Mitten Ornament

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Hole Punching, Sawing, Texturing
Skill Level: Beginner

I am of an age that I remember my Mother crocheting a yarn chain to attach to mittens which then went through my coat sleeves. These mittens can have that "chain" attached so they can hang over a tree branch, or be glued together to hang as a unit. Personalize them with letter/number beads.

Materials

24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Red Brass Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-704.24

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.98
Gold Club Price: $6.74

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26 Gauge 0.016 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch

MET-705.26

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.83
Gold Club Price: $5.87

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16 Gauge Round Dead Soft Red Brass Wire

H3-16D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $1.24
Gold Club Price: $0.93

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16 Gauge Round Half Hard 14/20 Rose Gold Filled Wire

H6-16H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $23.49
Gold Club Price: $17.62

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Tools

3mm Brass Eyelets - Pack of 5

D1-100

D1-100
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $0.97
Gold Club Price: $0.73

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GROBET FILE - BARRETTE CUT 2, 6"

FIL-31.030

FIL-31.030
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.20
Gold Club Price: $23.40

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SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400

ABR-600.90

ABR-600.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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2-part epoxy

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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4 Inch Wire Jewelry Cushion Clamp - Pack of 2

G10-2-2

G10-2-2
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Euro Tool Metal Hole Punch Pliers, 1.8 Millimeters

PLR-133.50

PLR-133.50
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.98
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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

Adjust the size of the mitten template to the desired size. This template is my prototype size. The prototype mitten ornaments were made with nickel silver, brass, and copper. When I made the mitten ornament in silver and gold-filled sheet, I scaled it down to use less metal.

If sawing the designs out, keep in mind the size of the design in relation to the depth of the saw frame that will be used. Even though the width or length of the design fits the frame, if the corner-to-corner distance of the sheet metal is too wide, turning while sawing will be almost impossible and blades will be broken.

Judy Larson's Mitten Ornament - , Holiday Designs, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Texturing, mitten ornament

Step 2

There are three cuff styles: Fluffy, Rectangular, and Self-cuff (no added metal). Adding the Fluffy or the Rectangular cuff requires a change in the template. On a light box, place the cuff template under the mitten template. Trace around the cuff design-first photo. Add a few millimeters around the cuff design to allow for a design shift in cuff placement later-second photo. The cuff templates can also be cut out, placed on top of the mitten template, and then traced around. Or, trace around them once the mitten template is glued down-See Step 3, Rectangle cuff mitten. Hint: The Fluffy cuff is easier to cut out with a saw. However, if the edge is changed to wavy instead of having "V" indentations, a shears can be used.

Step 3

Cut templates apart and glue each piece down to the sheet metal. Hint: Using textured sheet metal as used here and/or a different color sheet metal for the cuffs will help them stand out. Or texture the cuffs with the Whimsical Thick Swirl Design Stamp for a "fur" look. The Three Posies Designer Metal Stamp will make tiny snowflake-like designs on the cuffs.

Step 4

Use metal shears, or a saw if desired, to cut the mittens and cuffs out. The rounded corner between the thumb and palm portion of the mitten can be difficult to cut with shears. It is much easier to cleanly cut that curve with a hole punch. Turn the pieces over to see how the pieces fit together. Make any cutting adjustments necessary. Do not cut back the added area around the cuffs at this time.

Step 5

Remove the paper templates. Use the Mini TrueStrike Designer/Texture Hammer to texture each mitten body, if desired. Clean and refine the metal front and back surfaces as well as the edges. These ornaments may be around for years, if not generations, and will be subjected to some abuse. By leaving the surfaces with a bit more satin finish and a few "scratches," they will hopefully age better. Finish cleaning each piece by wiping them down with alcohol and a lint-free cloth. This is important as the epoxy glue may not work well if this is not done.

Self Cuff-The mitten template for these earrings was scaled to 1¼" long. Use the same directions is making an ornament.

Step 6

No added cuff: Transfer the template lower cuff line to the mitten. Place the mitten on a bench block, lining the line up with the edge of the bench block. Use a rubber mallet to make a slight bend in the mitten on the line.

Step 7

Place the cuff on the bench block with the mitten body angled down over the edge of the bench block. Hammer vertical lines across the cuff, simulating knit ribbing. Place the mitten body on the bench block with the cuff angled down over the edge of the bench block. Use the Mini Trustrike Texture hammer to texture the mitten body, if desired. Use a rubber/rawhide mallet to flatten the full mitten on the bench block.

Step 8

Punch a hole in one corner of each mitten. Optional: Add eyelets to the holes if desired.

Step 9

Search through your stash for some small embellishments to glue into place following the directions in Step 10. Add ear wires or ornament hooks when the glue has cured.

Step 10

Mix equal parts of two-part epoxy glue. Both Fluffy cuffs can be glued to the corresponding mittens. Only the right Rectangular cuff can be glued in place if both mittens will be glued together as shown in this tutorial. When spreading the glue on the back of the cuffs, avoid putting any glue along the bottom edge as it can squeeze out when clamped into place.

Pro Tip: The double syringe type of epoxy glue is the easiest to use as there is then no measuring by eye.

Step 11

Clothespins are easy to use to clamp the glued cuffs in place. Remember, the left Rectanglular cuff can not be glued in place yet. If a bit of glue does squish out under the lower cuff edge, use a bit of paper towel soaked in alcohol to wipe it away. To be safe, let the clamped pieces cure for 24 hours before continuing.

Step 12

Remove the clamps. Cut the excess base mitten metal away around the outer edge of the cuffs. Clean and refine the edges.

Place the left cuff on the left mitten where it will be glued in place. Set the right mitten on top. Use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to mark the overlap. Cut the overlap away on the right cuff. Clean left mitten and cuff with alcohol. Use epoxy to glue the right cuff in place as in Step 8. When cured, cut the excess base mitten metal away around the outer edge of the cuff.

Embellishments can be glued to mitten bodies with epoxy at this time.

Step 13

The mittens can now be glued together into one unit, if desired. Clean the mittens again with alcohol. Lay the right mitten in place over the left. Use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to draw a line on the right mitten where the mittens overlap. Note: The Fluffy cuff mittens were not glued together for the ornament in this tutorial. This just shows how the Fluffy cuffs nestle together if an attached mitten ornament is desired. The right rectangular cuff fits against the cut edge of the left cuff.

Step 14

Mix the epoxy, and as before, do not place it close to the drawn line as it will squeeze out when the two pieces are clamped together. As before, clamp and allow to cure for 24 hours before continuing.

Step 15

Decide how the mitten ornaments will hang on the tree. Audition wires, beads, etc. to see what works best. The finished Fluffy cuff mittens ornament will hang over a branch. Punch a hole in one corner of each mitten. Add eyelets to the holes is desired. Round 16 or 18 gauge full hard wire is used to make a decorative hanging wire to which sentiment beads are added. Make an eye loop on each wire end and attach to the mittens. After marking where holes might be punched for hanging and auditioning embellishments, a single hook was chosen to hang the rectangle cuff mittens after a single eyelet finished the hole.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!