Smartphone-friendly winter gloves are expensive (and often ugly). Skip shelling out for store-bought gloves when, armed with a needle and thread, you can turn any gloves into smartphone-friendly ones.

Over at Popular Science, Taylor Kubota shares the simple trick:

1. Order silver-plated nylon thread (silver conducts electricity). This can be difficult to find in stores, but major online retailers carry it.

2. Pick a pair of gloves to modify. Although leather works, it’s harder to push a needle through.

3. Stitch the figure of a star or other solid shape onto the glove’s index finger with the thread, making sure it will contact both the touchscreen and your skin.

Our Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 is Now Available Everywhere

How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode

HTG Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus?