Even though we still have a few months until the holidays, it’s never too early to start thinking about stocking stuffer ideas! Today I’m going to share a super quick, super easy tutorial for creating a pleated wrist cuff. You can wear it on its own to make a simple statement, or you can gussy it up a bit by using it as a vehicle to showcase your favorite brooch or pin! (Even a snowflake brooch in the middle of August, if you feel so inclined. 😉
For this project, you will need…
(1) 3″x20″ length of fabric (you might need to add a couple of inches to the length here, depending on the size of your wrist)
Thread
1 set of prong snaps and snap-setting tool
Basic sewing supplies: machine, shears, etc.
Brooch or decorative pin (optional)
step 1 / Fold your fabric piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides facing. Using a 1/4″ seam, stitch across one short side and down the open long side of your strip. Snip the corners at the closed end of your piece, and press the seams open. Turn your tube right-side out, paying particular attention to the corners. Press. Edgestitch along all edges except the open (unsewn) end of your piece. (You’ll leave that unstitched, since that is the end we’ll be trimming off when we customize the fit of our cuff.)
step 2 / Now, the pleating fun begins! Form pleats in your piece, either by pinning each one into place and then stitching down the center, or by using my pleater-cheater method: Starting at the finished end of your piece, stitch down the center of your piece for 3/4″. With your needle down, lift your presser foot, and push the strip of fabric back toward the needle to ease a small S-shaped fold of fabric up and under the foot to form your pleat. Lower the presser foot, and stitch over the center of your pleat to secure. Repeat until you reach the end of the strip.
step 3 / Wrap your pleated piece around your wrist, and determine the best fit to the nearest pleat. This is where you will trim your cuff to shorten it, so make sure that this pleat is closest to the end of your cuff that has yet to be stitched, and not the finished end of your cuff. Edgestitch along the fold of this pleat to finish it, and then trim away any excess fabric from your strip so you have a nice, clean edge, as shown. Apply a set of snaps to the ends of your cuff to form a closure. (If you need, you can refer to this snap-setting tutorial that I posted a while back.)
You are finished!
On her own, she is fashionably understated…
…but paired with a brooch…
…or a handmade rosette pin, she really shines!
Have a great week, everyone!
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
Vanessa says
Love the idea! Thanks for sharing.
Vanessa
Rebekah★All Thingz Related★ says
What a really neat idea! I love it!
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
These would make fantastic Christmas gifts! Love the rosettes and the bling on the snowflake brooch. 🙂
Miss Pineapple says
OMGG!!! That is absolutely amazing. I will be making these are gifts for the holidays. My sister in laws are going to love them! Thank you so much for the idea!
Miss Pineapple says
Can I ask where you got the snowflake brooch from?
My name is Ali... says
Super cute!!! Love it!
Ali
http://just-a-bowl-of-cherries.blogspot.com/
Shona says
So cute! I love it! Now if I can just talk my sewing machine into sewing a straight line…..haha! Thanks so much for sharing!
Chef in Training says
this is SO cute! I will have to try and make me one!
I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training! Plus there is a fun giveaway too! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com
Marie says
That is so cute! I have just the brooch in mind!
Marie
mylilpinkpocket.blogspot.com
Katie says
Super cute cuff!
Alicia @ littlesprinklesoffun says
I LOVE this! SO easy and cute at the same time!
Oly Momma says
I love this! Thank you so much, it’s now pinned and I can’t wait to make it for someone for a birthday or Christmas. Thanks again for sharing. – Jess at OlyMomma
Kara @ Mine for the Making says
Absolutely adorable!! Love this bracelet 🙂
Would love it if you would link this up to my new diy fashion linky party called DIY Diva Thursdays. We party until Monday 🙂
Kara
http://www.mineforthemaking.com
Jess@Balancing The Dream says
super super cute!! thanks for sharing!!
kamsnaps.com says
It’s amazing how something so simple and basic and look so fabulous with the right pairing. Thank you for sharing! Judy @ KAMsnaps.com
Angelica May says
Really pretty. Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://lovethismakethis.blogspot.com.au