Here in Minnesota, we know mittens! You'll love my cozy and stylish mittens for adults
and kids. I take recycled sweaters, wash them in warm water, dry them on high, and
turn them into mittens that are lined in fleece. Each pair is unique with decorative
buttons on the cuffs.
Linda is a part-time scientist at the University of Minnesota, who, in her spare time, combines her love of shopping with her love of sewing. Her husband, John, and three children, Kim, Ben and Abby help in all stages of the mitten-making process: shopping for the sweaters, turning the mittens right-side-in, stuffing in the liners,sewing the buttons, or working the table at a sales event.
"I love shopping thrift stores for beautiful, gently-used sweaters and great buttons,then taking them home and turning them into warm, yet fashionable mittens. Some of my favorite mittens are made from a hand-knit sweater (with a "Made with love by Grandma" label) with vintage buttons donated from a friend's grandma's button collection. I got the idea from a pair I had seen at a craft show a few years ago.
I had saved a couple of my grandpa's cardigans. They were beautiful, wool, but very itchy and when I felt nostalgic and wore them...well here's my son in one on the right. I turned the cardigans into mittens for me and my brother and now we both have mittens from grandpa's sweaters--a great way to remember him.
A friend's husband had thrown her favorite, irreplaceable vintage sweater into the dryer--I was able to make mittens for her and her daughter. Another friend gave me two of her favorite ski sweaters and they are now several pair of warm mittens that she can wear every day-or give as gifts.
The very best part of my job is when I'm asked to take a special sweater ( Dad's letter sweater, Great Grandma's hand-knit Norwegian sweater, or an item of clothing from someone who's passed away) and turn it into a wearable heirloom."