How To: Make wool mittens

Olivia shows how to make 'Woolen Mittens' in this video, by recycling an old sweater! She begins by washing an old sweater in cold water. After washing, she puts the sweater in a dryer at high heat mode, to shrink it. The washed, dried and shrunk sweater is then placed on a table. The required length of the mitten is decided, taking care that the bottom end of the sweater shall be placed at the point where the mitten ends on the arm. The arm is then placed on the sweater and a mark is made about ½" passed the fingertips. The sweater is folded and a mark about 1" away from the thumb is made. The sweater is opened out and an outline is drawn based on the marks made. The sweater is cut along the outline and opened out to reveal a rectangle. A cut is made along the side seam. The two squares of fabric are then placed over a foam pad. A blue colored wool fiber is placed on the fabric, where the design is to be made. The wool fiber is then needle felted to the fabric, using two felting needles. This process is repeated to felt the remaining lines, using different colored wool fibers. The sweater is pulled off the foam once in a while, in between needle felting, to release the fibers from the foam pad. The designs made on both the fabrics are symmetrical. The fabrics are pulled off the foam and folded in half, to reveal the back side. Then the outside portion of the arm is placed along the folded end of the fabric, with the thumb open. An outline of the arm is drawn and both sides of each mitten are fastened with pins. A colored thread matching the sweater is used to sew along the outline drawn. The pins are removed and the fabric is cut about a ¼" away from the sewn edge. The edges are sewn so prevent fraying. Turn the mittens inside out and they are ready for use!