Fabric Watch Bands

You’ll need:
I bought my watch face at a local craft store (Porters) but you can find them at craft stores in the beads section…or here, here, or here online. Mine was about $10.
For a CHUNKY watch band, see the updated version of this tutorial here.

 

 

If you want to make these for gifts but don’t know how big the recipients wrist is, make them a tad bigger and either use a larger strip of velcro, or a couple of D rings so it can be adjustable. I would make the strip larger and add 2 or 3 sets of snaps so that they can make it tighter or looser. I’m pretty sure every one of my friends/family is getting one of these for Christmas.

38 Responses to Fabric Watch Bands

  1. amycornwell October 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm #

    I love this – super cute. Thanks so much!

  2. Katie B. October 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm #

    I'm so making this! Thanks for the tutorial!

  3. randi---i have to say October 4, 2010 at 1:54 pm #

    very fun! thanks for the how-to!

  4. Tasha October 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm #

    This is DARLING. What a cute cute idea!!

  5. Cate October 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm #

    cute – pity i don't wear watches! x

  6. Jill J October 4, 2010 at 2:37 pm #

    Oh My Gosh, this is brilliant! I'm sensing these as Christmas presents too. :)

    p.s. Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the tutorials (with clear instructions) you put on your blog. I don't know how you have the time to do it all!

  7. a little bit biased October 4, 2010 at 3:04 pm #

    Very cute and inventive. Great tutorial. Doesn't look too hard. I think I've got a watch face around here that will work…

  8. courtney*adele October 4, 2010 at 3:13 pm #

    What type of snap fastener do you use? I got one and the snaps just don't work on the fabric…. I'd love to find one that really works!

  9. Petit Design Co. October 4, 2010 at 3:32 pm #

    I love your red watch face! I want one, it;s so adorable

  10. Trista October 4, 2010 at 3:46 pm #

    That is adorable, I had no clue you could even buy just the watch face. I am in love with the ruffles.

  11. Las Creaciones de Boricua October 4, 2010 at 5:39 pm #

    Pretty!!!!!!!! what a good idea!!!!!!!!!

  12. Angela October 4, 2010 at 6:03 pm #

    Now this is cute! What a fun idea, and what a great way to enjoy your favorite fabrics all day long!

  13. Karey October 4, 2010 at 6:40 pm #

    Great idea – these are so cute! I'll have to put this on my list the next time I go to Hobby Lobby, which is, um… tomorrow, since I forgot something today! :)

  14. Genie October 4, 2010 at 7:02 pm #

    Your tutorials are the best…always easy to read and follow….ad very clever and cute.

    Genie

  15. Whosies October 4, 2010 at 9:21 pm #

    i love the look and to have it custom matching is a total plus. i am all for the ruffely stuff too.

  16. Jayme October 4, 2010 at 10:59 pm #

    Al, your genious! And I love it!! I just bought a watch face for someone for Christmas, and I love the look of the fabric SOOO much more than beads!!!! Thanks for the tute!!!

  17. Emily Elizabeth October 5, 2010 at 12:16 am #

    Ohhh, this is fantastic! I will definitely be making some of these :)

  18. dogloverlaura October 5, 2010 at 12:23 am #

    Where in the world do you come up with such beautiful ideas? And ….. so glad to see you are feeling better. Great Christmas and birthday gift idea!!

  19. Gwen @ Gwenny Penny October 5, 2010 at 2:23 am #

    This is just adorable. Love it. The ruffle is such a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing!

  20. Anna October 5, 2010 at 4:10 am #

    Very great tutorial! I like that ruffle detail in the middle of the one band. And thank you for linking to my Etsy shop; very much appreciated. :)

  21. Em October 5, 2010 at 4:29 am #

    Cute cute! Just in time for Christmas. Scruffy Ruffles sounds like a distant cousin to Snuffalufagous on Sesame Street! I love it!!!!!!!!!! Love, Em

  22. di October 5, 2010 at 2:43 pm #

    Oh my goodness! This is DARLING!!! I love it and thanks so much for sharing such a fun project tutorial with us! :-)

  23. Rachel@oneprettything.com October 5, 2010 at 3:24 pm #

    That is so, so pretty! I love the ruffle. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.

  24. Katie October 5, 2010 at 6:02 pm #

    This is adorable! I love it, especially the ruffle. :)

  25. PVB October 6, 2010 at 1:51 pm #

    LOVE this! A perfect way to convert old watches into VEGAN version! Woo Hoo!
    Thanks SEW much
    Pink Velvet Bird

  26. Lisa October 6, 2010 at 4:14 pm #

    This is REALLY cute! I love wearing fun watches and people expect me to always have new ones so I have to try this! Thanks!

  27. Amy October 6, 2010 at 4:38 pm #

    This is great! I look forward to making one!

  28. twobutterflies October 7, 2010 at 3:28 pm #

    I'm loving this. I have all of these old, broken watches lying around. Now I have to replace the batteries and get them working so I can do this project.

  29. ewecan October 7, 2010 at 3:39 pm #

    This is so cute. Loved the way you turned the tube with the safety pin. What a great tip. Usually my watch bands have that little loop on them that the end of the band goes through and it always gets broken, now I can revive those watch faces with a new, made by me, band.

  30. Jessica October 7, 2010 at 5:55 pm #

    Love this idea so much! I haven't broken my sewing machine out of the box yet…but I'll be a watch making fool pretty soon for sure. Thanks for the inspiration!

  31. Sarah October 8, 2010 at 3:47 pm #

    This is great. Thanks so much for posting!!!

  32. sarah November 22, 2010 at 12:48 pm #

    Thank you. I like your content. Very nice

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  33. Cathleen June 9, 2012 at 2:03 pm #

    This is such a great idea!
    No one nowadays wears watches, everyone I know relies on their phone for the time. But I say, long live watches! If they all looked like this, I think everyone would wear one

  34. Lisa September 3, 2015 at 2:27 pm #

    I have had this tutorial saved for a long time! Thanks so much for the wonderfully clear instructions !

  35. Tina Alexander October 3, 2016 at 8:37 pm #

    I googled how to sew a watch band & the leather ones came up, so I just kept sear Hong & scrolling & found this! thank you!

  36. CTNBEE September 27, 2018 at 5:23 am #

    It looks amazing! I like your tutorials. I like small, practical things. Thanks for sharing photos. Of course, I am asking for more sharing of such wonderful works.

  37. My_No_No_Square August 8, 2020 at 2:29 pm #

    OMG your a lifesaver! I bought this really cute watch that I really like but its just to big. So I thought, hey I bet I could make me a new strap by sewing! All of the other tutorials I found were just to confusing. This one was simple and easy to understand. Cant wait to try it!

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