I am usually pretty excited to share just about everything that I do on this blog, but sometimes I get so excited that I’m downright giddy.
This is a giddy-post! 
It’s winter here in the northeast, and that means that many people are whipping their gloves on and off as they try to use their iPhones on a cold day. Gloves on, gloves off, on, off… you know the drill.
Of course you can buy touchscreen gloves. But have you tried to do that? Often you’ll find a regular glove you like, but it isn’t touchscreen friendly, or you might find the touchscreen gloves, but you just don’t like the feel or the style.
Here is the good great news: you don’t have to buy special gloves! Just get what you like.
You can turn ANY glove into a touchscreen glove. You can make your favorite pair of gloves work just fine with any of your devices.
And it only takes a few minutes.
Here is how you do it:
Get a little bit of special thread, called “conductive” thread. This is the tricky part. It is not that easy to find. Although I had heard that it was available in craft stores, I tried Walmart, AC Moore and JoAnns all with no luck. I turned to eBay, and bought 15 feet of it for $5.80. (This is far more than I’ll ever need. My daughters-in-law will probably find some in their Christmas stockings. Shhhh! Don’t tell! 
)
Sew a little patch of criss-crossed thread on the tip of the finger(s) that you use with your touchscreen. Make sure that your patch is wide enough on both the inside and the outside of your glove so that your finger has full contact with the thread.
That’s all there is to it! Here is a photo of my handi-work. Just a patch of thread, and now my glove works just fine with my iPhone. Yay!
Marcia
/ December 10, 2012I don’t even own a pair of gloves, so from that perspective, this won’t be much help to me. However, I find it really interesting, and I learned that there’s such a thing as “conductive thread.” Who knew?:
As always, a fascinating post, SC!
sharechair
/ December 10, 2012If your hands are cold, the last thing you want to do is keep whipping off your gloves. And then you drop them. In the snow. Soggy mess. This is much better!
Marcia
/ December 10, 2012Yeah, I vaguely remember those things from when I lived in PA. Hehe. It’s great for you guys. Down here, if my hands are cold, I’m digging for dinner in the freezer. *grin* But even though it’s not something I need, so far, I still think it’s really interesting. I never even thought about not being able to use your iPhone with gloves on. Here’s one for YOU, though. Did you know you can’t use it when you have SWEATED on it? Happens to me all the time. I end a long phone conversation, and I can’t disconnect because the screen is wet, and I have to dry it off before I can hang up. It won’t recognize my fingertip through the sweat any more than it will yours through the glove.
Now there’s a thought…..
sharechair
/ December 10, 2012Nope. Didn’t know that!
Marcia
/ December 10, 2012Disgusting, eh? But that’s life in Florida, sometimes. Even your EARS sweat!
kdkh
/ December 10, 2012I was doing the glove dance just this morning in a 10 degree wait for the bus. I’m going to eBay next. Thanks!
sharechair
/ December 10, 2012I was so excited about this! I’m glad it will be helpful for you.
stuffitellmysister
/ December 10, 2012It just turned cold in Oklahoma….I am headed to e-bay. Thanks for the awesome tip!!
paula
sharechair
/ December 10, 2012You are so welcome! I’m delighted with how easy it was to do.
stuffitellmysister
/ December 10, 2012So smart!
Alastair
/ December 11, 2012Great idea. I was lucky though and managed to nab a pair of decent touch screen gloves
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012Good for you! I like my gloves longggggg on my wrists and all the touch gloves I’ve ever seen were short. But this will never be a problem, again!
Alastair
/ December 11, 2012As long as they are on my hands, the length doesn’t bother me
Tilly Bud - The Laughing Housewife
/ December 11, 2012What a simple and effective idea!
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012Only takes a few minutes and the job is done… with plenty of thread left to spare!
Doggy's Style
/ December 11, 2012This is really cool, specially for those of us who have a bunch of gloves, really cheap alternative.
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012And you get to use the gloves you like best. I’m so particular… I like them long, up my wrist, but light. Hard enough to find generally, but impossible with a touch finger. But it is not a problem any more!
Pillows A-La-Mode
/ December 11, 2012Brilliant!!! Thank you!
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012You’re very welcome! For someone as talented as you, I’m sure you can take this to a whole other level!
kati10705
/ December 11, 2012You can also buy it on Etsy, I have some to add to my gloves when I make them, if you knit you can add it in with the yarn when you make the index finger.
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012Oh, you knit, too! That is a skill I woefully lack, but I’d love to learn. It’s got a priority spot on my (very long) to-do list.
Alice
/ December 11, 2012What a great idea! I am thinking of all those other shivery touch screens at ATMs and gas stations too.
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012And it is so easy. The hardest part is finding the thread.
tchistorygal
/ December 11, 2012What a cool idea! I only wear gloves on VERY rare occasions here, but I love the concept.
Marsha
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012My hands (and feet) are always cold! I should move to your neck of the woods!
tchistorygal
/ December 11, 2012It was 64 and sunny here all day. I got some great pictures, went for a walk with NO sweater. Come on out! I still have cold feet at night, though!
Marsha
sharechair
/ December 12, 201264 and sunny? Perfect!
tchistorygal
/ December 12, 2012Yes, and today 55 and rainy. Blah
carolynpageabc
/ December 11, 2012Well now, that’s clever…!
It’s Summer here in Oz, so I’ve got a few months to find this thread. The daughter is a mad keen touch screener; she’ll love it (and me, more); that’s gotta be good….!
Lucky daughters-in-law…!
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012When I went out today, I pulled off my glove before I remembered that I had made it touch-screen-friendly.
I adapted quickly (and happily), however. 
Jacquie
/ December 11, 2012Not that it ever gets ‘freeze your fingers off’ cold here, there are some mornings when one needs to cover the little paws. Being the very lazy thing that I am – finding the thread, buying it, sewing it on … I’ll probably just cut out a small hole in the glove if I need to
sharechair
/ December 11, 2012Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution….
But that little hole would allow too much cold air for me. And I’m sure I’d cut the wrong spot and unravel.
Enchanted Seashells
/ December 11, 2012this is a very useful tip, I’ll try and find some of that thread!
kristan
/ December 13, 2012Wow what a great idea!! I sell tech touch glam gloves that are one size fits all. The sparkle is out of this world and so beautiful. Only 8 dollars a pair on my website, but now I may have the ability to make more styles with your idea.
http://darlingdivasanddudes.com/category_69/Gloves.htm
sharechair
/ December 13, 2012I looked at your website. Cute things! I wish you much luck.