How to Make Swimming Gloves

Swimming gloves are often made out neoprene because neoprene allows for water to flow through it while still providing resistance. Neoprene also dries quite quickly. Avid swimmers use swimming gloves for aqua running, water aerobics and pool workouts. Using a swimming glove can help increase toning and strength; in fact, swimming gloves provide a better cardiovascular exercise than running. For swimmers, using these gloves can help increase their speed.

Things You'll Need

  • Tight-fitting gloves
  • Thin material
  • Darning needle
  • Thick water-resistant thread or fishing line
  • Water-resistant material
  • Tape measure
  • Hook-and-loop fastener
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Instructions

  1. Making the Web for In Between the Fingers of the Glove

    • 1

      Place a glove on your left hand, and mark a line showing where the web of the glove will be sewn in place. The web of the glove is the material that will be sewn in between each finger, the same way a duck's feet are webbed.

    • 2

      Take off the left glove, and place a glove on your right hand. Draw the same lines on the right-hand glove as the left-hand glove. Take off the right-hand glove.

    • 3

      Place two layers of thin material on a flat surface. Use a material that has some elasticity to it. Also, choose a material that will dry quickly when wet and will not get too heavy in water. Avoid materials such as leather, velvet and insulated materials. Ensure the material is not too thin that it will rip easily or fall apart such as knit materials.

    • 4

      Spread your left hand out as wide as it can go on the thin material.

    • 5

      Draw a line around your hand on the material. Keep the line as close to your hand as possible.

    • 6

      Draw a 3/4-inch-long line inside the outline of your hand following the outer line.

    • 7

      Draw arching lines from the tip of the pinkie finger on the inner outline to the tip of the ring finger on the inner outline, continuing along the tip of each finger until you reach the thumb.

    • 8

      Ignoring the original outline of your hand that you drew, cut the triangular shapes out of both layers of material from in between the inner outline of your fingers. Keep each piece labeled as to which part of the hand it came from. Repeat this process with the right hand to create the web for the right-hand glove.

    • 9

      Sew one layer of each piece you cut into its appropriate location on both gloves, using the darning needle and fishing line.

    Making a More Water-Resistant Glove

    • 10

      Cut the water-resistant material to the same size as the web material you used on your gloves. Although neoprene is generally used for swimming gloves, cotton with polyurethane coating and spandex are also water-resistant materials. If you choose to use spandex, use multiple layers of it to create a thicker water-resistant layer of fabric. This will ensure the material does not rip or fall apart over time.

    • 11

      Sew the water-resistant material as closely to the web material as possible in between each finger.

    • 12

      Sew the second layer of thin material you cut while creating the webs in between each finger in the appropriate location. Having this material on either side of the water-resistant material will help make it more durable.

    Ensuring the Glove Will Not Fall Off

    • 13

      Measure the area around both your wrists.

    • 14

      Cut two pieces of the hook-and-loop fastener to the size of your wrists.

    • 15

      Sew the loop side of the hook-and-loop fastener around the wrist area of each of your gloves. Ensure the wrist portion of the gloves stay loose enough to slide them on and off your hands.

    • 16

      Sew one end of the hook-and-loop fastener to the wrist area of each of your gloves.

    • 17

      Put the gloves on, and do the hook-and-loop fastener up tight to ensure the gloves fit properly. Make any adjustments for comfort or durability.