How Do I Make A Padded Watch Strap?

[landm42006]

Hello all. Well, I am attempting to step into the unknown (for me) and create padded watch straps, as illustrated in the picture attached. I believe that I am to use very thin leather to create the strap, but I am unsure as to what filler / padding is used to create that fullness.

I have seen padded straps in watches, purse straps and other leather handles, but I am unsure of how to go about achieving this visual effect.

In my previous attempts at making straps, it was pretty straightforward, and fun. Made the strap, burnished the edges and did my sewing.

This padded strap looks like the edges are "rounded over".

Anyone have any experience in constructing a strap such as this?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Semper Fi, Marty

[Spinner]

Hello all. Well, I am attempting to step into the unknown (for me) and create padded watch straps, as illustrated in the picture attached. I believe that I am to use very thin leather to create the strap, but I am unsure as to what filler / padding is used to create that fullness.

I have seen padded straps in watches, purse straps and other leather handles, but I am unsure of how to go about achieving this visual effect.

In my previous attempts at making straps, it was pretty straightforward, and fun. Made the strap, burnished the edges and did my sewing.

This padded strap looks like the edges are "rounded over".

Anyone have any experience in constructing a strap such as this?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Semper Fi, Marty

For the padding, I am guessing either very thin neoprene foam or quilter's batting.

Not quite sure on the construction without seeing the underside...

[mugwump]

how i did it before was to use foam just wide enough to to be stitched on both sides, and glued down on both sides with contact cement. the burnished the edges. it gave the 'puff' in the center, and the flatness from the stitching to the edge. hope the helps....

eric

how i did it before was to use foam just wide enough to to be stitched on both sides, and glued down on both sides with contact cement. the burnished the edges. it gave the 'puff' in the center, and the flatness from the stitching to the edge. hope the helps....

eric

p.s. i forgot to add, the foam i used was the craft foam that you can get in any michael's/ joanne's/craft store/etc.... it comes in either 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm.... i used two 1mm sheets for my straps.

[Spinner]

p.s. i forgot to add, the foam i used was the craft foam that you can get in any michael's/ joanne's/craft store/etc.... it comes in either 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm.... i used two 1mm sheets for my straps.

Yep, that's the stuff I was thinking of...couldn't remember where I had seen it.

[landm42006]

Sweet. Will give Michaels a visit this weekend.

Regards and S/F Marty

[CalgaryJim]

I am having a heck of a time trying to make padded watch straps. I’ve used natural veg tan as padding, and just now I received some Luigi Carnevali - Microfibra Reinforcement from RMLS, I made it narrower than the straps but can’t get the leather to conform (flatten) enough at the sides in order to stitch the top layer and lining together. I’m using a stainless steel bone too. Maybe I need to use a thinner leather on top, or softer leather than the Minerva or Cordovan calf that I’ve tried. Any and all tips are welcomed.

[DieselTech]

23 minutes ago, CalgaryJim said:

I am having a heck of a time trying to make padded watch straps. I’ve used natural veg tan as padding, and just now I received some Luigi Carnevali - Microfibra Reinforcement from RMLS, I made it narrower than the straps but can’t get the leather to conform (flatten) enough at the sides in order to stitch the top layer and lining together. I’m using a stainless steel bone too. Maybe I need to use a thinner leather on top, or softer leather than the Minerva or Cordovan calf that I’ve tried. Any and all tips are welcomed.

Will the glue at the edges not hold the 2 strap pieces together to sew it? Or are you not using any type of glue. 

I think the Oslo or Saba might have been better padding choices. 

How thick is your top piece of leather. Is it still around 4-5oz thickness or thin like 2-3oz leather? 

I have never made a padded watch strap but been meaning to give it a go. 

[CalgaryJim]

19 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Will the glue at the edges not hold the 2 strap pieces together to sew it? Or are you not using any type of glue. 

I think the Oslo or Saba might have been better padding choices. 

How thick is your top piece of leather. Is it still around 4-5oz thickness or thin like 2-3oz leather? 

I have never made a padded watch strap but been meaning to give it a go. 

In order to have the strap conform properly to then stitch, from every video I’ve seen, you need to press the leather down with a bone first. But maybe clamping the sides would work also. 
 

I just realized what you are see is Salpa, it’s on top of the Microfibra, I added it because the latter didn’t provide enough thickness. I could try Salpa only though, or use natural veg tan leather which I tried once before with some success. I also bought some Saba but it’s very soft, I don’t think it would have the body I would like. 

 

The leathers I use are 1.0mm thick, not sure what that translates to in ounces. The Cordovan calf leather is quite strong, that’s likely why I couldn’t get it to form, maybe I should try making the straps much wider, then form and stitch, then trim to shape. Or just make padded straps with softer veg tan leathers. I don’t want to have it thinner than 1.0mm though for concern about strength.

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, CalgaryJim said:

In order to have the strap conform properly to then stitch, from every video I’ve seen, you need to press the leather down with a bone first. But maybe clamping the sides would work also. 
 

I just realized what you are see is Salpa, it’s on top of the Microfibra, I added it because the latter didn’t provide enough thickness. I could try Salpa only though, or use natural veg tan leather which I tried once before with some success. I also bought some Saba but it’s very soft, I don’t think it would have the body I would like. 

 

The leathers I use are 1.0mm thick, not sure what that translates to in ounces. The Cordovan calf leather is quite strong, that’s likely why I couldn’t get it to form, maybe I should try making the straps much wider, then form and stitch, then trim to shape. Or just make padded straps with softer veg tan leathers. I don’t want to have it thinner than 1.0mm though for concern about strength.

Sounds good. I know padded dog collars I've seen made, are made oversized. Then they are cut to width & then stitched. 

I have been wanting to try some of the Cordovan Calf. It's pretty pricey if I remember correctly. 

[CalgaryJim]

5 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Sounds good. I know padded dog collars I've seen made, are made oversized. Then they are cut to width & then stitched. 

I have been wanting to try some of the Cordovan Calf. It's pretty pricey if I remember correctly. 

Good to know about the dog collars, thanks.

 

The Cordovan calf is more expensive than other leathers I’ve bought but not nearly as expensive as shell cordovan. I have straps made from Shinki Shell Cordovan, I quite like their finish. The Cordovan calf so far looks very similar. I don’t use much leather to make watch straps so the price is fine for me…even with my two failures using it so far. Hopefully my current attempt, gluing the Velodon with two layers of Barge cement, holds. And I’m skipping the padding too.

 

[RockyAussie]

 

 

On 8/19/2010 at 3:08 AM, landm42006 said:

Hello all. Well, I am attempting to step into the unknown (for me) and create padded watch straps, as illustrated in the picture attached. I believe that I am to use very thin leather to create the strap, but I am unsure as to what filler / padding is used to create that fullness.

I have seen padded straps in watches, purse straps and other leather handles, but I am unsure of how to go about achieving this visual effect.

In my previous attempts at making straps, it was pretty straightforward, and fun. Made the strap, burnished the edges and did my sewing.

This padded strap looks like the edges are "rounded over".

Anyone have any experience in constructing a strap such as this?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Semper Fi, Marty

The picture does not show it well perhaps but I would be pretty sure this is made with folded edges over a shaped eva rubber. (EVA can be shaped with heat) I have made plenty of watch straps with folded edges and edge painted edges as well. The folded edges type have the top leather cut wide enough to tuck under a firm veg by about 4 to 5mm. The folded part gets taper skived quite a lot. The tongue tip get trimmed a lot closer to avoid too much bulk at that point. The foam as shown in the picture would be done to the full width of the strap and attached to the veg before the upper leather gets connected. This crappy old picture shows some of the folded strap versions I have made in the past but not with the bulged edges, just the center part.

The next picture shows a heavily padded watchband but with edge painted edges.

Edited November 12, 2024 by RockyAussie