Adding a Watch Cutout to a Mid-Layer

On colder runs I kept rolling my sleeve up to check my watch, leaving my wrist exposed to the wind. The fix: a stretch-mesh cutout on my Senchi Designs Alpha 120 hoodie that lets me see the screen without bunching up the sleeve. It took about 30 minutes and a few scraps of mesh.

Polartec Alpha Direct is an active-insulation fleece: lofted fibers held on an exposed, open-knit backing so it breathes far better than a solid fleece. That open structure is why the fabric dumps heat fast when you push the pace, and also why a small window cut into it barely disturbs how the garment works. The "120" is the fabric weight in grams per square meter.

The cutout

The opening is a cross-shaped cut: two perpendicular slits that form a + in the fabric. When you push the watch through, the four flaps fold back and the binding holds them flat against the sleeve. Path Projects uses a similar window on their Pyrenees hooded tee.

To find the right placement, I put my watch on, rolled the sleeve down, and marked where the center of the face sat. I wear mine just above the wrist bone for better heart-rate accuracy, so the cutout sits a few centimeters higher than you might expect.

Each arm of the cross is about 5 cm from center, giving the 51 mm Garmin case enough clearance to pass through without catching on the bezel.

Stretch binding

To prevent fraying and give the opening some structure, I wrapped each cut edge with stretch knit binding. It folds over the raw edge like bias tape, encasing it completely. Each strip is 12 × 5 cm: 10 cm to cover the cut length plus 2 cm of overlap at the center intersection, which gets reinforced later.

Preparing to stitch

Wonder Tape holds the binding in place while you stitch. It dissolves in the first wash, so it won't leave residue or stiffness. Fold the binding over the raw edge, press it down with tape on the inside, then clip along the length to keep everything from shifting under the presser foot.

First stitch: zigzag around the cut edges

A zigzag stitch lets the fabric stretch without popping threads. I set the machine to a 4.5 mm stitch width and 2.5 mm stitch length, which gives good coverage on both the binding and the Alpha Direct without puckering. Stitch through all layers (binding, flap, binding) so the fold-over is locked in place on both sides.

Second stitch: reinforce the cut points

The center of the cross where the two binding strips meet takes the most stress when you push the watch through. I overlapped the binding ends at the intersection and ran a short reinforcing zigzag (same settings) over each corner. This locks everything together and prevents the cuts from extending further over time.

Final thoughts

After a few weeks of running with this mod, it's held up well. The binding creates a snug frame around the watch case, and on colder days I tuck the flaps under the strap hooks for extra hold.

Thanks for reading. If you have questions or want to share your own mod, drop me a message on Instagram: @andrewtpham or get in touch.