Belt Tutorial

Another day, another belt. Here's a little rundown of how I make a belt. I'm sure there's a better, faster, easier way, but this is the method I use.

Determine the size your belt should be (measure around the outside of your pants where the belt loops are) Add to this about 8.5 inches.

I have 1.5" d-rings so my finished belt width will be about 1.5". I cut the fabric strips 3" wide by various lengths or if you want a more uniform look you can cut them all the same length. Cut enough to make up the finished belt size. (remember to take the seam allowance into consideration) I just cut a pile of strips and keep sewing them end to end (right sides together)  until I come up with the length I need.

Once the strips are all sewn together press your seams.

Now cut a strip of fairly stiff fusible interfacing (I use decor-bond by pellon) 1.5 inches by the length of the belt.

This will be fused to the back of the length of strips. Fuse the interfacing so that it is centered (top to bottom) on the length of strips.

Press the raw edges in toward the center 3/4" on each side. (to give you a width of 1.5")

Cut a piece of grosgrain ribbon 9.5" shorter than the strips. Pin in place to the back of the length of strips. (or use a fusible tape to secure for stitching)

Place ribbon 7" in from one end

About 2.5" in from other end

On the end with ribbon 7" from end fold down 1/2" to hide raw edge and then fold the fabric back onto the ribbon.

Stitch down both long sides close to the edge.

On oposite end fold back 1/2" and fold again 1" through d-rings. Stitch in place and you are finished.

You could also skip the interfacing and back the belt with cotton webbing instead of ribbon. I happened to have interfacing and ribbon so I used what I had. All the measurements are approximate. The important thing is to allow enough extra length to attach the d-rings on one end and to fold back enough on the other end so that when the belt is on you see fabric on the part that folds back. (does that make sense?) It is really easier than this bunch of writing makes it sound. Just give it a try. If you make one send me a picture. Next I think I'll try a quilted one.

Making this belt was quick an easy and without any snafus. Later I worked on a wristlet. I have some pearls of wisdom to share about that experience as well:

• When cutting down a zipper to make it shorter, the instructions tell you to sew over the teeth at the point you want to shorten the zipper. Even though you will be enclosing the end in a seam, don't skip this step. It is a necessary step and doesn't take very long. In fact it takes a tiny fraction of the time it will take you to take apart the outer bag and lining pieces you have just attached nicely to the zipper before you carelessly open the zipper and slide the pull right off the teeth and onto the floor. Those guys don't go back on. So now instead of taking a couple of minutes to stitch across that zipper end, you have to spend 30 or so minutes to take everything apart and start over. AARRGGGGGGG!!!!
• If it is called a wristlet, you should actually make a wrist strap and put that strap on the wristlet before it is completely sewn up. Otherwise, it's just a zippered pouch.
• If you want to cut a length of fabric 4 inches wide and are using your 4 inch wide ruler and rotary cutter to cut this fabric. Make sure your ruler is actually a 4" wide ruler and not 3 inches. Otherwise you will have a 3" wide length of fabric. Go figure!

Comments

[madmommy]

Thank you for the tutorial, the tips, and the giggle! You've made my day. I'm so glad we feel comfortable enough on these blogs to tell it like it is, and allow others to experience our successes and failures, so we don't feel so alone in this crafty world!

[June]

Your tutoria is great. I really appreciate honesty in tutorials (as well as laughs) that things don't always work out perfectly; it helps me relax with a project and not be intimidated by the perceived perfections of everyone else's craft projects.

[tammie]

i just made 2 more belts and have 3 more "in mid-process"! stop the madness!
i just made one with grosgrain ribbon, and made mistake after mistake, whittling away at one end until finally i finished and it no longer fit me :(
nice tutorial - pretty much how i do mine as well.
funny about the wristlet(zippered pouch) - i'm glad i'm not the only one who has those days!

[Dawn]

Great tutorial, Autum! Thanks for your time to put this together!

[Mijk]

Thanks for the tutorial.. I suddenly wioke tonight realising I could make a dogcollar this way (with some nylon ribbon in between. I So need to try if it works (the puppy will be 8 in a couple of weeks! )

[Virginie]

I just love your belts. Congratulations and thanks for the tutorial. I particularly like this combination of black and white materials (the 'etc' is so nice ! where does it come from ?).

[Crystal T]

Wow! Thanks so much for putting this together.

[Lauren]

Thanks for sharing. It will be fun to make a couple of these!!

[laeroport]

Cute belt! I'll be making one, but maybe AFTER I finish your wristlet. :) And thanks for the tips. They made me giggle!

[Megan]

Thanks Autum, need to make a couple for my girls so this was very timely and useful!

[Leslie]

You are the greatest! Thanks!!!

[Carmen]

Great tutorial! I love this kind of belt, I should try it sometime. And you are too funny with the wristlet comments!

[clarice]

Thank you, thank you !!!! Clarice

[Sandrine (alias Didine ♥ )]

OOOOOOOOOh thank you so much for sharing this tutorial ! I adore it ! Can I ask you where you found the D-rings ? Are they expensive ? I'd like to make one !! I wish you a sweet weekend ! Smooches !

[kathy]

Very cool! Your tutorials are so awesome. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

[Miriam]

Excellent stuff! I love the patchworky-ness of it. Plus, my kids haven't got to grips with belt buckles yet so D-rings looks like the way to go! Thanks :-)

[Coralee]

Hey thanks for the great tutorial....you can see a pic of my belt at
http://web.mac.com/dcgingras/iWeb/Beloved-Fair-y-tales/Coralee%27s%20Crafty%20Blog/3D241A84-7565-42A7-A524-E4B57BC1E159.html
I also have bookmarked your keychain tutorial which I hope to try soon!

[Callie]

THANK YOU for this tutorial! I've been looking all over for directions for this kind of patchwork belt - so glad to have found this! :)

[Stacy T]

I have really enjoyed making a handful of these!! Great tutorial!

Stacy T

[April]

Wonderful tutorial. I took my very first sewing machine out of the box today and made your D ring belt. It was really easy to follow along. Thank you so much for sharing. You can peek at the belt I made at http://preppypugs.blogspot.com/.

[April]

Wonderful tutorial. I took my very first sewing machine out of the box today and made your D ring belt. It was really easy to follow along. Thank you so much for sharing. You can peek at the belt I made at http://preppypugs.blogspot.com/.