Gloves have long been useful to needleworkers. Originally, gloves were used for warmth: They kept fingers nimble in poorly heated homes. While they still serve this purpose, gloves and hand covers have evolved along with sewing technology to serve even more roles. From providing support and compression to armoring fingers against cuts, gloves care for your hands so you can enjoy sewing and other crafts more, and get better results.

Warmth

Even in modern times, our hands can benefit from the increased warmth that wearing gloves provides. According to the Arthritis Foundation, warmth increases circulation in the hands, which helps to relax stiff muscles and joints, and alleviate pain. Wearing fingerless gloves is a simple solution for reaping the benefits of increased warmth without reducing finger dexterity.

Support

Modern craft gloves take the therapeutic benefits of basic glove warmth a step further by adding compression, sometimes combined with extra support in the wrist or hand area. The gentle pressure can reduce or prevent inflammation in the joints. The combination of support, compression, and warmth promotes pain-free mobility for busy hands.

Safety

With the advent of rotary cutters, cut-resistant gloves have an important place in your sewing toolbox. These high-tech gloves are available in a variety of materials, including wire mesh. For the sewing room, they may be knit from aramid fibers (Kevlar), or a fiberglass blend. While they won’t keep you from being poked by a pin (they are cut resistant, not puncture resistant), they do reduce the risk of injury from sharp blades. Cut-resistant gloves come in plain knit…