Why DIY Gloves
Earlier this week, I released my pattern for the Classic Palm Glove, and some of you may be wondering… why? It’s a tricky project which many people probably hadn’t considered sewing for themselves. Here’s a few reasons I think it’s worthwhile:
Mass-produced gloves usually don’t come in a range of sizes
I have teeny hands with short fingers, so those “one-size-fits-all” gloves from the costume shop leave me with floppy fingertips and wrinkly wrists… but as an (occasional) aerialist I’ve got kinda beefcake upper arms, so the hem is often snug despite the roomy hand. Even if you only need to shorten the fingers or make seemingly simple alterations, retrofitting an existing pair of RTW gloves is a bit more trouble than it’s worth and likely to result in lumpy results. If your paws are smaller or larger than average, a custom fit can make the difference between “elegant” and “kid’s Halloween costume”.
…or colours or styles
Black and white satin certainly have their place, but what if you have more colourful aspirations? I’ve been loving sheers lately, and I have my eye on some sweet polka-dots and prints. I’m also assembling a huge inspiration board for style hacks to tutorialize over the next few weeks – ruffles and bows and colour-blocking and keyholes and buttons and… you get the idea. When you start with a great basic pattern and get it fitting just right, you can then go style-wild.
You will challenge your cutting and sewing skills
It takes some patience, but working with really small tolerances is great practice for refining your accuracy in both cutting and stitching. I’m generally a bit of a speed demon at the sewing machine, but working with 3mm seam allowances and hairpin curves forced me to work more carefully and approach my projects with greater intention and mindfulness. As a result, I’ve noticed that 6mm lingerie seams now feel like a breeze and I have finally achieved a respectable stitch-in-the-ditch on my bias bindings.
It’s a great way to upcycle or stash-bust specialty knits
This pattern is not a fabric hog, so it’s perfect for making use of those sparkly sleeves you cut off a thrifted tunic, or the last scant half-metre of Swiss dot mesh that you really don’t need any more undies out of.