Upcycled Towels turned Festival Wristbands

Upcycled Towels Turned Trendy: Make Your Own Wrist Sweatbands

Upcycled towels have never looked so cool! Turn them into functional and stylish wrist sweatbands that are perfect for festivals, workouts, or sunny summer days. Not only do these DIY sweatbands help wick away moisture, but they add a fun, personal touch to your outfit. Made from soft and absorbent terry cloth, they’re comfy enough to wear all day and even better, you can customize them using your Brother sewing and embroidery machine. This beginner-friendly project is a great way to use what you already have and make something creative for yourself or your whole festival crew!

Supplies:

• A sewing and embroidery machine.
• An old towel
• 1”-2” thick elastic
• Medium-weight stabilizer,
• Water-soluble topping stabilizer
• Rotary cutter and straight edge
• Scissors
• Marking chalk
• Straight pins

Let’s make it!

First Hoop the towel using a medium-weight stabilizer, and a water-soluble stabilizer on the top to keep the stitches from sinking into the terrycloth.

Get create and personalize your sweatband. Decided on a statement word or fun symbol to add to your wristband. Pick words that best describe you, your friends, or the festival you’re attending.

Place a mark on the towel where you want the embroidery and start the process. Measure and mark the size of the wristband on the towel before you embroider to ensure you are getting the proper design size. In this case, the wristband is 3” x 6” which means you need to mark a 6” width and 7” length. Place the embroidery design in the middle.

After embroidering, gently tear the water-soluble stabilizer away from the top. And trim or cutaway the stabilizer on the back.

Next do the final measurements and cut the towel. Because the wristband is 3” wide cut the towel to 6” for the width. We will be adding elastic to the backside of the band for stretch so cut the length 7”.

Fold the embroidered fabric band in half lengthwise with the right sides facing each other and sew the edges together.  Turn the band right side out.

To ensure the wristband can stretch over your hand on fit snuggly on your wrist, cut two pieces of elastic about 3” long.

Back on your wristband, turn the raw edges of the band in then place one end the elastic inside the opening of the folded in end and pin in place.  Do the same with the second piece of elastic.

Note: if you are using a 3” piece of elastic you will only cut one to add to the wristband.

Topstitch the elastic in place on one side of the wristband.

Pin the second side of the band with the elastic inserted and sew the elastic pieces in place.

Turn the band right side out slide it on your wrist and you have a personalized, recycled towel wristband!

Don’t sweat it, personalize your own wristband with this easy sewing project! We’ll see you at Lollapalooza!

Want more festival style ideas? How about making your own micro purse!!