Making Stuff: Shape Stretchies for Creative Movement

by This is Carrie on July 8, 2010

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?

Silk Butterfly Wings Tutorial

Shape Stretchies Tutorial

Share

{ 3 trackbacks }

Wire Jewelry Wrapping - Make wire jewelry??
July 8, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Craft Camp Tutorial: Beaded T-shirt Bracelet | This Mama Makes Stuff
June 9, 2011 at 9:31 am
Jagamise reede: õuemängud | Mutukamoos
May 15, 2014 at 6:17 am

{ 23 comments }

Wanett July 8, 2010 at 1:31 pm

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!

Kasey Boone July 8, 2010 at 3:53 pm

What a fun idea…My kids’ll love these! Your sister is a genius.

Casey July 10, 2010 at 9:33 am

what a great idea! I’m so doing this for my girls!

mommymita July 11, 2010 at 12:26 am

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:

“resulted in only a few bruises”….but a lifetime of memories!

Cathy July 28, 2010 at 6:00 pm

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/

Suze November 3, 2010 at 12:30 pm

Love this idea! Can you share where the swimsuit lycra was purchased?

Suze Reply:

Nevermind – found it at my local Hancock Fabrics. Who knew?

This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:

I got mine at the local Joanns. In the summer, they have more color choices, but they usually have something. Good luck!

Natalie Reply:

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:

Good question Natalie. I cut two 45″ pieces from the 60″ fabric and sewed them together in a circle.

Becky @ UCreate with Kids May 17, 2011 at 12:06 pm

I absolutely love this!

Kayte July 21, 2011 at 1:44 pm

Is there a place to get the cards where you don’t have to pay a membership fee?

this is carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:

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.

susie August 13, 2011 at 2:18 pm

id love the printables as well

susie August 13, 2011 at 2:19 pm

i would like the printables as well

This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:

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.

Jennifer August 16, 2011 at 10:22 pm

Did you seam the pieces all the way around (making a tube) or just the ends together leaving the long sides unfinished?

Chantel October 6, 2011 at 8:09 am

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:

You can order it online from joanns. Right now it’s 40% off!

Shelly December 9, 2011 at 9:13 am

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:

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!

Stacy@Share&Remember January 14, 2012 at 1:56 pm

I *adore* this idea! Thank you!

Fiona R March 14, 2012 at 10:41 pm

Love this! These were my favourite when I was a kid! We used to have them in gym class!!

Maggie April 6, 2012 at 2:56 pm

do you have instructions for making the jean bag?

This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:

I don’t, sorry!. I just made it up as I went along.

Christina Teo
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’.

emily k m September 17, 2012 at 11:18 am

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

Elizabeth December 2, 2012 at 10:56 pm

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:

I don’t make the stretchies to sell. I just provide the tutorial!

Vanessa May 24, 2014 at 11:29 am

Do you finish the edges of the bands or just leave the raw fabric?

This is Carrie Reply:

Nope! Just raw edges. With good quality swimsuit lycra, it holds up great.

Mary June 15, 2014 at 1:54 pm

Hi Carrie,

Just tried to access the tutorial and couldn’t. Is it still up and running?

Thanks,

Mary

Eleanor March 18, 2015 at 4:52 am

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

Lisa May 11, 2015 at 11:09 am

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:

I think I found the answer earlier in this feed! Thanks.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: