Children love playing outside in the snow. They make snow angels, snowmen, throw balls, and eat enough snow to keep them hydrated for a year (okay, an extreme exaggeration). But we all know what that means…wet soggy mittens when they come in. Their little fingers are ice cold. Unless, you own several mittens, you need to wash and dry them before they can go back outside again. Today’s technology has these wonderful thermal gloves, but to be honest, many times they are not as waterproof as they claim and they are surely not very fashionable. This mitten pattern is just the solution. It combines today’s technology with high fashion fabric.

Fairfield World has two products that will keep those little fingers actually sweating from the heat they generate and dry on the outside. Solarize is an innovative product. I so wish I had this thin insulating thermal barrier fabric when my children were growing up. I think I would have made liners for all their outdoor clothes with it. Do not laugh, but I actually thought of making some petty pants for me (you young sewers will need to look that word up) as my bottom gets so cold. This would surely do the trick.

The other product is Shield, a moisture and allergen barrier that is also incredible. The other day I did a test on it to see how “moisture proof” it was. I hung a piece on my octopus clothesline in a manner to create a hammock affect.

I then poured a cup of water into it and let it sit for 24 hours. Not one drop leaked out. Now I do not know the technical reason why this fabric is not called “waterproof,” but in my book, it is very waterproof. I think this product could be used everywhere with little children from drool bibs to beds.

Combine the thermal properties of Solarize, with the moisture-proofing of Shield, and top it off with the softness of cuddle – oh, my, that is the perfect recipe for an awesome mitten for a child. The little cutie pie that I made them for fell in love with them and did not want to take them off all evening until she realized that her hands were actually sweating.

Thank you to Fairfield World for donating the Shield and Solarize, and compensating me for this blog post series. Thank you to Shannon Fabrics for providing the inspiration and a discount on the fabric.

MATERIALS

Shannon Fabrics’ Sweet Posy Cuddle in Fuchsia – one piece 4 “ longer than the hand length and four times the width of the hand pattern plus 2” – mine measured 11” by 36”
Shannon Fabrics’ Cuddle in Baby Pink – the same size as the Sweet Posy Cuddle piece
Shield by Fairfield World – the same size as the Sweet Posy Cuddle piece
Solarize by Fairfield World – the same size as the Sweet Posy Cuddle piece
Shannon Fabrics’ Monkey Shag Fur (faux) in Baby Pink – two pieces measuring the circumference of the wrist plus 1” – mine measured 5” by 9”
2 buttons ¾” (or any desired size)
6” corded elastic – cut in half
Matching thread
Walking Foot
Erasable Frixion Pen
Ruler
Flower head pins (easier to see in cuddle and faux fur fabric)
Optional: Painter’s tape
Sewing machine and supplies

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: Use ½” seam allowance and a walking foot, unless noted otherwise.

STEP 1

Trace the child’s hand on a piece of paper. Decide where to stop and start at the wrist. At the widest part of the hand draw a straight line down on the side opposite the thumb. This will allow for ease in opening. Add 2 ¼” extra on the bottom for a fur cuff. Add 3/4" around the perimeter. Cut out the pattern. See my example of the pattern.

STEP 2

Make a fabric sandwich to quilt. Place one piece of the Shield with the fuzzy side facing up. Place one piece of Solarize with the silver side facing up on top of it. Place a piece of Cuddle 3 on top of those layers with the right side up. You will now have three layers. Pin in place.

STEP 3

Draw lines on the back of the quilt sandwich that you made in STEP 2. Place the Shield fabric up and draw on this side. Draw diagonal lines spaced one-inch apart in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The lines should form a diamond on the back.

STEP 4

Using a walking foot and a basting stitch to sew along the lines that you have drawn in STEP 3.

STEP 5

With the Cuddle 3 quilted fabric facing up and the nap in the down direction, cut out 4 of the hand patterns – two with the thumb facing right and two with the thumb facing left.

STEP 6

With the Sweet Posy Cuddle fabric facing up and the nap in the down direction, cut out 4 of the hand patterns – two with the thumb facing right and two with the thumb facing left. You will now have 4 mittens in each of the two fabrics – Sweet Posy and the quilted Cuddle 3.

STEP 7

With right sides together sew a Sweet Posy Cuddle mitten together; however, on the non-thumb side stop 4” (or more for larger sizes) from the edge. This will be a right and a left side mitten facing each other. Do this for the other mitten in this fabric.

STEP 8

With right sides together sew a quilted Cuddle 3 mitten together; however, on the non-thumb side stop 4” (or more for larger sizes) from the edge. This will be a right and a left side mitten facing each other. Do this for the other mitten in this fabric.

STEP 9

Turn the Sweet Posy Cuddle mittens right side out.

STEP 10

Place one of the Sweet Posy Cuddle mittens inside one of the quilted Cuddle 3 mittens making sure that they are facing right sides together and that the thumbs match.

STEP 11

Fold the corded elastic in half. Place it about 2” from the top of the opening on the quilted Cuddle 3 mitten – make sure that they are on opposite sides. The elastic should be on the bottom of the opening when completed. Stitch in place.