Have you ever looked through your closet for the perfect belt, only to find that you never have the right color? Rather than spend $25 to buy another belt, use this tutorial to make one belt with several interchangeable covers. You’ll get several unique looks and save a lot of money as well!
Instructions
First, you need to measure your waist at the narrowest part. Since you will be wearing the belt over clothing, do this measurement over your shirt (refer to photo). We’ll refer to this measurement as X inches.
Measure your waist at the narrowest part.
Supplies:
- 3″ wide heavy-duty elastic (any color), length X+2 inches (for example, my waist measurement was 33″, so I used a 35″ long piece of elastic)
- Thread, same color as elastic and same color as fabric used for cover
- 3 pairs of large hook-and-eye closures: I used simple ones, but fancy is ok too.
- Fabric cover: width 7.5″, length X+7.5″
- Sewing machine (or not- You could do this by hand, but it’s certainly not something I’d recommend!
- Scissors
Procedure:
- Fold down 1″ on each end of the elastic (make sure they are folded so that the raw edge is on the same side!) and pin. Wrap around waist, the folded ends should just meet (not overlap!) without stretching. Adjust if necessary.
With one inch folded down at each end, the elastic ends should just meet at the narrowest part of your waist.
- Sew down folds. Check length again, remove pins.
- Hand sew the hook-and-eye closures to the ends of the elastic as shown in the pictures. It is more important that they are even and securely stitched than that the stitching be neat, since only the ends will be exposed.
Sew the clasps to the end. I chose simple ones because they were the cheapest, and because only the ends will show in the final result.
- Cut the fabric to the dimensions specified above. Next, we will make tabs!
- Measure 2″ in from each corner on the short edge of the fabric, and mark with chalk. Measure 3″ in from each corner on the long edge of the fabric, and mark with chalk.
Although this isn't exactly to scale, this is how the markings should look on your fabric. The red lines are where you would make chalk lines.
- Use a ruler to extend the lines parallel to the fabric edges until they intersect; it should look like four rectangles, one in each corner. Make sure that the space between the short end rectangles is 4″ and not 1.5″, because if it’s 1.5″ you reversed the measurements of the rectangles.
- Cut out the rectangles — you should now have a piece of fabric shaped like a long, stretched out plus sign. Take your scissors, and trim the 4″ by 3″ tabs on the fabric ends into tapered trapezoids. Next, cut .5″ long notches into the base of each tab. Fold over .5″ and sew down, so that right side of fabric faces out.
Cut the short ends into a long trapezoidal shape. Don't bother with angles, it's not important.
- Next, at base of tab (3″ wide, now that seams are sewn) use chalk to mark out 3 dashes about .75 inches long, equally spaced (see picture). Sew around chalk marks (like buttonholes) and snip.
Here is the wrong side with the edges of the tab sewn and the notches marked.
Here you can see the right side of the fabric tab, with the three notches. If you have a buttonhole stitch on your machine, go ahead and use it.
- Next, Fold fabric in half wrong side out, and sew the long sides using .25″ seam allowance.
Fold the fabric in half and sew along the long side. Turn inside out.
- Turn the belt right-side out, and slide over elastic belt (use a large crochet hook to pull it through by the eye closure; it should be snug!)
Use a large crochet hook to pull the elastic through the fabric tube. Be sure that the hook is facing away from the center seam, as shown.
- Push hooks and eyes through slots in ends of fabric, and tuck tabs in as shown in pictures.
Push the clasps through the slots and tuck the tab in behind it.
- Wear it! Make multiple fabric covers for different looks.
Wear your creation!
Other Ideas
I made my first cover out of brown faux-leather, but you could use black patent leather, velvet, or corduroy for a different look. Here are some other ideas to try:
- Try putting appliques or studs into the fabric before sewing closed for even more variety.
- Make the sleeve about 6 inches longer and omit one tab. Let the clasp part be in the back, and put decorative frogs, a faux buckle, or a bow in the front.
- Stretch out thin elastic and sew it along the center of the fabric strip (add 2 inches to the original length) using a zigzag stitch for a ruched effect.
Please send me your feedback!!! I’d love to hear from you or see your versions of this tutorial.
I have posted this tutorial previously at Hubpages.com, so if you’ve seen it before, that’s where! I didn’t steal it.
