Thimblenest Thursdays: Tutorial for an Embroidery Scissor Wrist Cuff

Greetings, Feeling Stitchy readers! I'm excited to bring you embroidery-related tutorials on Thimblenest Thursdays!

I'm sure spouses, children, and pets could testify that those of us who dabble in embroidery are prone to misplace needles from time to time. Having been guilty of that myself, I started getting a little worried recently when I also began misplacing my embroidery scissors. After finding myself sitting on them one too many times, I devised a way to keep them in a safer, more visible place on my person at all times--a wrist cuff!

Calculating Your Fabric/Notion Measurements

As you read through the following tutorial, please keep in mind that this cuff is based on my scissor and wrist/arm measurements. Obviously everyone has different sized arms and scissors, so you may need to adjust your fabric dimensions accordingly. 

For reference, my scissors are 1 5/8" x 3 5/8" (4 cm x 9 cm)--if your scissors are around that size, the pocket should probably work.

Most important is the wrist/forearm measurement; at the wrist, my arm circumference measured 6" (15 cm) . 

4 inches (10 cm) up my forearm (the height of the cuff), the circumference was 7" (17.8 cm). Based on the 7" measurement, I added 2" (5 cm) of overlap to be sure the cuff fit. 

To be sure your cuff will fit, follow this formula:

Forearm circumference (at largest part of arm where cuff will sit) + 2 inches (5 cm) = length to cut main fabric and interfacing.

From this point forward I'll be referring to the measurements I used to create my cuff. If your scissors are roughly the same size as mine, the only thing that will be different is the length/width of your cuff.

Let's do this!

Materials

• For main cuff 
• 2 pieces midweight cotton: 9" (23 cm) x 4" (10 cm)
• 1 piece lightweight iron-on interfacing: 9" (23 cm) x 4" (10 cm)
• double-fold bias tape
• 2 pieces 4" (10 cm) long
• 2 pieces 10" (25.5 cm) long (the length of the cuff + 1 inch (2.5 cm))
• For pocket
• 2 pieces midweight cotton: 2 3/4" (7 cm) x  3 1/4" (8.25 cm)
• 1 piece felt or thin batting: 2 3/4" (7 cm) x  3 1/4" (8.25 cm)
• double-fold bias tape
• 1 piece 4" (10 cm) long 
• 1 3" (7.5 cm) piece of Velcro
• Water soluble fabric marker
• Sewing pins or clips

Assembling the Main Cuff

Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of one main cuff piece. Place both cuff pieces with wrong sides together and sew around all four sides using a 1/8" (3.175 mm) seam allowance.

Sew the 4" (10 cm) bias tape to each short end of the main cuff. Then attach the 10" (25.5 cm) bias tape to the long edges; extend the extra length evenly over each end at the corners. Fold the raw edges in on themselves before sewing the bias tape down.

Your main cuff is complete!

Assembling the Pocket & Attaching to Cuff

Place the two cotton fabric pieces with right sides facing; lay the felt or batting piece on top of them.

Sew all three layers together using a scant 1/4" (6.35 mm) seam allowance, leaving one short side unstitched. Trim seam allowance close to stitching. Turn pocket right side out--cotton fabric should now be visible on both sides and felt/batting will be turned to inside. Push out corners and press entire pocket with a hot iron.

Apply remaining 4" (10 cm) piece of bias tape to top (open) edge of pocket, turning in raw ends. Center pocket on top of main cuff along bottom edge and stitch through all layers using a 1/8" (3.175 mm) seam allowance--leave top edge of pocket open!

Applying Velcro & Finishing Cuff

Try the cuff on--hold in place with pins or clips. Using the short end of the overflap as a guide to draw a line with the water soluble marker on the underflap. Your line will be at an angle because the cuff forms a cone as it wraps around your arm.

Place the loop side of the Velcro tape just inside the line you drew (following its angle) and sew in place.

Flip the cuff over and sew the hook side of the Velcro tape at the opposite end of the cuff. Remove the water soluble line.

Your cuff is finished!

Strap on the cuff and gather your scissors and needles (the padded pocket makes a nice little mini pincusion!). Your scissors can be worn either underneath or on top of your wrist and you can embroider in peace--no worries about sitting down on a sharp surprise!

How do you keep your embroidery scissors under control?