Who's Got The Mitten?!

These super-simple mittens are the perfect project to get a youngster interested in sewing. From tracing their own hands to designing the embellishments, it's a project that's loaded with fun and creativity.

Materials

• 1/4 yard polar fleece or large scraps
• Tear-away stabilizer
• Janome Embroidery thread for decorative stitching
• Janome Bobbin thread
• #11/75 Blue tip needle
• All purpose sewing thread
• An assortment of trims (buttons, ribbon, braid, charms, breads, etc)
• 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper
• Pencil

Instructions

Trace around your child's hand on a sheet of paper. They should have their fingers slightly spread to allow for wiggle room in the completed mitten. Add 3/8" seam allowance. Once you've created your mitten pattern, cut out two fronts, flip the pattern over, and cut out two backs.

Put Janome embroidery thread in your needle and bobbin thread in your bobbin. Always start with a new needle. Place tear-away stabilizer on underside of the mitten fronts. Now it's the kids' turn to have fun. Younger children can decorate their mitten tops with freeform zigzag stitching. An older child can use the design combinations from your Memory Craft 9000. When they're done stitching, they can also add decorative trims and buttons for a personalized look.

Once the front of the mitten has been decorated, place the front and back right sides together. Stitch the front and back together using 1/4" seam allowance. Before turning right side out, carefully clip a notch in the curve at the thumb.

There are many options for the mitten cuffs. Trying fringing the polar fleece, using decorative scissors to trim the edges, adding braid, rick rack, lace or other trims. You also could make a cuff in another colour of fleece.

If you purchased a quarter yard fleece to make your mittens, use the remaining fleece to make a matching muffler.