As most Sewists, I have a big collection of scrap pieces and remnants. I am always looking for projects to make these scraps useful. The Bombazine Mitt is the perfect remnant busting project. The mitt is quick, easy, useful, and makes a great gift! This tutorial includes some additional tips and ideas not included in the original free Bombazine pattern.

Materials

Use a fabric or remnants of your choice. As base fabric, for this mitt, I used:

IL019 AUTUMN GOLD FS Signature Finish – 100% Linen – Middle (5.3 oz/yd2) 

and included scrap pieces of:

IL019 SPICE Softened – 100% Linen – Middle (5.3 oz/yd2)

IL019 APRICOT Softened – 100% Linen – Middle (5.3 oz/yd2)

IL019 SANGUINE Softened – 100% Linen – Middle (5.3 oz/yd2)

Leather string or twill tape for your mitt hanging loop

Lightweight lining fabric

Cotton Batting

Cotton Towelling (a great way to upcycle old or stained towels)

Matching or complementary colored thread for quilting

Don’t forget your pattern! 

Tools

Pins

Scissors or rotary cutter

Sewing machine

Optional embroidery needle for hand quilting.

Difficulty

Advanced Beginner

Sewing Time

2.5 hours

Directions

1. Start by printing, cutting out, and piecing together your pattern. If you are making your mitt from a single fabric, lay the pattern on your fabric, making sure you cut two pieces that mirror each other. If you are piecing your fabric from scraps I like to sew my scraps together in a design I like and then cut the two mitt pieces out.

Use your pattern to cut two pieces in your lining, toweling, and cotton batting as well.

2. Sandwich your toweling between your outer fabric and wool batting, with the right side of the outer fabric facing up. Baste or pin the layers together to keep the pieces from moving. Quilt the layers together by hand or with a machine. Here is where you can get creative with your quilting, there are no rules!

I like to ‘stitch in the ditch’ to start and then add decorative quilting lines to reinforce.

Repeat for both sides.

3. If you’re including a loop hanger, prepare a loop hanger piece, I like to use a leather string but cotton twill or heavy selvedge will work just fine. (The positioning is marked on the mitt pattern piece) You may baste the loop in place or securely pin it between the two quilted pieces. Pin your two quilted mitt pieces with the right sides together. Make sure the loop is tucked neatly between both mitt pieces.

4. Sew the outside seam of the mitt, using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Use a small stitch length to keep the stitches from breaking under pressure. Trim down the seam allowance by about half and clip the seam in the curve between the fingers of the mitt and the thumb taking care not to trim through your seam. 

5. Turn the mitt right side out. I find this step takes a bit of patience to turn out the thumb especially. 

6. Pin the lining pieces together, right sides facing, and sew together using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Leave a gap near the top as marked on the pattern, this is where you’ll turn out your mitt. Back-stitch at each end of the gap for extra strength in the bagging process. 

7. Insert the quilted mitt piece into the lining piece (which is still inside-out) and pin the layers at the bottom seam as neatly as possible. Stitch the mitt lining to the quilted mitt, at the base of the mitt, using a 3/8 inch seam allowance: 

8. Bombazine calls this next step ‘mitt birthing’ it can be a bit tricky so take your time. Turn the entire mitt out through the opening at the top of the lining. Once turned out finger-press the seam of the opening of the lining, and topstitch it closed. Don’t worry too much about how this looks because it will be hidden inside the mitt.

9. Ease and push the lining piece in the mitt so you can put your hand inside. Make sure the lining sits above the base of the quilted piece so it’s not visible. A quick press with a hot iron will make sure it sits properly inside the mitt. 

10. Topstitch the bottom edge of the mitt together using a 3/8 inch seam allowance and voilà you’ve completed your mitt! 

Happy baking!