Sherpa Lined Fleece Mittens with Zipper Pocket

Jun 24, 2024

Designer: Randa Roberts

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SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

OLFA® 17" X 24" Folding Cutting Mat
OLFA® 3 Rotary Circle Cutter
OLFA® 45mm RTY-2/DX Ergonomic Rotary Cutter
OLFA® Stainless Steel Pinking Blade
OLFA® 5" Precision Applique Scissors
1/2 yd Plush Fleece (for shell)
1/2 yd Solid Sherpa Faux Fur Fabric (for lining)
6" All-Purpose Nylon Zipper
Sewing Machine
Thread, in Desired Color
Pins or Clips
Printer
Tape
Mitten Pattern - DOWNLOAD

DIRECTIONS:

Download the 5 pattern pieces here, cut them out, and tape pieces 1a and 1b together where indicated. Repeat steps for pieces 3a and 3b. For the rest of the directions, note that the pattern pieces will be referred to as piece 1, piece 2, and piece 3 now. See Hacks for sizing.

CUTTING

Lay out your shell (outer) fabric right side up on your cutting table, making sure that the stretch goes east to west. It's also marked on your pattern pieces. A quick test pull will let you know where the stretch is.
Place your pattern pieces right side up on your shell fabric. Cut around the patterns, so you have 3 pieces.
Flip your pattern pieces over and repeat the steps for cutting them out. You will have a left side, and a right side.
Repeat for both sides. Set aside.
Repeat all cutting steps for your lining.
You should have 12 total pieces cut for the inside and outside of your mittens. Set them aside.

ZIPPER POCKET

Take your OLFA Rotary Circle Cutter and set the distance from the blade to the pivot point to 4". You can use your ruler or mat to measure. This will result in an 8" circumference circle.
Cut two circles from your shell fabric.
Next, grab your scissors. You'll be making a cut into one side of the circle for the zipper.

Make a 3/4" cut near the top of the circle and the bottom. Fold the flap you cut down and lay your circle over the zipper. NOTE: zippers can be longer than the circle, just trim them after you sew.
Starting at the outside of the circle, sew the zipper into the cut flap you created. Trim the flap, and the end of the zipper if need be.
Repeat with other circle, making sure to mirror image it so you have two zippers that are not on the same side.
Take your shell pieces 1 and lay your circle zipper pocket on them, so the zipper is on the inside outer edge on both pieces, about 2" from the bottom.

Using a zig zag stitch, sew along the circle pocket, and along the zipper on the edge. Set aside.

SEWING

Take your pieces 2 and 3, and line them up, RST. Sew around the thumb and across the line of the palm.
Repeat for both sides.
Flip out the thumb, and lay pieces 2 & 3 (now sewn together) on top of piece one, RST. The zipper should line up around where the thumb is. Use clips or pins to keep pieces together as you sew.
Sew around the entire outside of the mitten, being mindful of the zipper. You want it to be enclosed in the seam.

Flip your shell out, test the zipper pocket and make sure it lines up. Have a seam ripper ready in case you need to make a few tries.
Repeat all sewing steps (minus the zipper pocket) for the lining, BUT you must leave a 2" opening on one side of each lining in order to turn your mittens out after you attach the shell and lining together.
Once your shell and lining are sewn, you'll be attaching them together at the bottom.
With both mittens turned wrong side out, line up the shell and lining from the bottom. Easiest way to be sure you're lining the right sides together is to be sure the thumbs are parallel with each other.
Use clips or pins to attach the bottom of the mittens together, so it looks like two mittens, mirror image. Line up the side seams and sew all the way around.
Turn your mittens right side out through the opening in the seam. Test your mittens out before you sew up the seam by pushing the lining inside the shell and trying them on. Make sure they feel right, all the seams are sewn, and the zipper works.
When you're happy with your mittens, stitch up the open seam.

HACKS:

Have a lint roller on hand to take care of the fluff from the Sherpa Faux Fur Fabric that will make its way off your cutting table.
It's easy to get confused and sew two mittens for the same hand. Take your time, and
The attached sewing pattern is a general adult size. You can always add a half inch to the outside of the pattern to make them larger or trim the pattern to make them smaller.
This project is a great opportunity to use an OLFA pinking blade to trim after you sew since these mittens are full of curves and the pinking blade will help reduce bulk and will help to reduce fluff as well.