DIY Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

SO....



Marie Claire Photo



I was flipping through last months Marie Claire and saw this

bracelet, (the one in the middle).

I'm thinking to myself, that looks a lot like a miniature crazy quilt block.

The idea has been stewing in the back of my mind so today

I decided to see what I could come up with.

I went to my fabric scrap stash for the little bits and pieces

I've been saving and got to work.



Scraps



Starting piece

I started out with a 18" x 10" foundation fabric and placed my

first scrap in the center. (This piece was already stitched together).



Adding bits of fabric scraps

I aligned my second scrap, raw edge

even with one of the raw edges of the first scrap, right sides together
and stitched a 1/4" seam.

Close up

 Pressed the scrap over the raw edge,

trimmed off the excess and continued adding scraps around the starting piece.

More scraps being added

As I continued adding the scraps I angled some and

pieced smaller scraps together until the whole foundation was covered.

I trimmed the finished block to 17" x 9",

then cut it up into various width strips all 9" long.

I ended up with seven strips.

Next I chose backing fabrics and buttons for each strip .

I cut lightweight fusible interfacing 1/4" smaller

all around than the finished piece and

pressed it to the pieced strip.



 I sewed the buttons onto the pieced strips first because I didn't want

the thread to show on my backing fabric.

(I used the sewing machine to attach the buttons cause that's how I roll).

I used ponytail bands for the loops over the buttons.

That done, it was time to attach the ponytail loops and the backing fabric.

I placed the backing and the strip right sides together,

sandwiched the ponytail loop between the two, pinned, stitched

and left a small section on one long edge open for turning right side out.

Wrapped loop

I found that if you wrap the ponytail loop with thread a few times

it's much easier to control/insert.



Insert long piece between the sandwich with
the short wrapped piece extending beyond your seam.

I also found out that if you use a large button it's not so easy

to stitch past....  Zipper foot to the rescue!

When you're making things up as you go stuff happens!

I turned it right side out and slip-stitched the opening closed.



Finished

Feel free to add lace, beads, ribbon, flowers, yarn, charms......smaller buttons....

What do you think?

 What creative things have you been up to?

Till next time,

Bonjour