DIY Mavis Dracula’s Sheer Fingerless Gloves

Mavis Dracula Hand warmer
Sheer Black Hand Warmer

One of Mavis Dracula’ signature accessories in Hotel Transylvania are her sheer fingerless thumb gloves. These are a must for anyone wanting to dress up like Mavis, either the teen or the mom version.

These gloves have a separate opening for the thumb, but a single opening for the finger. There is also a finger loop that she wears around her index finger to help hold them in place.

See the finger loop in the image to the right and how the sheer arm warmers fit in the palm of her hand in the image below.

It is very easy to make a pair of sheer black fingerless gloves or arm warmers from black socks, stockings or leggings with a bit of sewing or a bit of gluing for a no sew version.

This crafty project is a fun way to use up and recycle old socks and stockings into something chic, trendy, Gothic and wearable.

Vampire Hands and Gloves
Sheer Black Fingerless Thumb Gloves

Easily Make Your Own Sheer Black Fingerless Gloves/Arm Warmers

Mom Mavis Texting
Mom Mavis Texting

Mavis even wears these sheer arm coverings even as an adult. The only difference between the movies is that she is wearing her wedding ring in Hotel Transylvania 2.

Materials needed to make a pair of fingerless gloves may even be things you have at home:

  • Black knee high socks or stockings, black leggings
  • Clear or black nail polish or fray check
  • Thin black elastic, cord or soutache braid
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun with warm (not hot) glue

A note on the socks, stocking or leggings: You can upcycle a pair or sheer knee high stockings or socks or recycle a pair of black leggings. If you use leggings with lace edging you’ll have lace around the palms and need to finish up the upper arm edge.

Black nail polish has a dual role in this project, since it can be used to paint black nails as part of the makeup and hair for her costume.

No Sew Instructions

The fingerless gloves can be made with gluing instead of sewing.

  1. Start with whatever black sock or stocking you have chosen.
  2. Pull the sock or stocking legging over your arm(s) and decide how long you want your final arm/hand warmers to be.  (The elastic band of the socks or stocking will end up around your upper arm)
  3. Mark the length. (The elastic band of the socks or stocking will end up around your upper arm). Add an inch extra and carefully cut off the additional sock or stocking.
  4. Decide where you want the thumb hole and carefully cut a small slit for the thumb.#
  5. Note: For the sheer stocking consider painting a row of nail polish first right next to the length line, let it dry and then cut the extra stocking off.
  6. After making your cut, use nail polish or fray check to seal up the ends.
  7. To finish up the ends of the arm warmer glue a thin black braid around the edges of the thumb hole and the palm area. Include a loop of the elastic to wear on the index finger.

# Watch the video below for the quick and easy way to cut a thumb hole in the heel of a sock.

(Pictures to follow)    

Some Sewing Instructions

The fingerless gloves can be made with gluing instead of sewing. 

  1. Start with whatever black sock, stocking or legging you have chosen. (Legging will need a bit of extra finishing).
  2. Pull the sock or stocking legging over your arm(s) and decide how long you want your final arm/hand warmers to be.  (Note: The elastic band of the socks or stocking will end up around your upper arm, the bottom of the leggings are at the palm.)
  3. Mark the length and add an extra inch, then carefully cut off the additional sock, stocking or leftover leggings.
  4. Decide where you want the thumb hole and carefully cut a small slit for the thumb. Finish off the thumb hole edge by sewing or serging the edges.
  5. Note: For the sheer stocking consider painting a row of nail polish first right next to the length line, let it dry and then cut the extra stocking off.
  6. Finish off the palm edge (or the arm edge for the legging) by sewing or serging the edges.
  7. Add a loop of black elastic, rattail cord or soutache braid to create the finger loop.
  8. Admire you craftiness.

(Pictures to follow)    

Premade Options

If you can’t wait there are some premade options that are close to the black gloves or arm warmers that she wears with a few different variations.

The black mesh ones look almost exactly like the ones that she wears. The ones that look like black spider webs look would be a fun addition her costume.

Other Ways to Make Upcycled Arm Warmers

My favorite super quick instructions for making fingerless gloves out of socks comes from Ashley Forster, who shares her DIY Arm Warmers for Runners.

Change the color from white to black and you have your own custom Gothic arm warmers.

If you want to easily make other styles here are a few more ideas for making gloves out of old or new socks or upcycling or recycling old stockings:

Kyra, a Michaels Design Team Member show another way to make fingerless gloves by upcycling old socks. This project is a great way to re-use those mis-matched socks or black knee-highs or stockings.

More Mavis Costume Ideas

To complete the rest of your Mavis costume, either as an adult or as a teen, we have ideas for her costume as well as her makeup, hair and all important vampire fangs.

Our Pinterest Board with DIY Mavis Dracula Costume Ideas

Our Pinterest Board has many of the ideas and inspiration, including the best cosplay costumes for making your own gothic, vampire young Mavis or Mom Mavis inspired costume.

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for updates.

 

Mavis Images from Hotel Transylvania on Facebook and Hotelt.Tumbler.com