What you need to sew a glove

Sewing a glove by hand requires only a few tools you likely already have: a needle, thread that matches your fabric, scissors, and a thimble to protect your finger while pushing the needle through. You will also need fabric—fleece, cotton, or wool work well for beginners—and a pattern. The simplest patterns are flat mittens or basic five-finger gloves printed on paper that you cut out and use as a template.

Before you start, gather two pieces of fabric cut to the same size and shape. If you are using a pattern from a website or book, print it at full size, pin it to your fabric, and cut around it. You need two identical pieces—one for the palm side and one for the back. A thimble is not strictly necessary, but it saves your finger from needle pricks during the repetitive pushing motion.

Key Takeaways

  • A basic glove requires only two matching fabric pieces, a needle, thread, scissors, and a pattern—no sewing machine needed.
  • The running stitch, where you push the needle in and out of the fabric in a straight line, is the only stitch required to sew a glove together.
  • Sew the two fabric pieces together with the pretty sides facing each other, then turn the glove inside-out through a small opening to hide the seams.
  • Leave a 2-inch opening along one edge before you start sewing so you have a hole to turn the glove right-side-out when you are finished.
  • Hand-stitching a straightforward glove takes one to three hours depending on the size and how familiar you are with the needle.

Preparing your fabric and pattern

Start by choosing a pattern. Free patterns are available on sites like Etsy, Craftsy, or your local library's craft database. Print the pattern at full size—check that the printed measurements match a ruler before you cut. Pin the paper pattern to your first piece of fabric and cut around it carefully with sharp scissors. Unpin the pattern and use the first fabric piece as a template to cut the second piece, or pin the pattern to the second piece and cut again.

Lay both pieces on a flat surface and check that they match exactly. If one is larger or shaped differently, trim it now. Mark the spot where you will leave an opening—usually along the wrist edge or the side seam—with a pen or chalk. This opening is where you will turn the glove right-side-out later, so make it at least 2 inches long.

The running stitch: the only stitch you need

The running stitch is a straightforward in-and-out motion that holds two pieces of fabric together. Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Starting at one corner of your glove pieces, push the needle through both layers of fabric from the back side (the side you want hidden). Pull the thread until the knot stops it.

Now push the needle forward about one-quarter inch and bring it back up through both layers. Pull the thread snug but not tight—tight stitches can pucker the fabric. Repeat this motion: push the needle down, bring it up a quarter-inch ahead, pull the thread. Keep your stitches small and even. A quarter-inch stitch is standard for hand-sewn gloves, but if your stitches are slightly larger or smaller, the glove will still work.

Continue around the entire edge of the glove, stopping when you reach the 2-inch opening you marked earlier. Do not sew across this opening—leave it empty so you can turn the glove inside-out. When you reach the other end of the opening, continue sewing to the starting point and tie off the thread with a knot on the inside.

Turning the glove right-side-out

You have now sewn the two fabric pieces together with the pretty sides facing each other (the wrong sides are on the outside). To hide the seams, you need to turn the glove inside-out through the opening you left. Reach into the opening with your fingers and grab the fabric on the opposite side. Gently pull it back through the hole, turning the glove as you go.

This step takes patience—pull slowly and work the fabric through a little at a time. Once the glove is mostly turned, use a blunt tool like a wooden spoon handle or chopstick to push the fingers or thumb all the way out from the inside. Lay the glove flat and smooth out any wrinkles.

Closing the opening

Now you have a glove with hidden seams and one open edge at the wrist. You need to close this opening with a ladder stitch, which is invisible from the outside. Thread your needle again and tie a knot.

Fold the raw edges of the opening inward about one-quarter inch and press them flat with your fingers. Push your needle through the fold on one side of the opening, then across to the fold on the other side. Bring the needle back out and push it into the fold again, moving forward slightly. Repeat this back-and-forth motion along the entire opening. The thread will run inside the fold and be hidden. When you reach the end, tie off the thread inside the fold.

Finishing touches and common mistakes

Once the opening is closed, your glove is complete. Try it on and check the fit. If the fingers are too loose or too tight, you now know what to adjust on your next glove. If a seam is coming loose, you can reinforce it by running the needle along the same line a second time.

The most common mistake is sewing the opening closed before turning the glove right-side-out, which leaves you with visible seams on the outside. The second most common mistake is making the opening too small—if it is less than 1.5 inches, turning the glove becomes very difficult. The third is pulling the thread too tight, which causes the fabric to bunch. Loose, even stitches are better than tight ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sew a glove on a sewing machine instead of by hand?

Yes. Use a straight stitch and sew a quarter-inch seam allowance around the edge, leaving a 2-inch opening. The steps are the same—turn it right-side-out through the opening and close the opening by hand with a ladder stitch. A machine is faster but hand-sewing gives you more control over small areas like the thumb.

What fabric works best for a beginner?

Fleece and cotton are easiest because they do not fray and are forgiving if your stitches are uneven. Wool is warm but can be slippery. Avoid stretchy fabrics like spandex until you have made a few gloves, because they are harder to keep in shape while sewing.

How do I make the glove fit my hand?

Measure your hand from wrist to fingertip and around the palm, then find a pattern in those dimensions. Most patterns come in small, medium, and large. If you are between sizes, choose the larger one—a loose glove is easier to wear than a tight one.

What do I do if I make a mistake while sewing?

If you notice a mistake before you turn the glove right-side-out, cut the thread and pull it out, then re-sew that section. If you notice it after turning, you can carefully cut a small slit in the back, re-sew the seam, and stitch the slit closed with a ladder stitch.

How long does it take to sew a glove by hand?

A straightforward mitten takes one to two hours. A five-finger glove takes two to three hours because you have more seams. Speed improves with practice—your fifth glove will take half the time of your first.