Morley Elementary School second grade teacher Jill Morrissey is now filing a patent for the product that started as a way to solve a problem faced by her students – and mitten-wearing kids everywhere.

By Liv Varellas

At West Hartford’s Morley Elementary School, the simple winter frustration of lost mittens has been turned into a lesson on innovation and creativity.

Students in Room 6 returned to school eager to play in the fresh snow after the blizzard of 2026. The weather not only brought on excitement, but also a familiar and not-so-favorable problem: missing mittens.

For second grade teacher Jill Morrissey, that sparked an idea. After growing up in Michigan and teaching in many cold places, she felt inspired to do something about this issue.

Magnetic Mittens of all themes highlight the personalized designs for each student. Turning problem-solving into useful and exciting gear. Courtesy of Magnetic Mittens

During the snow days at home, she tapped into her entrepreneurial era, and at her kitchen table began working on what she calls “magnetic mittens.” The concept is exactly what it sounds like – mittens that attach to each other using small magnets. The goal: If mittens stick together, they are less likely to disappear in the travels between the classroom and home.

The real impact of the project goes beyond the sole invention.

Morrissey showed her students what it truly means to be an inventor. Experimentation, failure, and continuous trials are all part of the journey.

“I had to try many things that didn’t work at first and stay with the problem … but I thought it would be fun to share this learning experience with the students,” she said. Taking the project one step further, she has filed a patent, along with creating a website, magicmittens.com, to share her invention. The mittens are still being developed and not currently for sale, but the goal was to inspire students, rather than for profit.

Magnetic Mittens Sports edition resting in the snow, illustrating the teacher’s design for a practical way to keep track of winter gear. Courtesy of Magnetic Mittens

The prototypes have a variety of designs, including kittens (perhaps a nod to the three little kittens of nursery rhyme fame, who cried when they lost their mittens), puppies, unicorns, and sports-themed mittens.

Each child in the class has received a pair of magnetic mittens, and more importantly were gifted a firsthand look into how a simple problem can turn into a chance for innovation. They were able to see the effects of persistence and curiosity in the classroom.

As the snowfall season comes to an end, students in Room 6 have not only obtained a way to keep track of mittens, but also gained the mindset of problem solving.

If you have questions, or would like to understand more about this invention, visit magneticmittens.com.

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