I hate running but gimmicky gadgets will get me to try anything and so I found myself looking forward to a jog around after I installed miCoach from adidas on my phone – it’s really cool and free so I do recommend giving it a try. This means I need my phone with me though and not hidden in a pocket since it needs GPS signals to let me know my speed and plot my route and things. Crochet to the rescue! My first attempt at an armband was just a stretchy band with a simple phone case sewn on. This worked ok but not great – It felt tight enough when I put it on but as I jogged up and down it shifted and felt too loose. This is my improved design with a long strap and velcro so you can pull it as tight as you like and if the crochet stretches or you lose weight or someone else wants to borrow it then you can just pull it a bit tighter. It also has an extra pocket for my keys.
What you will need:
*About 50g of DK weight yarn and a suitable sized hook (I used 4mm)
*A small amount of Velcro (you could use a loop and button to close but then it won’t be adjustable)
*A yarn needle for sewing the work and a regular needle and thread for sewing on the Velcro
*A metal or plastic ring for looping the strap through – I used one from the strap of an old bag – it is square and works fine but having used it a couple of times I think a circular one would be slightly better as it tends to twist.
*Knowledge of English crochet terms – have a look at the conversion chart for the American equivalents.
Step 1. Leaving a longish tail for sewing later, chain the length of your metal or plastic ring (if it’s circular then chain just less than the diameter). I chained 7.
Step 2. Ch1, turn, dc each stitch to the end of the row.
Repeat step 2 until the work is about 4cm (1.5″) long.
Step 3. Place your phone/mp3 player/ipod so that the work is in the centre of one edge and chain to reach the edge:
Step 4. ch1, turn, dc each stitch of the row. Now instead of turning chain until the total length of the work is twice that of your phone/ipod etc:
Step 5. ch1, turn, dc each stitch to the end of the row.
Repeat step 5 until the work is wide enough to cover your phone. If you would like an extra pocket for your keys etc then continue adding rows until the work is large enough.
Step 6. ch1, turn, dc each stitch until you reach the point opposite the end of the initial little tab.
Step 7. ch1, turn, dc the same number of stitches as you chained in step 1. You are creating a strap the same width as, and directly opposite the initial tab.
Repeat step 7 until you have a strap long enough to wrap completely around your arm twice. This will seem very long but wrapping it all around makes it more secure. Fasten off:
Step 8. Fold the initial tab in half and sew it around the ring:
Step 9. Fold the large section of work up and sew up both edges. If you crocheted extra to hold keys etc. then insert your phone and sew up the edge to create two separate pockets. Leave a gap in your sewing at the position your headphones will plug in:
Step 10. Sew a small square of the hook type of Velcro to the end of the long strap:
Step 11. Put your phone/ipod into its pocket and any keys or anything else you’ll be carrying. Insert the long strap through the ring and fold it back on itself. Put the armband on and wrap the strap around your arm. Pull it as tight as feels secure and mark the point the small square of Velcro reaches. Take the armband off and sew a long length of the loop type of Velcro to the strap at the position you marked (this should be on the opposite side of the strap to the first square of Velcro). Line up the centre of the Velcro strip with the position you marked to make the strap adjustable in either direction. The longer the strip of Velcro, the more adjustable the band will be:
Weave in any loose ends you have and go for a jog :)
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Filed under: crochet, instructions, useful stuff, armband, case, crochet, crochet pattern, easy, exercise, instructions, mobile phone case, pattern, running
