I did a thing
I found an old pair of jeans in the study a few months ago and I thought, "hey, wouldn't that make a nice watch strap?" Then I started making a watch strap. With limited knowledge both on making straps and operating a sewing machine, it proved difficult. I finally figured out a design that could use an old deployant clasp from a bag of junk watches that I have. I had one half of the strap done before I had to call it a day. That day was at least three months ago. I got busy and lost motivation to do the project, until last night, when I decided that I'd make the last three stitches and finish the strap.
Except my mom did most of that. I had long since forgotten how a sewing machine and a needle works, so I had to be taught again. Finally, here it is. Underwhelming, I know, but for a first prototype, I love it. It's not meant to be perfect, it's meant to be casual and emulate the look of the Camy Jeans Vogue watches of the 70s.
Here's one from eBay, although mine is a quintillion times better because it's handmade with top-quality materials.
It's also one of those sentimental things, it serves as a monument to some time well-spent with my mother as we both shared the frustration of the sewing machine's tensioner thingy not behaving itself. At least I now have an idea of how this sort of thing works, so I might decide to attempt it again (if I feel like suffering) with another material (I fancy canvas, but I don't really have a watch that goes with canvas) or simply more jeans, as there's still a lot of material left to work with. I am no master of the stitch, so if anyone is, any and all suggestions are welcome and much appreciated. The next version will probably include some form of padding and maybe better stitching, assuming I even decide to do this again.
One bonus that I actually forgot to mention is that this strap can fit watches from 16mm to 18mm without looking too weird. Leather normally pinches or wrinkles if it's too wide for a watch's lugs, but the effect is a lot less noticeable on fabric.
A famous Dutch saying: “𝘕𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘣 𝘫𝘦, 𝘫𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯 𝘫𝘦 𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘫𝘨𝘦𝘯.”
Pretty cool. Vario sells fabric watch bands. I have been looking at some of theirs but I really like the idea of a band made out of old jeans. I may have to haul out the sewing machine and try it out. If you decide to try another one, maybe top stitching with orange thread to mimic the look of Levi's?
Well done and looks great, works with that watch, thinking outside the box !
Pretty cool. Vario sells fabric watch bands. I have been looking at some of theirs but I really like the idea of a band made out of old jeans. I may have to haul out the sewing machine and try it out. If you decide to try another one, maybe top stitching with orange thread to mimic the look of Levi's?
That sounds like an awesome idea!
Well done and looks great, works with that watch, thinking outside the box !
Thank you!
Well attempted & for a first attempt it looks great!
If you do try again, maybe use an insert of a stiffer but still flexible material. Like maybe a silicone strap pared down.
And also, maker extraordinaire Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame has said he typically has to build new ideas 3 times before he's happy with them.
Well attempted & for a first attempt it looks great!
If you do try again, maybe use an insert of a stiffer but still flexible material. Like maybe a silicone strap pared down.
And also, maker extraordinaire Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame has said he typically has to build new ideas 3 times before he's happy with them.
Ding ding ding, I was just going to ask if fusing was used, as it, in conjunction with pressing, should impart a more defined and crisp shape.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds the thread tension adjustment to be a hopeless affair. I burn through a bobbin and never get it really right.
Were you to edge stitch next time, I know I've seen thread sold that is expressly meant to match that orange blue jean thread. And then you'd have to play around to get an authentic looking stitch length...
To get really into the weeds, I see that the twill pattern orientation on the example watch is different than on yours. I'd hope you and your mother knew that trick to find which direction has give and not use that for the length. That's another thing I never really mastered.
I think it looks great and it probably is very comfortable. Enjoy my friend
Well attempted & for a first attempt it looks great!
If you do try again, maybe use an insert of a stiffer but still flexible material. Like maybe a silicone strap pared down.
And also, maker extraordinaire Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame has said he typically has to build new ideas 3 times before he's happy with them.
Thank you! Adam Savage is a hundred per cent correct there; I have the draft completed, now I need to edit it and make the final.
Ding ding ding, I was just going to ask if fusing was used, as it, in conjunction with pressing, should impart a more defined and crisp shape.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds the thread tension adjustment to be a hopeless affair. I burn through a bobbin and never get it really right.
Were you to edge stitch next time, I know I've seen thread sold that is expressly meant to match that orange blue jean thread. And then you'd have to play around to get an authentic looking stitch length...
To get really into the weeds, I see that the twill pattern orientation on the example watch is different than on yours. I'd hope you and your mother knew that trick to find which direction has give and not use that for the length. That's another thing I never really mastered.
Thanks for the advice, you've given me exactly the things I was looking for. I think I want to do this again.
I think it looks great and it probably is very comfortable. Enjoy my friend
Thanks! It gets hot in the summer though, but it's not too bad. It's definitely not something one sees every day!
Clever! Can’t put a price on those memories, I’m sure it will be cherished for time to come
Clever! Can’t put a price on those memories, I’m sure it will be cherished for time to come
It sure will!
10/10 to the final product. Looks great!
10/10 to the final product. Looks great!
Thanks!
It looks pretty good. This is not meant as a criticism of the job you did (way beyond my skill and/or patience) but let's face it, that Camy would still look good if you ran a piece of grey duct tape through the lugs.
It looks pretty good. This is not meant as a criticism of the job you did (way beyond my skill and/or patience) but let's face it, that Camy would still look good if you ran a piece of grey duct tape through the lugs.
I see where you're coming from. That watch is a literal aphrodisiac.