Vermitts - FAQs

Did you make the famous "Bernie Mittens"?

Unfortunately, no. Even though I was an elementary teacher at the time, they were actually made by Jen Ellis, a different elementary school teacher from Essex Junction VT who sent them to Bernie Sanders as a gift in 2016. He wore them at the 2021 inauguration. She then partnered with the Vermont Teddy Bear Company to mass produce them with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Outright Vermont. I have given away many pairs over the years to benefit local food banks, rescue animal organizations, and roatry clubs. I have enjoyed the Bernie Fever!

Do you knit Them?

The short answer is, no. The longer answer is, I wish I liked to knit. I have known many fine knitters over the years, including my own mother. However, the passion to knit was not passed on to me! Instead, my mother passed on a love of sewing. I find great joy in creating something new from something old. All of my mittens are made from 100% wool sweaters that have seen better days. I source my sweaters from neighbors, friends, aquaintances, thrift stores, and online platforms. Occationally, someone will contact me and request mittens be made from a sweater once worn by a loved one. I call these "memory mittens" and feel great honor in creating these special mittens for their loved ones.

How long does it take to make a pair?

This is a bit tricky to answer. It can take anywhere from one to two hours. It depends greatly on the patterns and pieces I have at the time. The creative process takes time! Each pair is one of a kind and cannot be duplicated. I generally cut my patterns on the diagonal which makes for a more interesting look but doesn't always yeild the most pieces out of a sweater. Therefore, I save all the extra unused pieces to then create a patchwork pair. Since these are completly pieced together, they take a great deal more time to create.

Do you ship them?

Yes! we ship them USPS in a lightweight, waterproof envelope. I weight the packages myself and get the lowest possible price for each package. I never up charge or estimate. That way you pay the exact shipping cost. Shipping for one pair generally costs between $6-9. Multiple pairs will naturally cost more since they weigh more and the package is larger. Once I mail them I send you a tracking number so you can track your purchase.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse