huntington of the Ren- shaped sleeves that would
called Practically Func- a blog called Five Green bit to the cost. The finished egade Seamstress blog, not be appropriate), it ac-
tional, I made a simple pat- Acres that was a step up in product, however, is warm, and hosted on the eHow. tually was easier than trying
tern by tracing around my both style and function, but and more tailored-looking com website. While the in- to sew the lining and outer
hand on a piece of paper, also included a lot more than the first pair of mit- structions call for using two mitten together in the pre-
cutting out the shape and steps. Using the download- tens. I used the large child/ coordinating sweaters, one vious tutorial. The finished
placing it along the bot- able patterns, I cut out small adult size, and found sweater would also work. result was more polished-
tom edge of an inside-out three pieces of sweater for it fit well, though the thumb The steps are similar to the looking, and depend-
other fleece-lined mitten ing on the sweaters used,
tutorial, though the shapes could be a way to mix and
of the pattern pieces are match different colors and
slightly different. The main patterns. My main problem
difference is this technique with this technique was the
involved cutting off the pattern only comes in one
cuffs of a sweater and at- size, which turned out to be
taching them to the mitten a bit small for my hands.
linings. That way, instead of COST: 7
sewing the lining and outer EASE: 8
mittens together, the lining RESULTS: 8q