Learn how to make a wrist comfort cuff with a few simple materials. It's a great portable item that will give your wrist and forearm a place to rest while working at a desk on your computer.
I spend most of my days working at a desk on a laptop. I'm sure many of you can relate. My current desk was a DIY desk project made out of a door and kitchen cabinets. The adventure was a whole story in itself. I love it, but when I'm working for a long time my wrist and forearm start to hurt, due to the pressure on the edge of the door. So I decided to make something to cushion the area and came up with this wrist comfort cuff.
I've had this problem for a while, but it wasn't until my BBF told me about an item from her chiropractor, that was used to help her tendonitis, that truly inspired me.
My friend described something like the sore muscle corn bags I've made, but in this case, it was used to rest your arm. My problem was more in the wrist and beginning of the forearm area, so I thought it would be nice to have something wrapped around the edge of the desk with padding for comfort. Here's what I came up with:
DIY Wrist Comfort Cuff
Supplies
- Hardware Cloth - I used 1/4 in 23 gauge
- Quilting batting - an old towel or sock would probably work too
- Duct Tape
- Fabric
- Sewing machine - I'm sure you could find a no-sew way with glue, tape, or stitch witchery.
The process is easy. Start by cutting the hardware cloth to size. I chose 4 inches wide by 10 inches long, but you can adjust this to suit your needs. I do think the area covering the top of the desk should match the bottom and allow additional space to cover the edge.
The first issue I noticed were the sharp edges of the hardware cloth.
Basic duct tape works great here to soften them.
Next, quilters' batting is wrapped around the metal twice. Depending on how thick your batting is you may need more or less. Test it out on the desk to get a feel for how comfortable it will feel when complete.
Then use more duct tape to finish the edges.
You could stop there but what fun would that be. Why not use some pretty scrap fabric to cover the cuff? I used some Amy Butler cotton fabrics that I had in one of my bins. Trace around the cuff and cut out enough fabric to make a sleeve. Sew the edges leaving one short side open. Then insert the cuff and hand-stitch the area closed.
No-Sew Options
If you don't have access to a sewing machine you can try fabric glue or stitch witchery to make the sleeve for the cuff. Other ideas would be to use a sock or an actual sleeve from a garment and hand stitch the ends. Or maybe you crochet or knit? That would be a great way to cover the cuff.
Now you can bend the cuff over the edge of the desk and rest your arm while you work. This cuff goes on easily and comes off just as quickly, making it very portable. The sturdiness of this hardware cloth helps keep its shape while adapting to different size desk edges.
I'm super happy with this wrist comfort cuff and am thinking of making more for my family and friends. For now, I'm using the green one, and the pretty blue and yellow floral is going to my friend, who inspired this project.
How to Make a Wrist Comfort Cuff
Equipment
- sewing machine
- scissors
- Needle and thread
Materials
- Hardware Cloth - I used 1/4 in 23 gauge
- Quilting batting - an old towel or sock would probably work too
- Duct Tape
- Fabric
Instructions
- Start by cutting the hardware cloth to size. I chose 4 inches wide by 10 inches long, but you can adjust this to suit your needs
- Wrap the sharp edges with duct tape.
- Wrap a layer or two of quilt batting all around.
- Use more duct tape to cover the edges of the batting.
- Sew a sleeve to fit over the piece with fabric leaving one of the short sides open.
- Fit the sleeve onto the covered mesh and hand sew the opening closed.
DazzleWhileFrazzled
What a great idea! Visiting from Blogtalk.
Patti Estep
Thanks!
Mary-the boondocks blog
Patti this is a great idea and one we can all use since we all spend too much tie on the computer. It's as if the mouse has become an e extension of our hand.
Patti Estep
Hi Mary,
I couldn't agree with you more.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Winnie
Great idea and it also looks nice!1 I could definitely use one (and also my husband!)
Patti
Thanks Winnie! My friend who inspired me is using hers on the arm of her chair. I guess it's versatile. I'm loving mine. Long overdue for a solution.
Valerie
Genius!
You should sell these. Thanks for Sharing.
Valerie
LILLIAN
I just looked up hardware cloth and there are many different gauges and sizes and pretty expensive. Can you tell me what you used, i.e. gauge, size, etc? This is a cool idea and if I were you, I would look into getting a paten for it. You could sell a ton!
Patti
Hi Lillian,
I thought of that. Hmmmm Anyway, I bought my hardware cloth at Home Depot. I found it in the area where they sell wood with chicken wire etc. This one is 1/4 in 23 gauge but I think you could really try others that might work too. I paid $9.39 including tax but this roll was 2 ft by 5 ft long so I have tons leftover. I guess I'll just have to make more. 😉
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Denise/DIY Crush
This is a fantastic project! I really need to make one of those. Would love to see you at my craft party which is new Thursdays at 7pm EST.
Joyce Smith
this is a great idea. where do you buy hardware cloth
Patti
Hi Joyce,
I bought mine at home depot but I really think you could by it at any hardware store maybe even at places like Kmart and Walmart. The one I used was 1/4 in 23 gauge and I had to buy a whole roll which was more than I needed. I also think that you could vary the material depending on what is available near you.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Anne
Such a smart design! I've got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow morning that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=86151 --Anne
Patti
Thanks Anne,
I'll share this on my social media!
Holly
Thank you so much for sharing that with us. You are brilliant! I'm gonna make make 2 for my husband. One for his work desk and another for his ham radio station desk. He'll love it. He works on fire extinguishers and does automotive work, so his wrists can get really sore, plus we're not getting any younger. haha
Thanks again, Holly
Patti
Holly,
I'm so glad that you like it and I really hope it helps your husband. Thanks for letting me know!
Patti
Maureen
Practical, adjustable and pretty! What a great idea!
Patti
Thanks. It was a great inspiration!
Earlene Ginter
Your are one smart cookie,thanks my husband's hands shake and when he use the mouse on the computer it is a problem& and physical therapy suggested he put a weight on top of his wrist to help steady it,but then it hurt the underside,so you just. gave me an idea. I will try to make one that wraps arcound the wrist soft and padded on one side and heavy on the other.again thanks for the help.
Patti
Hi Earlene,
You know what they say, "necessity is the motherhood of invention!"
I am so glad that this project can help your husband. Thanks for letting me know.
You've made my day.
Patti