As you may know - I've been bleating about it enough - I decided to give up alcohol for the the not so jolly month of January. So instead of enjoying a glass of wine whilst cooking, or watching TV... or breathing, I have been drinking virtuous 'Mock'-tails and cordial with LOTS of fizzy water.
I've accumulated a fair few plastic bottles even in the past seven days as you can imagine. I couldn't possibly let them languish in the recycling bin without an attempt at using them up, now could I?
So here, for your delectation and delight, is my Easy Peasy Upcycled Bangle Tutorial!
You will need;
1 plastic 1 ltr cordial bottle.
1 felt pen (sharpie's are good)
1 pair sharp kitchen scissors
1 pair Fabric scissors - not the same as above or you'll blunt these.
A smidgen of masking tape or Sellotape
1 Strip of medium weight fabric (cotton) 50cm x 7cm approx.
1 needle and some thread.
A sewing machine. - if you don't have one you can hand sew using small running stitch.
1 clothes peg
1. Mark around the bottle. Pierce it and cut along markings
2. Cut a 3cm wide ring from the bottle. Cut through the ring so it opens out. I was able to get 6 rings from a cordial and a washing up bottle (see below)
3. Cut a strip of fabric 50cm x 7cm. If you want a wider bangle then the formula is width x 2 + 1cm + 1cm. The 1 cm is for the seam allowance. So a 5cm wide bangle will need a strip of fabric that is 50 cm x 12 cm. Get it? Just trust me.
4. Right side of the fabric facing down, press one short edge over (towards you).
5. Then (still with right side facing down) fold the fabric towards you and press along the middle.
6. Open the fabric out completely - including the short pressed edge - and pin the long edge right sides together. Machine stitch the long edge just under 1 cm (8 or 9 mm) in. Note: It doesn't matter what colour thread you use - no one will see it!
7. Trim the seam to half its width. Just makes it neater and the next bit is much easier.
8. Attach a safety pin to one end of the fabric
9. Use the safety pin to push through the opening. The fabric should turn as you shimmy up the inside. Magic!
10. Remember the short edge that you pressed? Well tuck that under and in and press the (now right way round) strip of fabric flat.
11. Grab your plastic strip. Snip or round the corners of one of the plastic ends so it doesn't 'snag'. Place the peg on the other end of the plastic and push the rounded edged end through the fabric 'tube'. Start at the fabric end that is folded under.
12. Now. Leave an opening so that you can see the plastic. Check that the bangle will go over your hand and then tape the ends securely. (I have large Sasquatch hands so I only overlapped slightly but you may need to check.)
A couple of layers of tape should do it.
13. Almost there - Eeeep! Guide the raw edge under the folded under edge. (You'll be glad you ironed it now!) Choose thread to match your fabric (if you have it) and slipstitch - small stitches on one half and then the other - the seam together. Doesn't have to be super neat. I did it in about 10 stitches inside and out.
14. That's IT! You're done! How long did you take?
Naturally I made a few more. I couldn't help myself!
Sasquatch hands modelling newly upcycled bangles. You like?
Do have a go. Use any fabric. Let me know how you get on!
You can sponsor me here when you've finished too if you like!
Only 3 weeks and 3 days to go! *gasp*