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Instructions for the Hot Mitts Patterns

These two mitts styles are easy to make and pretty quick, too.

For a set of full oven mitts, you need 1/2 yard of the following: outer fabric, lining fabric, cotton batting, metalized poly batting (can substitute with an additional 1/2 yard of cotton batting). It's best to print out the pattern and take it to the fabric store with you to make sure you get enough. You also a package of double-fold extra wide bias tape and thread to match the fabric and bias tape..

For the fingertip mitts, you need less than 1/4 yard of outer fabric, lining, cotton batting and metalized poly batting. Also, you need a package of double fold bias tape and thread to match the bias tape.

Full Size Oven Mitts
to the top

Step 1: For each mitt, you need two of fabric, two of lining, two of cotton batting, and two of metallized poly batting (or additional cotton batting). Layer the pieces as shown: fabric, poly, cotton, lining. Pin them together.
Step 2: Quilt the layers together by topstitching through all four layers. How you decide to do this is a style choice - I did wandering lines through the sushi print. You can make the quilting design the focus, make it more subtle, or you don't even need it at all if you choose a sturdy batting (I like the Warm Company's Warm + Natural).

Step 3: Zig-zag stitch around all the edges. This keeps the layers even when you sew the two pieces together. It also serves to finish the seams. You may choose to do this before the quilting, but I find doing this second alleviates some potential bunching problems.
You can see the quilting stitch and zig-zag binding on the lining side more clearly.
Step 4: Now place the two pieces together, right sides facing each other, and starting at the long side, stitch half way around. Use a 1/2" seam allowance. When you are sewing through the thumb crotch, backstitch a before and after the pivot to strenghten the joint. Clip the seam allowance in the lower corner (below).


Step 5: Make a hanging loop out of bias tape. Just take a two or three inch piece and topstitch along the open side.
Step 6: Finger press the seam open and - using a steamy iron - shape double fold bias tape around the bottom edges. Then secure with a zig-zag stitch. Don't forget to tuck in your hanging loop! To secure the hanging loop, straight stitch across the top of the bias tape just where the hanging loop is attached.
Step 7: Now finish stitching all the way around the oven mitt. Back stitch several times and the bottom to make sure it'll stay put :)
Step 8a: Clip the seam allowance in the thumb crotch nearly to the seam.
Step 8b: To reduce bulk in the seams, trim the seam allowances. In the thumb area, trim both sides to 1/4". In the fingers area, trim only on side to 1/4".
Step 9: Now that you've made the seams "unfinished" again, zig-zag stitch through all layers around the fingers and thumb.
The Ascent of the Oven Mitt (steps 7, 8, 9 and 10) Step 10: Turn right side out. Cook.








Fingertip Mitts
to the top

Step 1a: For piece 2, cut two of fabric, two of cotton batting, and two of lining. Assemble each half as shown.
Step 1b: Bind the straight edge with double-fold bias tape. Use a zip-zag stitch to attach the binding.
Step 2: For piece 1, cut one of fabric, one of lining, one of cotton batting and one of metallized poly batting ( or an additional cotton batting layer). Assemble in the order as shown. Zig-zag stitch the layer together. Be sure no to let your stitches drift too far in that they might be seen after you attach the binding. (You can always rip them out at the end if they do, but it's easier not to have to do that)
Step 3: Line up the top pieces with the bottom, matching the curves. Baste them together.
Step 4: Using an iron with lots of steam, shape bias tape around the whole mitt. This is very important if you want to have a nice smooth curve, instead of a bunchy, pulled sort of curve.
Step 5: Sew on the binding using a zig-zag stitch. Try to keep the ends even and tucked under, unlike my example picture :)