How to Sew Oven Mitts

Trace an oven mitt or your hand onto paper to make a pattern. You do not need to purchase a pattern for an oven mitt. You can simply trace the edges of an existing oven mitt or your hand onto a regular piece of 8.5 by 11 inches (22 by 28 cm) paper. Make sure to leave about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of space around the edges if you are tracing an oven mitt and 1 in (2.5 cm) if you are tracing your hand. After you finish tracing the mitt or your hand, cut along the lines.^[4]

• If you are tracing your hand, keep your fingers together and your thumb out to the side of them. Your thumb should be at about a 45 degree angle from your hand to ensure that there is plenty of room for the space beside your thumb and fingers.

Align the paper pattern on the fabric as desired. Fold 1 of your fabric pieces so that it is doubled, and place the oven mitt pattern over the folded fabric. If your fabric is printed, then you will need to consider how you want it to look on the outside of the oven mitts. Try different placements of the pattern on the fabric to see what you like best, and then pin the pattern in place.

• For example, if the pattern has stripes, consider if you want them to go vertically, horizontally, or diagonally across the mitts.
• If you are using a solid fabric for your oven mitts, then you do not need to worry about this.

Trace around the edges of the oven mitt with chalk or a fabric marker. Hold the oven mitt in place while you trace it. Then, remove the oven mitt pattern from the fabric after you have traced all the way around it.^[5]

• Repeat this 1 more time for the printed fabric and 1 time for the insulation fabric using the same pattern. You will need 4 of the printed oven mitt fabric pieces and 2 of the insulation pieces.

Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut out your fabric pieces. After you have traced the pattern onto the fabric pieces, cut along the lines to create the oven mitt pieces. You should have 4 exterior fabric pieces and 2 interior insulation pieces when you are done.^[6]

• These pieces will create 1 oven mitt. Cut out another complete set of fabric pieces if you want to make a pair of oven mitts.

Stack 2 sets of fabric pieces in the order you will sew them together. After you have all of the required fabric pieces for creating your oven mitt, stack the pieces to create a fabric sandwich. On the bottom, place 1 of the oven mitt printed fabric pieces with the print side facing down. Place a piece of insulation over that. Then, place another piece of the printed fabric on top with the print side facing up.^[7]

• Repeat this fabric sandwich for the other side of the mitt so that you have a total of 2 stacks.

Sew diagonal lines across the fabric pieces if desired. This is optional, but you can easily create a quilted effect if you are using fabric that is not pre-quilted. To do this, sew diagonal lines across your mitts going in both directions. You may want to mark the lines on your fabric with a piece of chalk to ensure that they are even and straight.^[8]

• Start in 1 corner of the mitt and draw a diagonal line 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) from the corner going from 1 edge to the other.
• Then, move the fabric up 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) from the line you just drew and draw another diagonal line parallel to it.
• Repeat all the way across the fabric stack, and then sew straight across each of the lines. Cut the thread after you sew across each line.
• Then, sew another set of diagonal lines starting from the opposite corner of the mitt so that they will cross the first set of lines.
• Repeat this process for your other fabric stack.

Sew a piece of bias tape to the straight edge of 1 fabric stack. There will be a raw edge at the bottom of each of your fabric stacks, where the opening to your oven mitts will be. To cover this, take a piece of the double fold bias tape that is the same length as this edge and wrap it around the edge of the fabric. Sew along the edges of the bias tape to secure it in place.^[9]

• Repeat for the other stack.

Place 1 stack on top of the other 1 and pin along the edges. Once you have both of your fabric stacks secured and the ends are covered with bias tape, place 1 stack on top of the other so that all of the edges of the pieces are lined up. Then, insert a few pins into each of the edges to secure the stacks together. Do not pin along the area that will be the open end of the oven mitts.^[10]

• Insert the pins going from the outer edge of the fabric to the inside of the mitts. This will make them easier to remove while you sew them.

Sew a straight stitch 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) from the edges. Use your sewing machine’s straight stitch setting to sew along the edges of the mitts. Make sure to leave the bottom edge open. This is the edge where you attached the bias tape.^[11]

• The straight stitch setting is usually #1 on sewing machines. Check your instruction manual if you are unsure about how to set your machine to the straight stitch setting.

Cut the excess fabric around the raw edges of the mitt. To ensure that you will be able to wear the mitts comfortably, you may need to trim some of the excess fabric. Use a pair of sharp scissors to trim excess fabric along the stitching.^[12]

• The thumb may benefit most from having some fabric removed since it is a smaller area and any excess fabric may make it feel tight.
• Be careful not to cut through the stitching.