I promised blue.holloman gallery I would make Artful Oven Mitts for Mother’s Day this year. And so, the strange, tedious, and weirdly satisfying journey towards finishing 100 Artful Oven Mitts begins.
The last time I made mitts was when I promised the blue.hollman gallery Artful Oven Mitts for the 2013 Christmas holiday season. Can you find them displayed in their gallery window?
That was a year-and-a-half ago, and I haven’t made a mitt since.
Oven mitts are my standard wedding gift. Since then, 28 of our friends have decided to become official life time pairs of two. This means I need to get busy if I am going to be in good graces with the reigning etiquette expert of the day. (Did you know Emily Post had an institute? I did not.)
The last time I made mitts was right around my 100th blog post. In celebration, I offered to mail EVERYONE who commented on my blog a free oven mitt pattern. And as of today, I have sent out 83 patterns. That means I am still willing to send out 17 more.
Well, that was an interesting exercise. You can read about the mad cap mailing adventure here–fun and funny. I don’t think I will do that again.
Several years ago, I had photographer Chris Arend photograph my Artful Oven Mitts. It was a super fun photo shoot. If you want to look at any of these images up close–just click on the image.
Making a large batch of oven mitts means I go into factory mode. I quilt huge oven mitt “quilts” on my long arm.
Each section of the oven mitt “quilt” is heavily stiched. (That’s the Artful part of these things.)
Then using my pattern, I cut these oven mitt “quilts” up. Never, ever forget that there is indeed a front and back to each mitt. If you only cut fronts out, you will not have any mitts.
I make dozens of hanging tabs,
And dozens of bindings,
And slowly and methodically these mitts take over my studio.
Each mitt must be stitched together.
And then turned with the help of a gentle prodding screw driver.
The thumb is what gives us grief.
Here are the mitts of 2013.
Here is the VERY first oven mitt “quilt” of 2015. (The shading is about the lighting, not the fabric.)
If you would like to see a visual tutorial on how I make my mitts, you do that by clicking here.
If you think you might have someone in your life who deserves a pair of Artful Oven Mitts, you can buy them from me. Just go to my contact page and email me.
Each mitt is sixty dollars. GASP! WHAT? Sixty bucks a mitt? You should make them yourself, right?
Or you could think about it another way–these are one-of-kind limited edition 2015 Artful Oven Mitts featuring hard to find vintage upholstery fabrics and made by me .
Who knows when I will make another batch? I’m guessing probably sometime in 2017.
Now back to the mitt factory I go….
Oh oh oh! If you are willing I would LOVE to have the pattern for your oven mitts. That is a fabulous wedding gift for your friends. It would indeed make heading into the kitchen a pleasure. Great tutorial. Thank you. I enjoy your blog!
You got it Stephanie! I will email you with the details. Thank you for stopping by!
I really enjoyed your tutorial for the oven mit. Would you send me the pattern? My e-mail is Larry.alaria@yahoo.com thank you. 😊
Of course Molly. I will send you the details via email. Thank you for reading my blog!
Wow! These are fabulous. It puts oven mitts n a whole new category. Lucy people who get your mitts as gifts. If not too late, I would love a pattern. I was so happy to find your blog via a fiber arts guild. Thank you for the inspiration.
Carol b
Thank you Carol! I am traveling right now, but I can send you a mitt pattern when I get back!
Hi Maria… You are a crazy wonderful supporter of Blue Hollman… and an amazing friend and supporter of the Fibre Arts!
I never did ask – did you send work to QN and was there a fat envelope?
Bethany
Bethany- Thank you! I did get accepted and I am going to the opening in May. I will be blogging all about it. Thank you so much for asking. It’s a big moment in my life!
If you are still willing, I’d love your oven mitt pattern. You are the best, Maria! justinemalinski at gmail dot com, thanks.
Of course Justine, I ‘ll contact you and get a pattern in the mail for you. Thank you for stopping by!
I love the photographs of standing mitts randomly placed. Looking at the thumbnails, I thought they were groups of brightly-dressed women with colorful headscarves greeting each other with friendly uplifted hands. Your projects are just the best!
Thank you Susan. It is strange how human like the mitts look isn’t it. They also look like trees!
And I would love to have a copy of your mitt pattern. Susan
Susan- I will send you a pattern. Thank you for stopping by. I will be contacting you for an address and then I will put the pattern in the mail!
Maria they are gorgeous! I would love a pattern if still available.
Anne- I’d love to send a pattern! I will contact you for your address. Thank you!
Your oven mitts are gorgeous! What a lovely gift! I would love to make some, too, if you still have patterns available. Thank you! Kim
Kim, I’d love to send you a pattern. I will email you for your address. Thank you!
I love my mitts. I must admit, despite being told they are to be used, mine are displayed proudly in my studio! Happy mitt making!
Nysha! I suppose I could predict that you are the type of mitt owner who uses them by looking at them. That is okay! Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
I love your blog and would love a pattern if there are still a few to be had. Reading your blog has been both fun and inspiring as I try to get more into quilting. Thank you for all the energy and passion you pour into your writing — it is much appreciated and enjoyed!
Ann-Thank you! Of course I have a mitt pattern for you! I will be in contact to get your address.
Hi Maria,
Just today my hubby and I struggled to turn my newly made oven mitts inside out…even with a screwdriver. Do you think you could send me your pattern to try. That would be great.
Thank you. Take care, Gail
Gail- I would love to send you a pattern. Yep. The turning of the mitt is the hardest part!
Love the mitts. Can you send me the pattern? My sister bakes 1,000’s of Christmas cookie each year and I buy her oven mitts every year for Christmas. Would love to make them. Thanks Darlene
I would love you to use my pattern to make your sistersome cookie making mitts! I will send you one. Thank you for stopping by.
Love the mitts! I would like to make them for my FWQs (friends who quilt).
Thank you! I will contact you via email with details.
Maybe I’m too late to get a pattern? I hope not! My daughter will soon be moving to a new house and deserves to have new mitts for her kitchen. Yours are wonderful!
Sandy- You are pattern number 96! I will email you with details.
I have your pattern and made a dozen for gifts Christmas 2013. Mine were so happy! Thanks for remembering that project. Love the new fabrics
Thank you Mary for the product endorsement. The check is the mail. (Insert smile icon) The new fabrics ARE fun, and it means I get to purchase new fabrics to replenish my stock! As always, it is good to hear from you.
I would also love a pattern for the oven mitt. I only hope mine turn out as well as yours do. I love those bright colorful mitts!
Barb, I would love to send you pattern. I will email you with the details. Thank you for stopping by!
Oh goodness, these are just plain fabulous. If I am 97 please send me a pattern. Last fall I declared that 2015 would be the “homemade” Christmas gift year and these would be a wonderful addition to the aprons already planned. I love your blog and your art.
You are number 98! Thank you Penny for stopping by. I would love to send you a pattern. The mitts are a perfect match to aprons.
Ooh can I get in on the oven mitt pattern goodness? I would really like to make a pair. My current ones have come apart at the thumb join (a terrible place to pull apart. Ow.) They are also ugly, and I have some awesome canvas in the stash that would work beautifully, I think.
Ha, I love the pictures with all the mitts lined up. It reminds me of Cadillac Ranch (http://365daysofsf.blogspot.com/2014/12/october-28th-cadillac-ranch-amarillo.html)
Also, dang but that’s a lot of mitts.
Carrie- Congratulations! You are the 100th mitt pattern request. I will email you the details. Thank you for stopping by. It is also fun to hear from you.
WOOOO! It came in the mail this week! THANK YOU!!
Thanks so much for putting these together and going to all this work to mail them out.
Thank you Carrie! Let me know if you want my quilting notes too. I’m mailing them now.
I consider those oven mitts as pure kitchen sculpture! Recipients will jump for joy.
I like your factory type production methods.
Sharon- It is interesting. Some people will not use their mitts. They are for display ONLY. And then others have burn marks on them the first day. I hope you enjoy making them!
I neglected to ask for a pattern. There is a wedding coming up. The bride would be thrilled with some mitts.
Sharon- I will email you. Mitts make lovely gifts!
I see that you are turning the thumb with a screw driver. I find it easier using a Martha Stewart “bone”. It is a plastic device that makes creases in handmade cards and envelopes. It has a gentle point and a rounded side. The rounded side works very well smoothing the seam. I think it would be kinder to the fabric than the screw driver.
Sharon- I used to use a wooden cooking utensil until I broke it. I am not sure if the “bone” would be long enough or strong enough, but it would be worth a try. Yes, the screw driver must be handled with care. I have busted through the thumb seam more than once.
So sad, I thought at last something I could make that my 3 DIL’s might not throw out.
And I missed it. Will uou sell the pattern. My life is all fabric scraps, Please.
Susan- Of course, I will send you a pattern. I will email you!
Wow! From one Shell to another, I’d love to have your pattern. These are wonderful. Thanks so much in advance!
I see you are even a seashell! I am a C. Shell as in Maria C. Shell. My mother is very clever. I will email you about the pattern.
Hi Maria, Big fan of you! What do I need to do to get a mitt pattern?
It is in the mail! Thank you Katie.
I would love this pattern. Very colorful mitts i love them
Katrina- I am glad you like them. I will email you the details.
I suppose it is waaaaay too late to request a pattern for your happy oven mitts. I just “inherited” A LOT of fabric and looking for a fund raising project for our Lucky Dog animal shelter. A way to use up and give back my almost-free fabric. Thanks.
Brooke- I emailed you! Let’s talk.
Oh dear…I just discovered your blog…too late to get the mitt pattern? Too late? I just signed up for your class at Quilted Strait in late March. I’m glad I learned about your quilts and blog.