When my parents downsized a few years back, I obtained several boxes of random stuff. My mom gave me a bag full of hats and mittens that went to the refashion pile. These really big leather choppers were part of that pile, so I gave them new life with a scrap-busting mitten refashion project.
These HUGE choppers are made of thick leather and lined with cozy sherpa fabric. As is, they were much too big for my hands. Since I was giving them some style, I also reduced the size to better fit my hands.
Do you have a pair of plain winter mittens that need a little pizzazz? Try this winter refashion idea and make yourself a custom pair of mittens that match your style.
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Mitten Refashion: How to Customize Winter Mittens
Grab yourself a pair of choppers that need some new life. Look in thrift store bins or your Grandpa’s closet. Gather a bin or materials like fabric scraps, ribbon, studs, and lace trim.
With the score of goods from my parent’s move, not only did I acquire some items for upcycling, but I also took home a bin or two of crafty goods. Vintage fabrics, trimmings, notions, and sewing tools.
With all of these things came two pairs of choppers, so I made two versions of this mitten refashion. One version with a simple set of hearts, and the other with scraps and bits.
Hearts Mitten Refashion
This first winter mitten refashion features two sets of hearts using scrap fabric and faux leather. These mittens were not resized.
First I created a paper heart template with the classic half-fold method.
I then traced the paper heart onto the fabric to create two black leather and two red pinstriped hearts.
The two hearts were layered and sewn together first.
The double heart patch was pinned to the top of the mitten and hand-sewn on.
They turned out pretty simple and cute.
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Scraps and Trim Chopper Mitten Refashion
The second pair of mittens got some boho vibes with lace, ribbon, tulle, and studs. These leather choppers were size XL and pretty large on me. I decided to cut them apart and make them smaller for a better fit.
With so much extra room to work with, I was able to cut off the seams on the outer leather shell and sherpa liner for a custom fit.
Using an assortment of unique scraps from mom’s craft bin, I created a random yet cohesive pattern of lace, ribbon, and fabric pieces. This was then pinned to the top piece of the mitten and sewn on.
Working with right-sides facing, I pinned the leather pieces and sewed them together. The inner lining was also sewed together to fit inside the leather outer shell. Some adjustments were made to get the right fit for the mittens. A piece of elastic held on by gold studs was added across the wrist.
To finish off the mittens, I added a band of fleece to the bottom hem.
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Were you inspired to update a pair of winter mittens? I would love to see your creations. Tag me @scratchandstitch on Instagram.
What sewing machine do you use when sewing mittens and the bags.
Hi Li – These leather chopper mittens were sewn on a Janome Sewist 525S (this is a basic at-home sewing machine). I also have a Janome HD9 that I sew most of my bags on as well as a TechSew 4800 for the really thick leather layers. Thanks for asking! :)