Typists, seamstresses and others who perform repetitive work with their hands wear support bands. People who do a lot of lifting on the job or in a sport also wear support bands for weak wrists. Support bands can help relieve a lot of stress and pain due to strained wrist muscles. Consider seeking medical advice to address your specific needs. Make your own support band to relieve a weak wrist. Creating them yourself costs less and provides a larger choice of colors and prints. You could even make one for each day of the week.
Step 1
Measure the diameter of your wrist. Cut a piece of fabric to this length. Measure the width you want the support band to be. Begin the measurement just under your palm and extend toward your elbow. Many wrist bands are about 4 inches wide but yours can be any width you choose.
Step 2
Place the right sides of the fabric together while it is folded lengthwise. Machine stitch the long edges together. Stitch one end closed. Turn the band right side out. Tuck the raw edges of the open end inside the band and top stitch. Top stitch the remaining three sides.
Step 3
Determine the placement for the hook-and-loop tape. Put the band on and pull it taut. Mark the location where the end of the band overlaps the other end. Remove the band from your arm.
Step 4
Cut a short piece of sew-in hook-and-loop tape the same width as your support band by approximately 1 inch long. Machine stitch the hook side of the tape to the underside of the end of the band. Machine stitch the loop side to the opposite end of the band.
Step 5
Measure the distance from the edge of the support band under the palm, up between the thumb and forefinger and down the back of the hand to the other edge of the support band. Cut a piece of elastic to 1/2-inch shorter than this measurement.
Step 6
Sew the elastic to the edge of the support band that is just under the palm. Sew the other end of the elastic to the point of the band measured on the back of the hand. Wrap the band around your wrist and place your thumb in the elastic.
Tips and Warnings
- Use black elastic so dirt doesn't show.
- Don't make the wrap too tight on your wrist. This can cause muscular damage.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton and nylon blend fabric
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Fabric pencil
- Sew-in hook-and-loop tape
- Elastic
