craftgrrl | more beer can stuff (Reply)

here's my take on the beer can cuff that's been floating around....

i liked the one from craftser, but i was worried that it wouldn't hold up all that well over time, cause aluminum is pretty fragile. their instructions just basically cut the aluminum to wrap around your wrist, but i thought that taking it on and off all the time would bend it and weaken it. so i made this instead.

CAUTION: lots of images behind the cut, cause i made up a tutorial.

You need:
-leather or suede (i go to the thrift store and buy old leather skirts and and pants)
-2 small d-rings
-beer can
-sewing machine
-scissors (i used a rotary cutter for the leather, but you don't have to)
-knife

*** all of the measurements are for a wrist that is aprox 8# around***

first, take the can and use the knife to carefully cut off the top and bottom.

use your scissors to cut down the can, then unroll it to make a rectangle.

then cut a piece out of the can that is 3.25# x 1.5#, with image centered. i found it easier to use a pencil to score the lines before i cut them, just to keep it straight, but i'm a perfectionist.

then cut the leather in a strip that is 2.25# x 8#. (if your wrist is smaller than 8# around, cut this strip a bit smaller) from that strip cut two pieces that are 2.25# x .75#.

then take each of the little pieces and fold them around the 1.5# ends of the beer can.

use your sewing machine with a denim or leather needle set to about 2.5 stitch length to sew those pieces on.

now centre the beer can on the larger piece of leather and fold the edges over. use clothespins to hold the fold in place (pins will make holes in the leather)

sew down both sides. this pictures shows how it will look.

now cut 2 more strips of leather, one that is 1# x 1.5# and one that is 1# x 5# (at least, if your wrist is bigger, you should make this longer). fold the piece that is 1.5# long in half and put the d-rings in the fold. then sew the ends to one end of the bracelet. on the other end of the bracelet sew the 5# strip on. you can use your scissors to make the end curved like in the picture.

please excuse how wierd my wrist looks, it's hard to take pictures of your own wrist!

the end result!

and close up, cause i love the beer can.

i highly suggest making a few samples before you use the can you actually wanna wear! i really like my end result, but i threw out the canadian one and i will never ever wear the green ginger-ale one. i used contrasting thread on it so that you could see how i stitched it, but i don't like it at all! i really wanna make one of these with snaps, but i don't have any, so i compromised.

EDITED TO FIX THE PICTURES! sorry everyone! i'm now trying photobucket.