Skitch-I-Y: Balmain f/w 11' inspired textured cuff bracelet

So, I decided to make something that Decarnin would have added to his last collection had he included more accessories to it. So I gathered up some materials that reminded me of the different textures and color tones included and dreamed up a textured cuff bracelet. 

scissors, thread and needle, pins, fabric wax markers, ruler, velcro

Here's what I used:

Fabrics, trims, zipper, embellishments and beads

• Scissors
• Thread and needle, sewing machine
• Pins
• Fabric wax marker
• Ruler
• Velcro
• Fabric scraps and trimmings in different colors and textures (as many as you'd like)
• 7" regular zipper (optional)
• Fabric glue (optional)
• Embellishments, beads and/or charms (optional)

For my cuff, the fabrics I used were black poppy, champagne/pewter lamé and a splattered print cotton. I also used some gold trim that gave the bracelet its structure, some black woven ribbon and a black 7" zipper. For embellishments I used a tiger eye charm and I clasped together some feathers with those tiny metal clasps shown there.

Step 1: Choose your fabrics and/or trims (around 4-6 different fabrics/textures should do). Cut them about 7" long (the same size as the zipper in my case). I like to cut them around the border of the fabric because the texture really resembles the ones in the Balmain collection. The fabric that you will use last you will have to cut it double it's width. Let's say I want my cuff to be about 3" in height and more or less 6.5" long. On the fabric I mark with the fabric marker the rectangle that will be the cuff and on each 7" side you will add 5/8 of an inch.  So your final pattern for your fabrics will be 4 1/4" x 7", except for the fabric you will use on the backside which will be 8 1/2" x 7". 

My fabrics in order and the separation between them.

Step 2: Once you've cut your fabrics, choose the order you want them to be in. Here's a picture of how mine ended up like. After arranging that in order, take every fabric rectangle and pin both borders back up to where you made your marks. You'll sew those neatly by machine or by hand. If you chose to use parts of the fabric border, you will not have to fold that side back because you'll have a nice fringe left. As you fold them, you'll notice you'll have to fold back some more than others (depending on the order you put them). As you can see in the picture, the black fabric was the one I cut double in height and folded in half, the spotted cotton was placed about half an inch below that and I had to sew a seam, the champagne lamé went after that and I only had to fold one side down since I used the border of the fabric but I had to fold it a bit more than the spotted one. After that I layered over them the gold trim, the black ribbon and the zipper.

Backside of the cuff. Sewed all the fabrics and trims together .

Step 3: After pinning in order your fabrics and having sewed the borders, sew them together. You'll notice how I sewed them all in three different points where all the fabrics met and very neatly at the bottom border. Keep the sewing clean and straight.

Step 4: After sewing the fabrics together, measure the length of the cuff around your wrist and mark off the excess. Cut it off and then take two fabric strips about half an inch wide and 8 1/2" long, wrap them around the endings, and sew them along the width of the border to close off the seams. After sewing that trim, sew or glue on two velcro pieces on each respective end (one facing the front of the cuff and one on the back of the cuff so they can close neatly). If you want, you can sew the velcro at the same time you sew the trim, just remember to change the needle of the machine to a sturdier one just in case it's too thick for the needle to go through.

Step 5: You're done! If you want to add any embellishments or charms to the cuff, take the zipper and open it halfway through. That way it'll be hanging in the center of the cuff. Hang on to the zipper clasp any embellishments you'd like. As you can see, I added some feathers and a tiger eye bead to make it unique. I just took a bunch of feathers and pinned them tight in the metal clasp I showed you guys before and hung it on the zipper clasp.

Now you've got a unique cuff inspired by Balmain f/w 11'! If you choose your colors right, you can add it to any outfit to give your accessories a twist, or you can just make as many as you want and have one in a different color and different textures. Good luck skitching, my dears!