Matching Mittens Art Project

This is a fun winter art project that allows students to use their creativity to make matching mittens, exploring symmetry and balance! I have been doing this art project for years and years and I keep returning to it every year because I think it’s great for fine motor skills and spatial awareness. It also strengthens their attention to detail as they work to make both mittens match perfectly.

I’m not sure where I originally learned about this art project, but it had to have been about 15-20 years ago. So many of these ideas floating around social media and the internet have been around forever! This is a good one and maybe you haven’t seen it yet. I like to do this with Kindergarten, but I think Pre-K could do a simpler version and older kids could make more detailed mittens.

Why do a Matching Mittens art project?

Objectives:

● Students will develop observational skills by carefully replicating patterns and lines in reverse.

● Students will explore symmetry and balance in art by creating matching mittens.

● Students will practice fine motor skills through tracing, drawing, and pattern-making.

● Students will explore creativity by making unique patterns and designs.

In this art project,  students will make a pair of mittens that match.  First, the students will design one mitten with patterns and lines. Then, they will copy that design onto the second mitten, but in reverse—like a mirror.

“If you draw a heart on the left side of one mitten, you will need to draw the same heart on the opposite side of the other mitten.”

“If you put a wavy line in the top of one mitten, the wavy line needs to go in the same spot on the other mitten.”

Teacher Prep for the Matching Mittens Art Project

● Print the mitten template onto card stock (thicker paper).  (Amazon Affiliate links have been used for art supply links at no extra cost to you. The small commission earned goes towards maintaining this website.) You can use this as the drawing surface, or you can make them into reusable templates for your students to trace.  I have one set of templates and reuse them every year.  To do this, trace your mitten on to thicker poster board (I use “railroad board.”). Trace as many templates as you will need and cut them out.  Students will then use these to trace on to their larger paper.  They will trace it once, flip over the template and trace the other mitten.  I do this step, because it is a good skill for practicing fine motor skills.  But if you want to save time, you can just have the copies printed out.  

Step One:

● Trace the mitten on to construction paper (I like Tru-Ray Construction Paper– 12” x18” paper). Flip the mitten over and trace the other mitten.

Step Two:

● Draw designs on one mitten, using markers or crayons.  Emphasize coloring neatly and carefully.

Step Three:

● Then, copy the designs and patterns on to the other mitten, but in reverse, like a mirror.  Some students may want to do one shape at a time, going back and forth between each mitten, which is totally fine!  Others might like to finish one whole mitten first.  

● Some kids might get stuck on the fact that it is very difficult to make an exact mirror image.  Explain that they should try the best they can, but it’s okay if it’s not perfect!   We are aiming for doing our best and it’s still going to look beautiful even if it’s not perfect.

Step Four:

● Cut out the mittens and glue to a piece of colored construction paper.

(Optional) Steps:

● Unroll a cotton ball and spread out on the bottom of the mitten to look like fur.

● Add snowflake punch shapes (I like these and this one) to the background or draw on designs with construction paper crayons or metallic markers.

To download the mitten templates, they are right here.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment! Also, does anyone have any good book suggestions (besides the book The Mitten) that can go along with this project?