Shape Stretchies were some of my favorite things to play with at my sister’s house growing up. She was a modern dance teacher and always fun ideas to promote creative movement for kids. She introduced my kids to the “stretchies” recently and they also fell in love.
That’s when I realized what a fun gift a set of “Stretchies” could be.
Bag: Made from an old pair of jeans
Stretchies: 4″ X 90″ swimsuit lycra sewn in a circle (measurements depend on fabirc stretchiness)
Activity Cards: to get the creative juices flowing–download HERE
Looking for more DIY projects to promote creative movement for kids?
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This is genius!! I am totally using this fugly cotton jersey I bought to make these for my kiddies. This will occupy them for hours!
What a fun idea…My kids’ll love these! Your sister is a genius.
what a great idea! I’m so doing this for my girls!
I’m making them for the whole family….boys and mom included
It reminds me of the human sling shot. We made one for a family reunion a few years ago….only resulted in a few bruises
http://www.thehumanslingshot.com/
nkr Reply:
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:20 am
“resulted in only a few bruises”….but a lifetime of memories!
I LOVE this idea. I’m a music teacher and have made large scrunchies (long fabric tube with elastic in the middle) that I use with class music activities. I’ve also used the lycra in strips for music activities. Now I can’t wait to try the lycra stretchies for individual music activities. I’m going to write a blog about these on my blog!
http://musicfortots.blogspot.com/
Love this idea! Can you share where the swimsuit lycra was purchased?
Suze Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Nevermind – found it at my local Hancock Fabrics. Who knew?
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I got mine at the local Joanns. In the summer, they have more color choices, but they usually have something. Good luck!
Natalie Reply:
August 11th, 2011 at 8:17 am
I’m wondering if you found 90″ wide fabric at Joann’s or if you added 30″ to the 60″ fabric you got? I’m not able to find 90″ width fabric.
Thanks!
Natalie <
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
August 14th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Good question Natalie. I cut two 45″ pieces from the 60″ fabric and sewed them together in a circle.
I absolutely love this!
Is there a place to get the cards where you don’t have to pay a membership fee?
this is carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
July 21st, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Yes! I will upload them now and create a new link. Stupid scribd changed their deal on me for downloads. Slowly trying to move all my pdf’s over to be self-hosted on the site. Give me a few minutes.
id love the printables as well
i would like the printables as well
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
August 14th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
If you click on the link at the end of the post, you will be able to download the printable pdf for the game cards directly from my site.
Did you seam the pieces all the way around (making a tube) or just the ends together leaving the long sides unfinished?
So I have checked with Joanns and Hobby Lobby and Michaels for this material and none have it in stock. Is there a different similar material that might work that you know of or do you know some other place to get it? I want to make these for Christmas. Love this idea!!
this is carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
October 6th, 2011 at 8:23 am
You can order it online from joanns. Right now it’s 40% off!
Hi I’m curious about making these and I’m wondering if the height of the child matters in the length of the stretchie?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Shelly
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 9:22 am
The height does matter…a little bit. The swimsuit lycra is usually so stretchy, that it will fit a wide range of kids. If you are making them for particularly young/small children, you might want to take some inches off the measurement because you don’t want them loose and saggy. I believe my kids are 4 and 7 in the photo. Good luck!
I *adore* this idea! Thank you!
Love this! These were my favourite when I was a kid! We used to have them in gym class!!
do you have instructions for making the jean bag?
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
April 10th, 2012 at 8:05 am
I don’t, sorry!. I just made it up as I went along.
Twitter: thespeechpatiogmail.com
September 13, 2012 at 10:19 am
Thank you ever so much. You are a GREAT blessing to those like me who are absolutely clueless when it comes to ART! Phew! You are God sent because you make my day!. Keep ’em comin’.
Hi! I just found this in the nick-of-time – I’m doing our preschool co-op at my house this week with the theme “exercise.” I’m pretty sure my girls and her friends are going to love it, too!
I was wondering if you made it in to a tube, or just a simple circle?
Thanks!
emily
Hi, I want to know if I want to order the stretchies. How can I do it? I am not able to located information on it.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
December 4th, 2012 at 8:49 am
I don’t make the stretchies to sell. I just provide the tutorial!
Do you finish the edges of the bands or just leave the raw fabric?
This is Carrie Reply:
May 28th, 2014 at 6:47 am
Nope! Just raw edges. With good quality swimsuit lycra, it holds up great.
Hi Carrie,
Just tried to access the tutorial and couldn’t. Is it still up and running?
Thanks,
Mary
This looks fantastic! I really want to try it but when I click on the link for the tutorial just below the list of things you need it just re-loads the page, is the link broken or is this in fact the tutorial and it really is as simple as sew the short ends together to make a loop? I’ve never used LYCRA before, do you need to hem the long edges?
Thanks
Hi, I am looking to make these for my music class. Can you tell me if the Lycra material frays? I am wondering if I can simply cut strips of Lycra and sew them only in the one spot where the ends connect? Or do I have to sew a finished hem along all sides of the Lycra strip so that the material does not fray?
Lisa Reply:
May 11th, 2015 at 11:11 am
I think I found the answer earlier in this feed! Thanks.
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