The neoprene mittens described here are the warmest winter paddling option for the hands, and, using the pattern and directions provided,  fairly easy to make. Sustained immersion in ice water will not chill the hand.  The mitten as described below will be smooth neoprene on the outside and nylon covered neoprene on the inside against the skin.  The smooth neoprene provides a good grip and does not radiate heat well or provide a good surface for evaporation, helping to keep the hands warm.  The seam between the two pieces is reinforced with  a strip of neoprene (which also has the smooth side facing outward), providing a powerful and watertight seam.  The fit should not end up tight but should be close fitting to the wrist and hand, leaving minimal dead airspace inside.  BE SURE TO USE A MT. SURF STYLE TUBE ON THE GRABLOOP OR ATTACH AN EASY TO FIND OBJECT TO IT LIKE THE (OLD STYLE) WHIFFLE BALL!
 

DIRECTIONS:
 

1) Obtain neoprene, neoprene glue, acetone, and very small paintbrushes.  My recommended source for the neoprene and glue would be John Sweet of Mustoe, Virginia.  He may be reached at 540-468-2222.  You can tell him what you want and he will tell you how much money to send, or you can get a catalog and order from it.  Basically what I would order from him would be one half sheet (50 inches by five feet) of 1/8 inch Nylon One Sided neoprene, and one half sheet of 1/16 inch Nylon One Sided neoprene, and two one quart cans of neoprene glue.  The acetone and little 1/8 or ¼ inch paint brushes can be obtained a hardware store.  Total will be a bit over a hundred bucks but the supplies will make mittens, neoprene head covers and winter gear for you and your buddies for a long time.  Don’t use the acetone near sparks or open flame,
by the way.

2) The patterns shown should be full scale.  To check this print them out and see if an inch on the included scale is exactly an inch on a ruler.  Beyond that you will probably need to size up or down.  For a really big man's hand you might try 1.15 times normal; for a small woman, try 0.85 normal.  Use a copier with zoom function, or graph paper, for this. It is not recommended to do this by eye; dimensions are fairly critical.  Once drawn, cut out, trace to poster board, and cut these out.  Mark sides one and two. Buy the acetone and paint brushes. "Epoxy brushes" work well.

3) When the neoprene arrives (Sweet is fast; will UPS out same day as check arrives), lay out the 1/8 inch stuff SMOOTH SIDE UP.  Wash a foot or two of it with acetone to get rid of the anti-stick (but invisible) coating that is put on it when it is made.  Lay the Side One templates on the smooth neo and trace outline with fine magic marker and cut out. Use good scissors and try  not to make a ragged cut.

4) Puncture one of the glue cans on the side of the can near the top, but do NOT open top. (Opening may be sealed with a piece of tape when not in use.)  Pour an ounce or so into a paper (not plastic) cup.  Paint the edge of both pieces all the way around EXCEPT for the bottom where the wrist opening will be.  Set aside. Trace, cut out, and paint the edges of the side two pieces.  Go back and put a second glue coat on the side ONE pieces, set aside and then put second coat on side TWO pieces.

5) Pick up the side one pieces and face them so that the NYLON SIDES FACE EACH OTHER, and begin to mate them. start at the top of the finger region. and just stick the EDGE OF THE EDGES together.  The trick is to STRETCH one piece while sticking it to the other piece so that the fingers and thumbs and wrists all match up.  This stretching is what will produce the nice anatomical curve of the mitten.  IF this seems difficult know that it IS possible and the patterns HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THIS IN MIND.  After doing one mitten very gently turn it inside out.  Set it aside and do the same for mitten number two.

6) Lay out the 1/16 inch neoprene so that SMOOTH SIDE IS UP, and with a ruler mark out two 22 inch strips, each ¾ of an inch wide, as exactly as possible, and then cut them as exactly as possible.  Now lay them out on newspaper with the NYLON SIDE UP, and paint on one layer of glue, onto the nylon cloth.  Wait 5 minutes and then a second later; another five minutes and then a third layer. (Nylon side soaks up lots of glue.)

7)  Pick up mitten number one and paint on a one inch wide strip of glue centered over the seam.  Try not to get too much glue on the seam itself or it may dissolve the joint.  (However, you must get SOME glue on the joint itself.)  Set down and do same for mitten number two.

8) Pick up mitten number one and carefully stick one of the strips to the seam all the way around. Stretch the strip slightly relative to the mitten.  This is not easy to do accurately so go slow. Do NOT let the strip accidentally touch the painted area ANYWHERE OTHER THAN WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BOND.  Neoprene glue makes and INSTANT AND PERMANENT bond that cannot be pulled apart without tearing the neoprene itself.  It may be possible to dissolve a bond using fresh glue but the process is quite messy and not always successful.  When done with number one then do the second mitten.  Refine fit for your own hand on NEXT pair!