Wrist Brace
Shared by Carolyn Bennett in Lincoln, California cbennett@adult.puhsd.k12.ca.us

The machine knit wrist brace definitely gives the same support as the original wrist brace, only more comfortable.

I based my own pattern on the original wrist brace. It was a short one that just covers the wrist area. The metal insert is 1 1/2" wide by 5 ½" long. The metal has a slight curve in it so it cups into the palm when worn.

I took apart the original one and made a wax paper pattern from it. Mark the pattern where the pocket is placed. Leave enough space for a velcro closure above the metal that is inserted into the pocket later. I saved the metal to reuse. I redesigned it so the pattern is one piece. I eliminated the velcro closure in my pattern. The fabric has enough stretch to be able to put it on and off like a fingerless glove.

Yarn: cotton flake. This soft yarn is thick and thin. The thick part adds to the comfort level when worn.
Machine pattern: plaiting on the Studio 700 standard bed.
Set up the machine so the cotton flake yarn is on the purl side and the elastic is on the knit side.
Each cotton flake yarn I used had a different tension. One was tension 10+ and the other was 8. Make a swatch for your combination yarn and elastic.
Upper tension: elastic 1, cotton flake 4

The finished fabric has very little show through of the elastic on the purl side. The knit side shows some of the cotton yarn mixed with the elastic. The fabric is thick, somewhat stiff but soft on the purl side. It is not garment weight at all as it is knitted tight.

Begin and end your fabric with waste yarn.

I cast on 76 stitches and knitted 150 rows. Use weights, very important.

Turn the fabric sideways so the stretch goes up and down. Make sure you cut a left and right wrist band. I wanted the least amount of stretch going around my hand but enough to be able to get it off and on. Lay the pattern on the fabric. Using the sewing machine and a contrast thread, stitch a long straight stitch around the pattern piece. Remove the paper pattern. I used the serger to serge and cut the fabric into the shape outlined by the sewing machine stitch. The other option would
be to cut the pattern along the machine stitches being careful to cut just outside those stitches. Then do a tight zig zag around all the edges. Do not sew the seam as yet.

Wristband:
Finished size is 1 1/2" folded over so you have to knit 3".

I just knitted a tight stockinette band rather than using the ribber.
Yarn: cotton flake, 2 tensions looser than the tightest that it will knit. I used tension 3.

Pick up 58 stitches along straight selvedge edge, purl side facing. Hang weights.
Knit 30 rows
Knit 1 turn row at tension 2
Knit 30 rows.
Hang last row on cast on row and bind off.

Metal pocket:
Pattern: 1x1 knitweave: XOXO
OXOX
Yarn: Cotton flake and a heavier cotton or use cotton flake for both yarns.

Start and end with waste yarn.
Make a swatch so the fabric is tightly knitted. Cast on enough stitches so the finished size will be 7" wide. Knit enough rows to make it 3 1/2".

Finishing:

Serge off the waste yarn on the pocket. Lay it on the wrist brace at marked location, with the selvedge edge at the bottom. Mark the top, it will have to be cut at an angle to match the pattern piece. Serge or zig zag the top edge. Stitch a small piece of velcro to top inside edge of pocket and on the wrist brace just opposite the velcro on the pocket. Top stitch it in place, leaving the top open, folding the two long edges in 1/2" so the finished width is 2 1/2".

Fold the wrist brace fabric, purl side to purl side and sew the side seam on the knit side, leaving it open for the thumb. The top seam above the thumb is about 1 1/4" long.

I didn't want to have a seam on the inside so that is why the unconventional sewing technique. The fabric is difficult to handle when sewing as it wants to curl up because of the elastic content.

Note: Before inserting the metal into the pocket, cover the top 2" with a heavy, thick soft fabric. Use thick cotton sweatshirt material or any dense 1/4" batting type fabric. Cut a piece 2 3/4" by 4 . Fold it in half the long way, sew 5/8" side seams and trim off with serger or cut and zig zag edges. Leave the bottom edge flat by finishing it with the serger or zig zag edge. The finished size would be 1 1/2" wide by 2" long. Slide the top edge of the metal piece into the covering, then insert all into the pocket and close with the velcro closure.