Quilt Mitten Tutorial - Christmas Joy Quilt Edition

Written by Brittany Lloyd

I'm so excited to have our very first guest on the blog! I came across Kelsey's quilt mittens on Instagram when she used the #ChristmasJoyQuilt hashtag, and I immediately fell in love! I asked if she would be willing to share her process with you all and she graciously agreed. I can't wait to make a pair of these for myself! Let's get started.....

This tutorial is brought to you by Kelsey Williams of Lovely & Enough.

Not Ready for a Quilt Coat?

Have you been eyeing the quilt coat trend wishing to join in but not interested in taking on such a monumental endeavor? Or maybe you'd like a small project to dip your toes in the water before diving into a full coat? Enter the quilt mitten.

Perfect Handmade gift to Keep Them Warm

These mittens are a cozy and quick make. They are the perfect gift as winter rolls in; great for your parents' aging hands, your teenager's chilly fingers, your trendy friend who lives in snowy Chicago, or your friend who is heading out into the cold to care for their chickens in rural Indiana. Better yet, start with a pair for yourself to practice, and you'll be getting requests from friends and family for their own pair in no time! Or you'll be making a second pair for yourself because the first pair got stolen...

Materials Needed to Make your Quilt Mittens

(For a pair of mittens any size)

Mitten Pattern by Kelsey Williams of Lovely and Enough
one 9" to 12" square quilt block
mitten fabric, 1/4 yard (this will be used for the palm and fingers of your mittens)
batting, 1/3 yard (cotton or wool)
lining, 1/3 yard (any soft woven or knit)
elastic, 8" (1/4" - 3/4" wide)
embroidery floss and needle, if you choose to attach elastic and finish wrist by hand

Make your Quilt Block

Any quilt block will do here. The sky’s the limit. I enjoy choosing a quilt I have been ogling but don’t have time to make in full. This way I get to have fun making a single block without adding another big project to my never-to-be-finished project pile. First quilt up: the Christmas Joy Quilt! The Christmas Joy Quilt caught my eye a few years ago for its simple beauty and classic, minimalist Christmas charm. Can you believe it has been in my sketchbook since 2016?? Turning it into a pair of mittens seemed like the perfect way to finally make this quilt and get in some Christmas sewing without overcommitting or adding to our Christmas clutter.

For more ideas on different quilts to turn into Quilt Mittens, check out my quilt mitten inspiration post over on Lovely and Enough.

Christmas Joy Quilt Block for Mittens

If you, too, would like to make Christmas Joy Quilt mittens, note that the block in the quilt pattern finishes at 14" square. For this project, you'll likely want to use a smaller block, so you can scale down the original Christmas Joy block using the instructions below.

Alternatively, if you decide to go with a smaller block, you can use this free mini Christmas Joy Quilt Ornament tutorial to make a 5" block. Add borders to make it larger.

To make a 12" block, subtract 0.5" from each individual piece of fabric from the "Scrappy Blocks" section of the Christmas Joy pattern. For example, if it says to use a 2.5" x 3.5" piece, your new piece will measure 2" x 3".

If you would like the whole quilt block to be visible on your mittens (see image below), create a 9.5" Christmas Joy block. Then add a border to each side of the block that matches the fabric you’ll use for the front of the hand to achieve the size block you need for your chosen size of mitten. This will reverse the positioning of the red and white fabrics.

To make a 9.5" block, subtract 1" from each individual piece of fabric from the "Scrappy Blocks" section of the Christmas Joy pattern. For example, if it says to use a 2.5" x 3.5" piece, your new piece will be 1.5" x 2.5".

Construct Your Quilt Mittens

Step 1: Piece the Quilt Block

Piece your chosen quilt block. Use the sizing guide in the Lovely and Enough mitten pattern to decide which size mitten you would like to make and, therefore, how big your quilt block needs to be. For a large mitten, you will need a 12” x 12” quilt block. Medium: 11” x 11”. Small: 10” x 10”.

If you would like the whole quilt block to be visible on your mittens (see image above), consider sewing a quilt block that finishes at 9” x 9” or less. Then add a border to each side of the block to achieve the size block you need for your chosen size of mitten.

Step 2: Sandwich the Quilt Block

Once you have pieced your quilt block, it’s time to sandwich it. Cut a square of batting 12" x 12". Pin or spray baste the batting to the back of your quilt block. You will not have a backing on your quilt sandwich, just the quilt block and batting.

Note: Ensure that all your seams are lying flat and in the direction that you pressed them. We don’t want any red peeping through the white bits in the Christmas Joy quilt block because they folded toward the white accidentally as the block was basted!

Step 3: Quilt the Quilt Block

Now, quilt your block as you desire. Avoid dense quilting patterns as each line of stitching creates a row of tiny dots where cold air can enter the mitten. Pull all loose threads to the back and tie them off. Don’t worry about burying the ends, as these threads will be hidden under the mitten lining.

Step 4: Cut Two Mitten Pieces from the Quilt Block

It’s time to cut out your mitten pieces. Print out the Lovely and Enough mitten pattern and use the sizing guide to decide which size you would like to make.

Cut two back-of-hand pieces from your quilt block. These need to be mirror images. For one place the pattern piece face up on your quilt block and cut around it, and for the other place the pattern piece face down on your quilt block and cut around it. To ensure your quilt mittens are symmetrical and align when placed next to each other, consider cutting your quilt block perfectly in half then abutting the long edge of the pattern piece to newly cut edge of the block.

Step 5: Baste the Wrist Edge

Baste the wrist edge of your mitten pattern pieces. Sew a line of stitching in the seam allowance, 1/8” from the edge. This stops your quilting seams from pulling out as you construct the mittens.

Step 6: Finish your Quilt Mittens

Follow the Lovely and Enough mitten pattern instructions to finish your mittens. From your quilt block, you have created the back of the mittens, so skip cutting out any back-of-hand pieces (fabric or batting) until you get to the lining.

Share your Quilt Mittens

We would love to see what you make, so tag your pictures on Instagram with #QuiltMittens, #LovelyEnoughMittens, and #ChristmasJoyQuilt. You can also peruse these hashtags for inspiration before making your next pair. Can’t wait to see the quilt mittens you create! Stay warm and cozy.

- Kelsey of Lovely and Enough