How to sew chunky fabric bangles?

[Chenango]

For a number of costumes I'd like to have chunky bangles, like the pink ones Elvira wears in this video: youtube (dot) com/watch?v=n-8r880oKr0 or these from Vesa: instagram (dot) com/p/BAphexvJ1Ee/?taken-by=vesahietala

I've seen dressmakers like Vesa and Flashdance post photos of these sorts of bangles, where they're really big but also soft (just buying a big plastic bangle and wrapping it in fabric isn't very comfortable), and where the fabric is neatly enclosed around everything with minimal seams.

I make my own costumes and thus would prefer to match bangles using the fabric I already have, so I'd like to learn to make these properly. I've seen the rigilene bangle tutorial from mindputtee which was immensely helpful when I wanted slimmer bracelets - I almost wonder if these are made with rigilene just like these, but then with batting wrapped around them. Thoughts?

 

[mindputtee]

No clue, I've made a pair of wide bangles like that to match my first dress and I made it with plastic bangles with lycra wrapped and hand stitched on. You could wrap a smaller plastic bangle in batting before wrapping it to give it some cushion, but I personally do not know any ready made materials that would be wide enough and the flexibility you are describing.

 

[s2k]

I paused the video at :33, and I wonder if the base is some type of foam, or even a mesh doughnut, like the one below, then wrapped in lycra, worn around the wrist. I have one; it's pretty sturdy for something so soft.

 

[nikkitta]

hmmm, you could be right. I bought a second-hand ballroom gown years ago and it came with a soft squishy stoned bracelet. The seller called it a "rhinestone bagel"

 

[ChaCha1]

Yum

 

[SwingingAlong]

My immediate reaction on seeing the bangles was you could use a hair donut as SK2 suggests. I don't know if others have looked at these closely, but they are easy to undo and remake into a variety of shapes. They are basically a tube of coarse mesh (think of a really coarse knee high stocking with the toe cut off) which is the rolled around itself and tacked to hold it together. You need good lighting you see the tacking to unpick it - but I'm sure if the original is too bulky (ie too tight for your wrist) it would be easy to unpick and cut in half. You get a pair for the price of one then! They are quite stretchy. I really like the idea - want to try to make some for my next project

 

[nikkitta]

mesh shower scrubbies/poofs can be similar if you take them apart

 

[SwingingAlong]

mesh shower scrubbies/poofs can be similar if you take them apart

yes, they would possibly be a bigger diameter as well which would be good for people who don't have tiny wrists. I just had a go at making one. The complete bun thing was too tight, but unrolling it and cutting it in half was good. I cut a lycra rectangle, with the short side equal to the outer circumference of the bun thing, the long side big enough to roll around twice, and a strip of 6mm elastic the same as my wrist. I sewed the elastic to one of the short sides, stretching it to fit, then sewed the long sides together, to form a tube. The tube then rolls neatly around the doughnut, with the elastic causing the last edge to gather neatly on the inner side of the rim. I would just need to tack it in place. There is only one visible seam that I showed on purpose on the top - I doubt it would be seen if you added sparklies! I like how it doesn't jiggle about

 

[s2k]

Awesome, SwingingAlong! And the application of stones would help camouflage any lumps or bumps of the mesh.

 

[theAnnelis]

Hey Chenango, don't know if you've already seen this, but it might help dancecompreview [dot] com/diy-ballroom-jewelry-rhinestone-bangles/

 

[mindputtee]

LOL that's actually my tutorial that she refers to in her first post. I submitted it to them to post on their website.

ETA: Though I regret not proofreading it and updating the language before sending it. Present-me cringes at some of past-me's language choices.