#myog: Adding Watch Cutout to Mid Layer
On colder days, I’ve been running in a mid-layer but often I found my wrist exposed with my sleeve rolled up in order to see my watch face. To solve this, I modified my Senchi Designs Alpha 120 hoodie with a cutout, allowing me to view my watch face while keeping my sleeve covering my arm.
Materials
- Senchi Designs 120 Alpha Hoodie
- Garmin Enduro 3 (51mm) - Used to measure the cut out
- 2 strips of stretch mesh (12 x 5 cm each) - Used for the lining the edges. Had some leftover from a previous project
- Wonder tape - Used to temporarily bond the stretch mesh to the fabric for ease of stitching.
The cut out
For the cut out, I had two options: cut vertically or horizontally. Since I wanted a snug fit around my watch, I decided a vertical cut that is perpendicular to my arm would be most ideal. I noticed that similar designs are used by brands like Path Projects.
To determine the best placement, I put on my watch, rolled the sleeve down, and estimated where I typically wear it.
Recently, I’ve been wearing my watch higher up on my arm, just above the wrist bone, to get a more accurate heart rate measurement.
Next, I measured the length needed for the watch face to fit comfortably. I decided a 5 cm cut on each side of the watch would allow it to be comfortably exposed through the cut out.
Stretch mesh
To create a snug fit and prevent the edges from fraying, I wrapped the cut edges with a soft, stretchy mesh. I cut two pieces (12 cm by 5 cm), which includes 2 cm extra to ensure they would overlap during the final stitch allowing for the cut points to be reinforced.
Preparing to stitch
To keep the stretch mesh and fabric aligned, I used Wonder Tape, a dissolvable adhesive tape that temporarily bonds the two fabrics.
I then used clips to secure the mesh along the fabric’s edge.
First stitch: Zigzag stitch around cut edges
I used a zigzag stitch, which is commonly used to allow fabrics to stretch, and chose a 4.5mm stitch width.
When lining up the stitch, I found it’s best to place it right on the edge of the stretch mesh to prevent the fabric from lifting.
Second stitch: Reinforce the cut points
After completing the first stitch, I overlapped the stretch mesh at the intersection of the cut points and added a reinforcing stitch to strengthen the areas that will experience the most tension during use.
Final thoughts
Here’s a final look during a test run. The stretch lining helps secure the fabric around the watch, and sometimes, I pull the edges around the watch strap hooks for extra stability.
Thanks for reading!