I do not have fancy tech savy gloves.
I am just far too cheap to purchase them as I am the type to set things down and walk away.
If I have accidentally left a child behind, gloves are the last of my worries.
Be nice, I have only done it once…
Fortunately for me it was at a city trunk-or-treat and there were multiple policemen there.
Unfortunately for me it was at a city trunk-or-treat and there were multiple policemen there.
So, even though I don’t have fancy tech gloves, I do have this:
Conductive thread!
It’s about the thickness of quilting thread, and has the feel of a thin wire.
Here’s how smart phones work: They have a capacitive touch screen which responds to the static electricity in your hands. When you put on a pair of gloves, the fabric blocks the signal so you can’t turn on your phone. Or iPod, or tablet, or whatever it is you use.
Conductive thread will transfer electricity from your fingertips onto your touch screen.
Here’s the cool part, any old gloves will do. I have a pair of neoprene gloves that I added conductive thread too that now work fabulously with my phone.
You can use cheap cotton gloves too. Here, I will show you how I made a pair with gloves that were on sale at Target for .50 cents.
This is so super duper easy.
You just thread a needle and knot the thread a few times at the bottom.
Holy crap I have dry hands.
Go back and forth with the thread creating parallel lines close together.
Knit gloves are hard to make straight lines. It’s all good. Just do your best.
That’s it! Try them out and if they aren’t working just add a few more stitches. As longs as the thread is touching your finger inside the glove, and touching the screen on your phone, it should work great.
I would suggest stitching at least your pointer finger and thumb. You can stitch all the fingers in your glove if you want to.
Conductive thread only comes in one color. Think about that when purchasing gloves. It also comes in 2 Ply or 4 Ply. I bought 2. 4 is thicker and would work as well.
A spool of conductive thread like the one I bought above costs around $20. (I originally purchased mine from Spark Fun for $19.95, but they have since raised the price to $39.95. Boooo! ) I know that seems steep, but that’s the price of one pair of gloves. You literally could make hundreds with a whole spool.
Look on Etsy for a small amount for yourself, or split the cost of a whole spool with a few friends.
There are people on ebay selling smaller amounts for less, but you really get the best price if you buy a whole spool.
And, just because I will NEVER use the entire spool I have, the first ten people to leave a comment below I will send 3 yards of thread to you. Just leave a comment telling me whether you have bought tech gloves before, and then send me an e-mail with your address to info(at)natalme(dot)com.
And don’t forget to never leave your child unattended when there are policemen nearby to give you dirty looks. 
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at 6:27 am
I can’t believe how many times I’ve ripped my riding gloves off to answer the phone only to miss the call. This is a terrific idea and I would love to be one of the receivers of the thread. That said, I’ll be looking on ebay for some if I dont qualify..
Again GREAT IDEA!
at 7:06 am
This is a fantastic idea. I never knew something like this even existed (the gloves or the thread) My husband is always taking off his gloves while shoveling the snow and I would love to use this for him. Thanks!
at 7:43 am
What a great tip! I have to take my gloves off while shoveling snow, riding the chair lift, and just about everything else on the Colorado winter. I can’t wait to try this!
at 7:47 am
Awesome!!! What a great idea…I’m amazed!
at 8:04 am
Nope never have tried it. I am waaaaay too cheap. But my husband who will now be waking to school starting later this week will love it.
Katie Dayton recently posted..blessing
at 2:51 pm
I have not tried tech gloves either. Instead, I just get frustrated trying to use my nose to poke the desired spot on the face of my phone, which, btw, is not really all that effective!
)
Tina Hohman recently posted..Dreaming….
at 8:04 am
Didn’t even know tech gloves existed. Not too tech savvy, but drives me crazy to have to take gloves off to use stuff. Love your ideas and blog by the way.
at 2:41 pm
What a cool idea. If you still have some left, I’d love to try it out. Maybe some fun Christmas gloves for presents this year?
at 4:54 pm
Thats awesome where do you get the thread? or did you say and i am an idiot
at 5:06 pm
I would be too afraid to buy a pair of fancy gloves! Like you, it is far too likely that they would get lost. I’m clumsy, forgetful, and it’s way to easy for your gloves to drop out of your pocket as you’re chasing wild banshees on a playground!
at 6:02 pm
That’s 10! Thanks everyone! If you have sent your address already I have received it. If not please forward it to me at info@natalme.com.
at 7:26 pm
I never even knew there was such a thing as tech gloves. Very cool! I would totally make them myself. What a great idea!!!! I’m going to pin this!
~Cindy
at 7:31 pm
Okay, so I know I should be at your house for a scout meeting right now. Does visiting your blog for, maybe, the first time in my life count?
I made these gloves as Christmas presents following Little Blue Boo’s tutorial:
http://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/11/diy-ipadiphone-gloves-a-tutorial.html
Same idea, though she used cheap, readily available thread. Just FYI!
at 8:00 am
I have seen the gloves and was amazed and like you I put them down and walked away. Thanks for the tutorial.
at 9:19 pm
I just followed a pin here and absolutely love your idea! Though, sigh, I do have to admit I was in the market for new ski gloves a few years ago and I did pay the extra little bit for the ones with the “conductive fingertips”. They actually worked, to a degree, but not consistently. Oddly, I do still have both of that pair. I’m very excited to find some conductive thread, or maybe just scrounge in RadioShack for thin braided wire or something similar, and start upgrading my gloves. Thank you!!
at 11:56 am
Saw this on a pin! What a great idea. I’m sad I saw it too late for the giveaway though.
at 9:25 am
That is awesome! I would love to do that with all of mine and my husbands gloves. We are both techies!
at 3:35 pm
I just found some conductive thread for $5! http://store.fungizmos.com/items/306
at 3:36 pm
I just found some conductive thread for $5! I’m totally going to offer to do this for friends for the holidays!
http://store.fungizmos.com/items/306
at 12:10 pm
I found a site that has these gloves for KIDS. They have a 60% off special right now and the gloves work for all 10 finger tips (so my frugality could not stop me). I cannot sew, and my girls loved their designs. You guys might want to check them out : http://www.silvertouchgloves.com
at 11:02 am
Thanks for excellent, clear, and useful instructions! I will be trying ASAP.