The Quilted Oven Mitt

For each mitt, you will need:

• One fat quarter of cotton fabric. Make it something fun, dammit. If you'd like to add contrasting colors or pieces to the main decorative piece, get another fat quarter. A fat quarter is typically 18" x 22...basically half of a half yard of fabric. Remember that it has to be COTTON. You don't want your relatives or friends ending up with melted fabric upon their first grab of the cookie sheet. If you're just making it for yourself and you feel daring, go ahead and make it out of polyester or nylon. Don't say I didn't warn you!
• 1/2 yard Warm & White or Warm & Natural cotton batting.  It really doesn't matter which one you choose.
• 1/2 yard Insul-Bright Insulating batting either 22" wide or 45" wide variety will work.
• One fat quarter of cotton flannel or other cotton fabric. This is the part that will touch your hand. Make is something comfy!
• A pattern. You can make your own by tracing an existing mitt, make one from the side of the Insul-Bright packaging, or download one from online. This is one that I used and altered by making it about 1-1/2" shorter.
• 1/2 yard double folded wide quilt binding that compliments or contrasts to your outer fabric.
• Scissors. The sharper, the better.
• Thread.
• Sewing machine. This is very important. If you don't have one of these, please find another Crippy Craft to occupy your time.

Time for cutting!

Start by cutting two of the outer cloth, 4 of the batting, 2 of the Insul-Bright, and two of your lining. You probably don't need a photo of the cutting, but for those who may be lost already, this is a cut out of the outer cotton fabric used in this demonstration. Note that it is vibrant. We don't need no stinkin' boring match-the-kitchen fabric here. No sirreee.

Oh, don't sweat getting your lines exactly smooth/straight. We're not in Home Ec anymore. This is real world cutting! You know you've got about 1/2 an inch of play in the seam allowance, so cut like a real woman and get it done quickly...you've got other fish to fry.

Eight Geese a Layin'

After all of the pieces have been cut out, now is the time to lay out the pieces. If I lose you during the photo discussion, just remember this order: outer - Insul-Bright - Warm & White - Warm & White - Lining.

Lay the shiniest side of the Insul-Bright towards the WRONG side of the outer fabric.

Lay TWO layers of the batting upon the Insul-Bright. Some folks will tell you to use just one layer of batting. DON'T BELIEVE THEM. They're the ones on CSI episodes who have no fingerprints! If you do intend on committing crimes and need to remove your finger prints, simply use the outer fabric and the lining. It'll save you time and money.

Layer the lining upon the batting layers. Note that you'll need to match up the thumbs on each layer.

To recap: outer, Insul-Bright - Batting - Batting - Lining. Messing up this part will cost you.

A Stitch in Time

Ok. If you're a little sensitive about your layers possibly shifting, feel free to baste through the layers. I found, however, that all of the pieces had their own pile of fibers that bound together on their own and didn't need basting.

You'll be stitching through A LOT of fabric, so make sure you're using an appropriate size needle. I recommend a "jean" or denim needle so that you don't tear your hair out before you even get started. Also, you may want to oil your machine. It's going to be doing a lot of work, so treat it nicely.

You can quilt these layers in whatever style you choose. In this demo, I decided to do a sun-ray type pattern.

On some fabrics, I followed the print on others, I randomly quilted. Use your creativity. You know you've got it!

Rinse and Repeat

After you've finished with one set of pieces quilted together, repeat with the other set. Again -- Outter fabric -- Insul-Bright -- Batting -- Batting -- Lining fabric. Quilt as above or with a whole 'nuther style of quilting.

More Layering and DEEP Thoughts

Now, place the two quilted pieces with the outer fabric facing each other.

Maneuver this mass of fabric under the needle! You'll be starting the DEEP stitching through the non-loop side. Which if you use the pattern I used, you'll see that the bottom has a rounded opening where the loop ends up at the longest side.  Stitch up and around the finger area. When you get to the dip where the thumb meets the fingers, back stitch to lock your stitches. You may also want to double stitch there. Finally, go around the thumb and down to about 4" from the bottom of the  mitt. Stop and backstitch there. Remove the mitt from the machine... 'cuz it's...

Time for a Trim

Starting at the non-loop side of the glove, trim the seam allowance  to about 1/8" to the seam. Stop your trimming to about 1/2" before the part of the mitt that hasn't been sewn together. Make sure you trim all the way to the stitching between the thumb and finger being careful not to clip the thread!

This step is where super sharp scissors come in handy. I pity the person who doesn't have a good pair! 

I'm Feeling a Bit Loopy and Biased

At this point we'll be finishing off the bottom. Grab your quilt binding and on one side of the open mitt edge, open the binding and fold over the raw edge of the bottom. Begin stitching the binding to the bottom. You can use a straight stitch or a zigzag. I found the zigzag was easier to get the binding to lie flat along the edge, but your mileage may vary. Continue stitching the binding to the bottom edge until your entire edge is covered by binding. 

You should have enough binding left at the end to create a loop. To make the loop, fold the binding toward the inside of the mitt to make a "Z", as shown below. St

itch the remaining edge of the mitt starting above where you left off and finish by stitching all the way through the folded binding. Trim this final edge and also trim the excess binding.

At this point, you can zigzag all around the trimmed seam allowance. I don't think this is a necessary step, but if you feel like doing it, go for it!

Jump Shout, Turn it Inside Out

Double check your trimming....and trim again if necessary.

Turn the mitt right side out. The only trick I have to recommend here is to turn the thumb to the inside of the mitt first. It seemed easiest to pinch the seams together on the thumb to make an "o" and then press the top of the thumb through the slightly pinched sections. Your mileage may vary on that.

Once you have it turned right side out, manipulate it a bit to get it to lie flat. Wiggle, press, wiggle, patt.

You're done!

You can do so many designs and fabrics. Once you get a hang of it, they become pretty easy to whip out quickly.

Let me know if I've explained anything poorly here and I'll post an update.

This is a photo of the majority of mitts that I made for Christmas gifts in 2006. (Click to enlarge). As you can see, some are pieced together and others, like the one shown above, are simply one selection of fabric. Use your imagination!