Winter weather brings up a lot of big questions: scarf or cowl? hot chocolate or coffee? And perhaps the most controversial of all: mittens or gloves? I am a mitten person. They keep your hands warmer than gloves; they are a cute classic shape; and on a personal note, they help with my New Year’s resolution to not text while walking! They are also exceptionally easy to sew for yourself, which is a big plus in my book.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Made with ultra soft and warm Mary Flanagan Felted Wool, my new Simple Felted Wool Mittens could not be easier to sew. They are based on my Felt Mittens with Knitted Cuffs, which have a clean and surprising construction that I’ve always wanted to explore again. This time around I dispensed with the knitting, making this version practically effortless: 6 pieces to cut and 6 seams to sew, that’s it!

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

I used the beautiful undyed Mary Flanagan as a base and added a splash of color at the palm. This unexpected little burst serves to highlight the mitten’s unique assembly and classic shape that I love so much. -Molly

Update: New Fabrics

JANUARY 2015

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I couldn’t resist making a few more pairs in the soft and creamy, warm and cozy, absolutely beautiful Lanacardate Lana Cotta Canberra wool. For the materials list and additional photos, click here!

Materials

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

For two women’s mittens, size small, you’ll need…

  • Main Color: 2 pieces of Mary Flanagan’s Felted Wool. I used Undyed White.
  • Contrast Color: 1 piece of Mary Flanagan’s Felted Wool in a contrasting color. I used Turquoise, Blue Spark, Astro Blue, and Old Crow.
  • A 110-yrd spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread to match the Main Color. I used color 1040.
  • A Simple Felted Wool Mittens Template, available for free download here, printed, taped together, and cut out as directed.

Note: If you’d like to make these a bit bigger add a 1/4 inch around each template piece before you cut it out.

Size

Length from bottom hem to fingertips: 10 1/4 inches
Circumference around palm: 7 inches

Pattern

Cut
Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Cut out all of the pieces as directed on the Template. You will have…

  • 2 Back pieces in the Main Color
  • 2 Wrist pieces in the Main Color
  • 2 Palm pieces in the Contrast Color

Mark the pieces as directed on the Template.

Sew

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Pin the thumb edge of one of the Palm pieces to the thumb edge of one of the Wrist pieces. Pin around the curve of the the thumb, stopping at the marking.

Pin the remaining Palm piece and Wrist piece together with the thumb facing the opposite direction, as shown above.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Sew along the pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, stopping at the marked point.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Trim the seam allowance at the tip of the thumb to 1/8-inch and cut a few notches in it, as shown above.

Repeat this for the second mitten.

The sewn-together Palm and Wrist pieces will now be referred to as the Fronts.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Pin the Fronts to the Back pieces, right sides together. Fold and pin the Front piece’s seam allowance down towards the Wrist piece on the outside edge.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Pin open the seam allowance at the inside thumb edge of the Front piece.

Sew the Front and Back pieces together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance along the entire arched side, leaving the bottom open.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

You will sew the folded seam allowances open at the thumb edge, as shown above.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

If you’d like to make sure the thumb edge is sewn correctly go ahead and turn the mitten right side out and look at the point where the three pieces meet. It should form a neat Y shape, as shown above. If it doesn’t look like that, go ahead and rip out that section of the seam and try again.

Once you’re sure the thumb edge is sewn properly, turn the mitten inside out again.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Pin and fold the bottom edge 1/4 inch toward the wrong side, with the side seam allowances open.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Top stitch the bottom hem down.

Cut several notches into the top curve of the mitten, as shown above.

Simple Felted Wool Mittens | Purl Soho

Turn the mittens right side out and you’re all done!