If you have ever hosted an event or attended a music festival, you have likely dealt with wristbands before.
Wristbands, also known as bracelets, are available in many forms and types - colorful wristbands, Tyvek wristbands, paper bracelets, plastic bands, rubber bracelets, engraved bracelets, printed wristbands, RFID wristbands, and more. They are widely used in day-to-day life as gifts, symbols of support for social causes, and to provide entry access to fans during sporting events, concerts, festivals, conferences.
If you are planning to make a wristband DIY-style, you must first know the different kinds of materials that you can use to make your wristband.
Types of Wristbands
One could classify wristbands into different types based on the material used to make them and the technology that is integrated with them.
Types of Bracelets Based On The Material Used
Cloth Wristbands
Cloth wristbands, also known as fabric wristbands, are made by weaving fabric or by full color dye sublimation ribbon. They are long-lasting and resistant to snap or tear. They are often used for access management in crowded events.
Tyvek/Paper Wristbands
Tyvek is a 100% synthetic material made out of high-density polyethylene fibers. Tyvek wristbands are durable and water resistant, making them ideal for providing secured access to waterparks, beach events, etc.
Plastic Wristbands
Plastic wristbands are popular among event coordinators for their foolproof access management control. These bracelets come with snap closure locking, making it impossible for guests to remove them without cutting them off.
Silicone Bracelets
Silicone wristbands, also known as rubber bracelets, are often used to engrave, emboss, or deboss designs. The durability and comfort they offer coupled with their water-resistant feature make them an instant choice for awareness campaign accessories.
Types of Bracelets Based On Technology Used
RFID Wristbands
By integrating RFID technology with wristbands, these types of bracelets offer fast and secure access to events ensuring no long lines outside the venue. The RFID wristbands could also be used for cashless payments.
QR Code Bracelets
Some wristbands come with a QR code that needs to be scanned to allow access to an event or festival. These QR codes could be either woven on cloth wristbands or printed on a plastic card that is attached to the cloth. Also, QR codes can be printed on silicone & Tyvek wristbands.
Barcode Wristbands
There are wristbands with barcodes printed on them to allow hassle-free entry to guests of your event. Each wristband carries a unique barcode, making it impossible to create counterfeits. Such wristbands could be used instead of printed tickets to access an event.
Steps to make your own wristband bracelets
A DIY project to make your wristbands and bracelets can be a fun exercise for kids and adults alike. ID&C Band list down steps that you can follow to create your customized bands:
DIY Beaded Bracelet
Step 1: Choose a colored or plain elastic string and wrap it around your wrist one for one and half times. Cut the elastic string in such a way that you have at least a 2-inch length of string to tie a knot and ensure a comfortable fit around your wrist.
Step 2: Now stretch the elastic string so that it doesn’t snap or break during a later stage of bracelet creation.
Step 3: Add tape to one side of the string and fold it. This tape will stop the beads from rolling off the string when you try to thread the beads from the other end of the string.
Step 4: Choose beads of different colors, shapes, and sizes as per your preference. If you want a certain bead to be at the center of the bracelet, make sure you arrange your beads accordingly to create the pattern you desire.
Step 5: Thread the beads, tie a knot, and slip it onto your wrist. Your DIY beaded bracelet is ready!
DIY Wristband
Step 1: Measure your wrist and add an extra half inch to it. This measurement will become the length of your wristband.
Step 2: Choose a sheet of material of your choice (Tyvek, silicone, paper, cloth). With the help of a ruler and scissors, cut the sheet of material to fit the length and breadth of your wristband.
Step 3: It’s time to add some designs to your wristband. You can do it by simply using a stencil and colored markers. Place the stencil on the cut piece of sheet, and add letters and shapes as per your choice. If you are good at drawing, you can also try adding free hand designs to the cut sheet. However, avoid adding any art or design on the extra half inch at the end as it would be used to close your wristband.
Step 4: Add glue or adhesive only on one end of the wristband. Hold that end of the wristband material on one hand, and use the other hand to overlap the extra half inch on the other end.
Step 5: Press and hold the overlapped ends of the wristband for a minute so that the glue sticks. Your DIY wristband is ready!
Alternative to DIY Wristbands
Making your own wristbands and bracelets can be an enjoyable process, but DIYs are not ideal if you need wristbands in bulk for a party, event, or conference. Besides that, DIY bracelets lack the sleek design and finish that you might crave with your wristband. Don’t worry, we’ve got an alternative to making your own bands.
In just 4 easy steps, we let you customize wristbands that can be shipped right to your address. So, how to create custom wristbands and bracelets online?
Step 1: Go to our design online page, and select the wristband material of your choice.
Step 2: Add your custom design to the bracelets in the form of text & logos. Play around with our multiple options for color and patterns.
Step 3: Select the number of wristbands you need for your event.
Step 4: Update your address and get your wristbands delivered in six days.
You could also customize RFID wristbands for your event
How Do RFID Wristbands Work
RFID Wristbands are equipped with RFID tags that contain unique information. When an RFID wristband is scanned, the scanner reads the RFID tags in milliseconds and transmits the information via radio signal directly to the back-end system. Read more about how RFID wristbands work.
RFID vs Barcode vs QR Code Wristbands
Nowadays, wristbands are integrated with RFID, barcode, or QR code technology for contactless access management in crowded events.
While RFID bands use radio waves to transmit information, barcodes and QR codes use laser optics. Unlike barcodes and QR codes that can only scan one line or pattern at a time, RFID can scan multiple tags at once resulting in fast access and shorter lines for the event goers. Another advantage of RFID wristbands is that they don’t need to be right in front of scanners for the RFID tags to be read. On the other hand, Barcode and QR code wristbands need to be in the line of sight of the scanner. Some other desirable features of RFID wristbands include cashless payments and social media integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best material for a wristband
While the usage of the wristband plays a big role in determining the best material for it, you can’t go wrong with cloth, Tyvek, and vinyl bands. All three materials are waterproof, tear-resistant, durable, and comfortable to wear.
What items do you need to make a bracelet
If you are making a beaded bracelet, all you need are beads, string, and glue. However, if you are making a wristband using Tyvek or silicone, you will need the following:
- Tyvek/Silicone sheet
- Measuring tape.
- Ruler
- Marker
- Stencils
- Scissors
- Glue
How do I make an engraved bracelet
If you want to engrave a metal, silicone or rubber bracelet with utmost precision, utilizing laser cutting technology would be your best bet. However, you can engrave bracelets at home as well using Cricut cutting machines.
Where to buy wristbands
If you are looking to buy wristbands in bulk for your event, you can check out online wristband manufacturers like ID&C Band to get your custom bands. We offer wristbands made of Tyvek, cloth, plastic, silicone, and vinyl. You could also choose from our RFID or Barcode wristbands. Lastly, you can design your custom wristbands using our easy-to-use online wristband designer.
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