Candy Cane

Earn Your Fashion Stripes By Creating Corinne Bradd’s Pretty Fabric Bangle Designs

Corinne Bradd, MJ Designer

Double-sided tape and water is not a good mix. Your bracelets will survive a few raindrops, but not a dip in the pool or the washing up bowl!

Embroidery thread comes in hundreds of shades, making it easy to match accessories with any outfit. We’ve used pretty pastel ribbons and threads in ice cream shades to create this collection of beautiful bangles. Wear one on its own or all at once, perfect for summer picnics or gatherings in the garden. Meanwhile studs and rhinestones add a touch of sophistication. Combine metallic or iridescent thread for added sparkle.

Diamanté Bangle

1. Cut a piece of cotton floral fabric twice the width of a medium bangle and slightly longer than the circumference. Stitch the raw edges together with slip stitch inside the bangle, folding under the raw edge at the end of the strip.
2. Split a length of embroidery thread in half and stitch five times around the bracelet to make a band of thread. Move 7mm along and repeat. Continue to make bands of cotton all around the circumference. Knot another length of thread and insert the needle into the fabric under one of the bands. Wrap the thread twice around the strands and stitch back into the fabric, bringing the needle out underneath the next band along. Wrap all the strands in this way.
3. Cut a second narrow strip of fabric and place a length of double-sided tape along the middle of the wrong side. Fold the edges over the tape to create a neat strip and fix inside the bangle with more double-sided tape to cover all raw edges. Use strong sewing thread to stitch 6mm claw set rhinestones to the centre of the bangle between each cotton band, passing the thread under the fabric to the next space each time.

Gingham Bangle

1. Sew a length of gingham ribbon around a narrow bangle. Use slip stitch to secure the two sides of the ribbon together on the inside and fold under the raw edge where the ribbon
2. Cut two lengths of crochet lace slightly longer than the circumference of the bangle. Over sew the two straight long sides together ensuring the picots on the outer edges line up with each other.
3. Position the lace so the seam sits inside the bangle and sew the picots together around the bracelet using a 4mm gold bead on each stitch. Pull the thread tight to stretch the lace and give a neat finish. Tidy the ends by over sewing the gingham ribbon below.

Pink Bangle

1. Secure a length of double-sided tape to the inside of a narrow bangle. Using variegated thread, fix the end inside the bracelet and begin wrapping tightly around the band, covering the end as you go. Continue working your way around the bracelet, securing the yarn at the end with glue smoothed into the fibres.

Beaded Bangle

1. Fix double-sided tape inside a narrow bangle. Begin wrapping striped ribbon around the circumference at an angle to cover the base completely. Secure the end with more tape or glue. Cut a length of spotty ribbon slightly longer than the circumference of the bracelet.
2. Trim ricrac to the same length and place on top. Stitch the two braids together, incorporating seed beads at the same time. Wrap the beaded ribbon around the bracelet and slip stitch each side to the striped base to hold in place.

Studded Bangle

1. Cut a piece of cotton fabric twice the width of a wide bangle and slightly longer than the circumference. Secure the fabric on the outside of the band with double-sided tape and fix the raw edges inside with glue.
2. Cut a second, narrow strip of fabric with pinking shears to prevent fraying and glue this over the raw edges on the inside. Dot PVA along both edges of the bracelet and fix alternating colours of flat backed ‘nail head’ studs in place.

Green Bangle

1. Fix a length of double-sided tape on the inside of a medium width bangle and remove the backing paper. Cut three 50cm lengths of co-ordinating embroidery thread and hold one end of each piece against the tape.
2. Begin tightly wrapping the coloured cottons around the bangle, covering the ends as you go. Ensure that you hold the threads so they fall in the correct order each time, forming a neat, striped design.
3. Tie new lengths of thread to the ends of the wrapped ones as necessary, making sure the knots fall inside the bracelet and the loose ends can be hidden by the next few wraps. Continue until the entire bracelet is covered and secure the tails with a dot of glue smoothed into the threads with a fingertip.