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This removable cover can be made to fit any watch, but is particularly suitable for watches with fixed metal straps. It's both pretty and practical, particularly if your skin is sensitive to metal.
I've always found that the metal strap on my watch is slightly too big and twiddles around on my wrist. (The next adjustment down is slightly too tight.) Then I developed an allergic reaction to the back of the watch itself.
After seeing a few watches with leather straps that passed behind the watch back, I decided to design a fabric strap which would fit over the original and sit between the watch and my wrist. It works well. The watch no longer twists around; the strap is more washable than leather and more comfortable than plastic.
I've had several people ask me how I made it, so here you go. As a bonus, because this is a watchstrap, you get to see in real time how long it took me to make it!
This project will work best for a watch that is slightly loose on your wrist, and that has a strap with a catch or buckle which is not much wider than the strap. However, it's not impossible to accomodate a wider buckle.
I've always found that the metal strap on my watch is slightly too big and twiddles around on my wrist. (The next adjustment down is slightly too tight.) Then I developed an allergic reaction to the back of the watch itself.
After seeing a few watches with leather straps that passed behind the watch back, I decided to design a fabric strap which would fit over the original and sit between the watch and my wrist. It works well. The watch no longer twists around; the strap is more washable than leather and more comfortable than plastic.
I've had several people ask me how I made it, so here you go. As a bonus, because this is a watchstrap, you get to see in real time how long it took me to make it!
This project will work best for a watch that is slightly loose on your wrist, and that has a strap with a catch or buckle which is not much wider than the strap. However, it's not impossible to accomodate a wider buckle.
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Signing UpStep 1Materials / equipment
You need:
A watch
A piece of fabric, at least 10cm by 20cm (4" by 8")
Sewing thread
Thread in a contrasting colour for tacking (optional)
A snap fastener (preferably plastic)
Paper and pen
Ruler
Needle
Pins
Coin or round object about the same diameter as your watch face
Sewing machine (optional)
Steam iron
I have always used washable cotton fabric so far, but you could use anything so long as there is something comfortable next to your wrist. If you're buying material specially for this, 10cm off a roll will be plenty.
A watch
A piece of fabric, at least 10cm by 20cm (4" by 8")
Sewing thread
Thread in a contrasting colour for tacking (optional)
A snap fastener (preferably plastic)
Paper and pen
Ruler
Needle
Pins
Coin or round object about the same diameter as your watch face
Sewing machine (optional)
Steam iron
I have always used washable cotton fabric so far, but you could use anything so long as there is something comfortable next to your wrist. If you're buying material specially for this, 10cm off a roll will be plenty.
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Thank you!!!
If you wanted the fabric strap to be removable and washable, you could use two shorter fabric bands, and use Velcro to attach it to the watch face at each side - sewing the hook and loop patches next to each other at the end, slipping around the little rod, and pressing shut. (I wish I could draw a diagram for this - maybe I'll add it to the tutorial.) Then you could use more Velcro to close the band at the back of the wrist.
Either of these would probably be easier to make than my original, since you would only need a simple fabric tube of the right width to fit the watch face.
It would be harder to remove a metal strap without special tools, though a jeweller's shop could do it for you. I did my work-around this way because I like my original watch (even if my skin doesn't) and didn't want to take the strap right off!
With my watch you can actually remove the clasp mechanism, so you could sew the ends of the strap to the fabric and hold it secure that way. But I've never seen another clasp quite like it.