Last week I shared with you how to make the DIY floating mermaid seashell bra top, which was a really fun project!
And today, I want to make this armband that looks like curly seaweed to accessorize our mermaid costume.
It’s so fun and easy! Let’s get started!
To make this DIY seaweed armband, you need:
50cm x 50cm (20in x 20in) of organza fabric – I’m using green and purple organza to match my bra top and skirt.
50cm x 10cm (20in x 4in) of stretch fabric – I’m using this nude fabric here, but leftover stretch fabric from your bra top or mermaid skirt would be fine and cute as well.
50cm (20in) of 2.5cm (1in) wide elastic
30cm (12in) of 1cm (3/8in) wide elastic – this is optional but it helps keep the armband up.
40lb fishing line – this is optional, but it helps define the curls. I’ll show you how to do that in a minute!
How to Make DIY Seaweed Armband for Mermaid Costume
First, fold your organza twice like this, and measure 15cm (6in) from the corner. Cut along the marks, and you have a 30cm (12in) wide circle.
Now draw a swirl from the outer line to the center. I’m keeping the distance between the lines about 7cm (2 3/4in). Cut along the line, and trim off this thick part near the beginning of the swirl. And you have this long curly strip. You can trim it to whatever length you like.
I made another one in purple, and this one is also a 30cm (12in) wide circle, but the distance between the swirl lines is narrower, about 5cm (2in). When you make the distance narrower, you get a longer strip.
Now finish the inside edge of the swirl. I did a simple zigzag stitch along the inside edge, and you can finish the outside edge the same way, or use fishing line for more defined curls. Let me show you how to do that.
On the wrong side of the strip, place the fishing line about 2mm (1/8in) from the outer edge of the strip. The outer edge is the longer, curlier edge.
Wrap the fishing line with the fabric like this, and leave a 20cm (8in) tail here.
Take it to your sewing machine, and do a zigzag stitch over this wrapped fishing line. Make sure the thread encases the fishing line wrapped in fabric. Continue to wrap and sew the entire length.
And now as you can see, the curls are more defined and three-dimensional! You can see a more detailed instruction on how to do this in my lettuce hem tutorial.
Repeat for the other strip.
Now let’s make the armband.
First, wrap the elastic around your upper arm and make it snug and tight. Give it extra 2cm (3/4in) and cut.
Then take your stretch fabric, and cut it into a strip that is the same length as the elastic and 7cm (2 3/4in) wide.
Fold 1cm (3/8in) from the bottom edge towards the wrong side, and bring your strips. Trim off excess fishing line, and place the corners of your seaweed strips right in the middle. Overlap the strips and fabric by at least 2cm (3/4in).
Then fold 1cm (3/8in) from the top edge and bring that fold down to meet the bottom fold.
Match up the folded edges, and do a zigzag stitch here.
Insert your elastic through this tube. I’m using a safety pin to guide the elastic here.
And pull out the elastic and overlap the ends about 2cm (3/4in) and sew the ends together.
Smooth out the fabric so that the ends are on the opposite side of the seaweed strips, and overlap the ends. Fold the edge of the top layer inside so it looks nice and clean. Do a straight stitch to secure the fabric in place.
And here’s a little trick that keeps your arm band in place. Take the thinner elastic, and cut it to the length that’s a little shorter than the armband. Sew the ends together.
And attach it to the inside of the armband at 4 points like this. The thinner elastic will be tighter and helps keep the armband in place but it’s hidden on the inside of the thicker armband, so the bumps won’t show on your arm.
Then make a wristband in a similar way except you don’t sew in the strips. Just make the band, and sew the other ends of the strips to it. I left the tail of the longer strip so it sort of hangs and floats from the wrist.
Decorate the armband if you like, and your seaweed armband is complete! Also, I made shorter strips out of leftover fabric, and placed the ends of the strips in a hair clip and clipped it to my hair. Now I can wear a little matching seaweed on my hair as well!
This was a very easy project, but the 2 colors of the seaweed strips tie the mermaid bra top and skirt together and the armband really completes the whole outfit! And of course, the curly strips float beautifully as you move your arm!
And if you’re curious about the bodystocking I’m wearing here, you can learn to make your own!
Click here to learn & make your own bodystocking 🙂
I hope you liked this DIY seaweed armband tutorial, and if you did, please share this tutorial with your friends! And make a whole bunch together!
And next week, I’ll show you how to make this cute & easy mermaid skirt to complete the mermaid costume.
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Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!
P.S. Pin this image for your costume accessory board! 🙂
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