Glove Making

Another site I just read is this one which has some great info. Think I'll make the gloves by hand as I feel that would be easier? But still looking forward to any tips...thanks!

HC wrote:

Dear Bronwyn,

Thanks for the glovemaking website--I've bookmarked it. But for your purposes, I'm not sure these patterns and instructions are going to work. Your sherpa is quite thick, and although you can make gloves from it, these patterns are for fitted gloves. You'd have to find a way to adjust for the hair side.

And you're right about sewing. It's actually easier to sew gloves by hand; the tiny pieces are next to impossible to get under the foot of a sewing machine.

If I remember correctly, I was taught to use two sewing needles. I can't remember why, and I haven't attempted a pair of gloves in many years--I wait for the sales at the end of the season, and buy them.

Teri

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:55:08 +1100, HC wrote: I have made too many fleece gloves to count using The Green Pepper pattern number F790 "Polar Paws". These gloves are completely sewn by machine and fit nicely. I've used these for gifts for several years and everyone always asks me to make them some more.

While sewing gloves is not a beginner's project, it is actually not as intimidating as one might think. The pattern looks nothing like a glove and it is amazing to see how a glove develops from the strange looking pieces of fabric. Accurate cutting and seaming is essential. Seam allowances are only 1/8 inch so there is no room for error. The stitch length must be very short so unsewing is nearly impossible. It is a good idea to make a practice glove from scrap fabric to get the feel of it. Take every step slowly and you will be rewarded with a nice pair (or more) of gloves that actually fit your hands. Barbee

Bronwyn, I have no clue about how to make gloves but I have to say that if you are planing on something to use just for warmth, not driving or handling little things, like camera settings you will find that mittens are warmer. A glove made out of Sherpa may also interfere with things like your camera settings since they are thick. Just something to think about. BTW, DS loves his light panels Juno

Start with some practice gloves and work up to the sherpa. I'm assuming the sherpa has no stretch. If it does, that will make things easier.

Do you have some polar fleece scraps? For polar fleece gloves (and I make a TON of those, the kids lose them with great regularity! lol) I don't even use a pattern. I trace around my hand, with my fingers slightly spread (enough to get the pen in there, but not enough to reach over an octave on the piano) on a piece of paper. Add 1/4" seam allowance to that. Figure how far up your wrist you want the glove to go,and add seam allowance accordingly. You can either make the glove tight to your wrist (the PF will stretch) or you can add elastic to the wrist when the front and back are still separate. Anything you want to add, like darts to shape the back of the glove, do while it's still 2 pieces. Then stitch around, hem and viola. A glove! It's also easier with those to sometimes not cut out each finger beforehand. Just mark the stitching lines and sew, then trim. I suggest a few pair of those first before you cut the sherpa, and if you have black polar fleece, it will coordinate. ;)

Now, Kwik Sew 3390 is a hat, bag and mittens designed for sherpa. I know you said you'd rather have gloves. You might look at

HTH

Sharon

I was given a pair of these for Xmas, and I must say, they are pretty nifty!!

Make mittens to go over a set of driving gloves. The mittens are easier to make and will better protect hands from cold when worn over driving gloves.

I grew up in the cold north and now live in the warm south. I still find use for mittens over gloves when the rare serious cold hit here.

I bought a pair of those for my father. He walked several miles a day into his mid 80s, no matter what the weather. He wouldn't wear gloves, thought they interfered with his tactile sense, so these were prefect.

Beverly

G'day

Thanks for all your help so far....I've lived on the coast for the last

Teri....had forgotten about using two needles, although might have remembered that once I got started. I used to make leather shoulder and handbags and used two needles with waxed thread, so thanks for the reminder.

Barbee....thanks for the pattern number. I've just googled and discovered this pattern sold recently on eBay, so I might keep an eye out for another listing, or get one direct from Green Pepper.

Juno....you are right! I was thinking about my camera and that's one of the reasons I was swaying towards gloves and not mittens, but still knew I'd be taking gloves on and off. Pleased DS loved his light panels.

Joanne....WOW!!! These are just fantastic!! they give the best of both worlds, don't they? They are definitely what I will make!! Thanks ;-)

Beverly....I can see why. There's a pattern for these (#529) on the Green Pepper site.

Sharon....The sherpa has some stretch but not as much as polar fleece on it's own because the suede (poly) bonded backing acts as a stabiliser. Yes, I have some PF scraps and will use that for the trial pair, although they will probably need to be made a little smaller to allow for stretch in the PF.

The more I look at these convertible mittens I can see they would also be great for my 2 x DGD's, as well as DS (also a photographer) and DDIL. So guess what they will all get for the winter for our motor racing trips? LOL

Thanks to everyone for your help.....if I hadn't asked I would never have known about the convertible mittens. They will suit my purpose well as I can still get to all the buttons on my cameras and lenses and not having to worry about dropping a glove, because the mitten part flips over. Just super!!

Bronwyn ;-)

Vandy Terre wrote:

My cousin who lives in Orlando found the ones she sent me at Target. They're chenille, as is the matching scarf and headband.

Not sure that's going to help Bronwyn...IIRC s/he lives in Australia. But then again, maybe Target has made it's way to .au? ;-]

Beverly

According to the label, they were "Made in China." So......

Target has had stores here for many years and they are in most larger towns/cities.

Must have missed a message because you mentioned 'he'.....sometimes they don't all come through, so I apologise for not replying to you.

Br>

In that case, maybe they will stock the convertible mittens Joanne wrote about. ;-)

No need to apologize. And I wrote "s/he" because I don't know anyone named "Bronwyn" and therefore I'm not sure of your gender.

Beverly, female, in case anyone wonders....

They probably would have the convertible mittens, but I like a challenge and have never made gloves in the past so now's the time to try.

Aha....thought I'd missed a post. My name only has a female version. Thanks for the clarification because I know that Beverly can be both male and female. LOL

Bronwyn ;-)

BEI Design wrote: