DIY Denim Watch Strap

A few weeks back I was trying to pair my denim with a cool watch and I just heard my little creative mind saying “how about making cool denim strap for my old no- so-cool watch??” and here I go…

Stuff needed:
1. Old Jeans that you are not wearing anymore.
2. Scissors that are sharp enough to cut through thick fabric like denim
3. Any rubber-based adhesive.
4. A fine tip marker
5. Some Card paper
6. Needle and thread, however, sewing is optional, but the stitches give a cool and nice look.
7. A Compass
8. Watch buckle that you can take off from your existing or old watch strap
9. And of course, your existing or old watch.

Let’s begin the magic….

1. Let’s make the longer strap first. For that we need to draw a template of standard 22mm watch strap, or else you can draw any dimension and design your choice.
2. Make sure that the width of the template rectangle drawn must be 3 times the width of your strap and additionally, there should be a small tab at the top, which will be folded in.
3. Cut out the template and transfer the drawing onto the backside (or the interior) of a piece of your jeans.

Time to stitch…
4. The stitching is needed to give the strap the classy look, and not actually required to hold the fabric together.
5. It is advisable to draw a straight line before you start sewing to ensure that the stitches are falling straight.
6. Once the sewing is over, cut the piece of denim to shape. The pointed tip of the watch strap will be cut later.

Let’s fold it and set it with glue….
7. Apply rubber-based adhesive or glue to one side of the cut-out and to the middle. Then, fold the side in onto the middle, and apply even pressure to ensure the firm hold.
8. Before folding in the other side, the little tab on the top has to be folded down, where the spring bar will be placed and will hold the watch strap to the lugs of the watch. Apply glue, fold down and stick the tab, ensuring that there is a hole at the top, through which the spring bar can pass.
9. Similarly, paste the other side.

Now cut the pointed tip…

10. Once the three layers of denim are pasted, let it dry. Then cut the tip of the strap to shape using sharp scissors.
11. Put a small drop of adhesive on the edges of the tip, and spread evenly, to prevent the threads from becoming loose and coming out.

You can also label it with right brand…

12. You can add the small Levi’s label or any brand label of your choice to the watch strap to make it look classier.
13. Carefully cut off the label from the back pocket of the old jeans and paste it using a drop of adhesive to the side of the watch strap. You can also do this step before folding in the side, which would sandwich the label in between two layers of the denim to keep it intact.

Let’s make a few holes on the strap….

14. Use the compass to make holes on the watch strap.
15. Be extremely careful while making the holes so that they will lie on the centerline of the strap, and also make sure that they are pierced equal distances apart.

Now it’s time for the Shorter Strap:

16. The process for making the shorter strap is exactly the same as the longer one. Take the paper template you made earlier, and draw the lines and cut along the line. Follow the same process as we did for the longer strap; transfer this drawing onto the back of a piece of denim. Then draw an outline to indicate sewing line and begin to sew, cut the denim to give a shape.
17. The shorter strap has the little tabs on both ends: one to hold the watch buckle, and the other, where it will hold the spring bar which connects the strap to the lugs of the watch.

18. Cut out a small hole on any one of the sides for the buckle will be inserted.

Making the loops…

19. For making the loops, you can take out the leather brand label from your jeans and cut it into thin strips.
20. Now make loops with these small bands and make sure that loops are big enough to accommodate both the straps.
21. Then sew the two ends of the strips to form the loops.
22. Attach these to the shorter strap either by sewing or sticking.
23. Attach the watch buckle, and fix the straps to your watch.
And you’re done….