This craft uses soft drink or water bottles to give the bracelet stiffness, and felt to give it softness. It was modified from a craft found in Sewing with Felt by Buff McAllister.

Materials:
Small soft drink or water bottle
Felt
Embroidery floss
Embroidery needles with large eyes.
Pony beads or other decorations that can be sewed, such as buttons.

Time: 1 hour

Method:
1) Cut a strip from the narrowest part of the bottle. The strip should be slightly narrower than the desired width of the bracelet. I used 2 inches. It isn't easy to start the cut, so a box cutter or Exacto knife may be needed to pierce the plastic. An adult should do this step.
2) Fit the plastic to the arm of the child and trim off any overlap. Because the plastic has been molded to a certain size, it will not fit small children properly. However, I have had small children complete the craft knowing that the bracelet wouldn't fit until later.
3) Cut a piece of felt a little more than twice as wide as your plastic band. There should be about 1/4" at the edge for sewing. There should be 1/4" at each end as well.
4) Cut your embroidery thread about 12" long and separate it into 3 strands. Thread the needle with 3 strands and knot one end.
5) Begin to do a whipstitch around the edge of the bracelet. A whipstitch is a stitch that begins on the underside of the fabric; the needle comes up through the felt bringing the embroidery floss along. When the floss is snug at the bottom, take the needle around to the bottom and begin again.
6) Add more floss when needed. You do not want to cut the floss too long or it will tangle.
7) When the stitching is completely done, add the decorations. The child will have to learn a second style of stitching in order to do this. It is a narrow stitch through the fabric sideways, and then through the bead, through the fabric, around and around until it is snug - about 5 times.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN
This craft is better for children 8 and up. There will definitely be pricked fingers. Be prepared with bandages.
Talk the children through the sewing. Demonstrate and then coach them until they understand.