Vinyl Bracers

This time around I'm going to teach you how to make a pair of costume bracers/vambraces out of some thin vinyl salvaged from a torn pair of pleather pants for that leather look without that leather price. I've got a small pile of the stuff on hand so there will probably be a few more posts showing things you can make out of it.

This simple piece of armor protects the lower arm from bowstrings. It holds billowy shirt sleeves out of the way and gives the appearence of protection from slashing weapons but of course as a costume piece I wouldn't expect it to be of much use against real knives and swords.

Note these bracers are not SCA legal. To make legal bracers first confirm with the local marshal that the changes are acceptable and then add 0.25 of foam padding on the inside. An extra 0.25 inches of seam allowance on the vinly will be needed to account for the thinkness of the padding. 


Materials: newspaper, Vinyl or leather, cardstock, fabric, grommets and grommet tool, white glue, needle and thread, razor blade, iron, awl, ruler, safety pin

Optional: button frogs, D-rings, hooks, flexible plastic sheeting, embroidery needle and thread, rivets, spikes, duct tape, Scotch tape.

Sources for materials

cardstock: Soda and beer cases, shipping envelopes, cereal boxes.
fabric: old teeshirt or grab something from your scrap bag.
Vinyl: Gained from a pair of torn vinly pants. Since they couldn't be worn anymore I salvaged as much material as I could from them.

Step 1: Take measurements

a: across the top of your wrist divided by two
b: circumference of wrist divided by two
c: bottom of hand to biggest part of your forarm this should be about an inch or so before the innermost part of your elbow
d: wrist bone to elbow
e: circumference of biggest part of your forearm divided by two

Step 2: Fold some newspaper in half and then mark off your measurements as shown. Cut out your pattern. I covered mine with duct tape to make it more sturdy.

Step 3: Tape your pattern to the cardsotck and cut out 2 copies
Optional: instead of cardstock use thin plastic or make two copies of your pattern and cover each side with a layer of duct tape.

Step 4: Iron your  fabric then spread a thin layer of white glue over the cardstock. Smooth the fabric over the glue. Set something flat and heavy on top and allow to dry overnight. Do this for both pieces.

Step 5: Trim away any fabric hanging over the edges with a razorblade so the ends are flush with the cardstock.

Step 6: Remember the glue? Do it again this time on the other side of the cardstock this time covering it with the vinyl.

Step 7: cut the vinyl leaving a 1/2" seam allowance.

Step 8: Fold the vinyl over fabric turn raw edges in and use a few drops of glue to hold it in place. Sew with a running stich. Odds are 3 layers of vinyl 1 of carstock and one of fabric are going to be a bit tough for your sewing needle, I punched holes with a safety pin and then ran my needle though the pre-made holes. Waxing your thread would also probably be a good idea here.

Step 9: Evenly space marks for your laces about 3/4 of an inch from the edge. Six per side should be enough but I placed mine about an inch apart and ended up with sever per side.  Punch holes with an awl then set grommets.

Optional: Or as an alternative use D-rings or hooks for laces If you want to be different try button frogs. Apologies for the quality of the frog in the photo, I made it quickly never intending to use it.

Optional: Decorate. You can set rivets for a studded leather look. Insert spikes to be a danger to yourself and others or even embroider a pattern onto your new bracers. Spikes will not be SCA legal.

I suggest not doing this by the way. Plain bracers will be useful in more costumes than specialized ones. Sure spikes might be just what you need for your Beastmaster or post-apocalyptic cosplay but plain bracers will works with a rogue, a knight, a pirate, an archer, even steampunk.

Step 10: Lace up. You don't want to put folds in the cardstock so bend it a little tighten the laces, bend a little more and repeat to make a round shape. For the photo I just used a little yarn as a placeholder till I make some lucet cord.

And there you have it, a pair of cheaply made but sturdy costume bracers.

Cost

28 grommets $1.40
Tee-shit for disposable fabric $1 at a thrift store
Vinyl pants in bad condition $5 at a thrift store.

Total $7.40 plus a little glue thread and tape