Fabric Belt Tutorial

Thursday, January 23, 2014

One of my favorite details that came together for The Notebook dress for this week’s Project Run and Play sew along was the fabric belt. It was SO easy, and it added a nice piece to the overall look. I’m sure you’ll need one too at some point, so here’s how I accomplished the look.

Fabric Belt Tutorial

Materials:

  • belt buckle
  • ribbon
  • 1/8 yard of fabric
  • lightweight fusible interfacing
  • Sew on snap

I had a vintage belt buckle in my stash, but it didn’t quite work as is with my dress. I opted to wrap the buckle in ribbon that could be removed later if I wanted to use the buckle for something else. Simply wrap the ribbon around the buckle overlapping as you go. Dab a bit of hot glue at the end of the ribbon on the back side of the buckle to secure.

Fabric Belt Tutorial buckle

To determine the width of fabric you need, measure the length of the middle bar of the belt buckle. Multiply that measurement by 4. For mine, the width of fabric needed was 0.75 x 4 = 3”. The length of fabric for the belt should be the waist measurement + 7.5”. I used 23.5” + 7.5” = 31”.

Fabric Belt Tutorial width

Cut a fabric rectangle the width and length determined above. (From my example, 3” x 31”.) Cut a rectangle from the interfacing the same size and apply the interfacing per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fabric Belt Tutorial interface

Now you with press and fold the fabric to enclose the raw edges. First, press the rectangle in half along the long side with the wrong sides together. Open back up and press the long edges in to meet at the center fold. Open once again and press one short end in to the wrong side 1/2”. With the short end tucked in, re-fold the long edges to the middle then fold in half. Press well.

Fabric Belt Tutorial belt folds

Stitch the long open side closed close to the edge. Then topstitch the other long side.

Fabric Belt Tutorial edges

Thread the raw end of the belt through the buckle and fold the raw end under 1/2”.

Fabric Belt Tutorial end

Hand stitch in place.

Fabric Belt Tutorial end

A snap will prevent the belt from slipping out of place. Sew the male side of the snap on the inside of the belt at the end. Try the belt on to determine the best location for the female side of the snap. Sew it to the right side of the belt.

Fabric Belt Tutorial snap

Done! This belt works great for dresses, skirts, or pants. I’d love to see what you create!

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