Jen Ellis, the Vermont school teacher who used recycled wool sweaters to make Bernie’s now-famous mittens has been inundated with requests — more than 18,000, by her estimate — to purchase a pair. The Guardian has the story:
Ellis, a Vermont elementary school teacher who has a side business making mittens out of recycled wool, gave Sanders a pair as a gift and he wore them to Joe Biden’s inauguration. (The Guardian 30 Jan., 2021)
Even though Ellis doesn’t actually knit the mittens (as a knitter myself, I know that it takes several hours), as an employed teacher she doesn’t begin to have the time to produce her “swittens” in bulk. She takes old wool sweaters cuts them out and sews them into mittens. (There are numerous YouTube video tutorials for those interested in trying it out themselves.) But, Ellis has partnered with the Vermont Teddy Bear Company to produce “Bernie Mittens” in quantity, although it’s unlikely anyone will get the same pattern as Bernie, unless they try knitting their own to replicate the pattern and colors. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, which has a history of charitable actions, will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Vermont Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Ellis and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company aren’t far enough along in the process yet to estimate when Bernie Mittens will become available, nor has the company got an order form set up yet.
Those interested in getting a pair can leave an email at the company’s website.
The company has a clickable banner taking you to “The Official Home of the Bernie Mittens, along with a picture of Jen Ellis and her “swittens”. Since it’s Bernie AND charitable, I’m assuming I can get away with the commercial link. Guess we’ll see.
