Slap Wrap Watch Bracelet

If you thought Velcro watch band were the easiest to open, close or resize here is an alternative (or at least an enhancement as this project also uses velcro). In this Instructables, I am not reinventing the wheel as this kind of bracelets already exists, I am only repurposing an old slap wrap spring to make a watch bracelet. The biggest advantage of all of course is the ease of use complemented by the advantage of ease of resizability.

Fabric (at least 250mm x 60mm)

Sewing machine (with thread)

Bicycle slap wrap

Metal cutting scissors

The concept behind this project is quite simple really, a watch bracelet that you can easily wrap around your wrist in seconds milliseconds.

I sourced the fabric used in this project from an old pair of shorts (beige parts of the bracelet) and from an old lanyard that was just wide enough for the watch I am planning to use (22mm width). I have used lanyard but you can choose to make the entire bracelet in one color.

Cut the fabric into a rectangle, mine is 250mm x 60mm (note that the fabric will be folded lengthwise to make a 250mm x 30mm bracelet because my snap band spring is 25mm in width)

Cut the smaller piece of fabric that will actually link the watch to the rest of the bracelet (that is the piece of white lanyard in my example but you can use the same fabric as the rest of the bracelet)

Wrap the fabric around you wrist to determine the position of the Velcro. Note that the Velcro in this bracelet is here just to make sure the bracelet will not fall off but if you snap band spring is strong enough, you do not have to put one.

Layout the 4 pieces: the main bracelet fabric, the swatch holder fabric (lanyard piece in my case), and the 2 velcro parts (should you decide to use them). If you need a reference when layouting the pieces, use the folding line. Mark the position of each piece for sewing.

Sew all the parts together (and forgive my sewing it is my first sewing project)

Fold the bracelet “inside out” along its lengthwise folding line and sew 2 sides (one of the short side as well as the long side)

Cut all 4 corners of the bracelet before turning it inside out (while not cutting the sewing thread path of

Through the short side that remained unsewed, reverse the bracelet so that the Velcro and the watch holder are back on the outside.

Insert the snapband spring inside the bracelet and cut it to length (with the metal cutting scissors). Make you that you round off the sharp corners to prevent the spring from damaging the bracelet from the inside.

Once the spring has been completely inserted inside the bracelet sew it in

Install the watch and you are done !