Belting It Out

Sometimes you need a little something to finish off an outfit, but you just can't find what you have in mind. No worries, just make it yourself.



I have a nice buttery yellow linen that insists it wants to be a tunic-length shirt, so here's a simple belt that will cinch it in and provide a little shape. Couldn't be easier to make -- woven trim is stitched to a backing -- I'm using an Ultrasuede scrap in this instance -- then threaded through a simple wooden buckle and stitched down. I first thought I'd use a grosgrain ribbon to back the trim, but couldn't find any of the right width. If I had used ribbon I probably would have used some non-fusible interfacing to provide some extra support. For the Ultrasuede though, it doesn't seem necessary. Next step? Make that shirt!

Another easy to make option is the gathered rayon batik belt I made to go with a matching skirt/top gee-that-looks-just-like-a-dress-combo.



Fabric scraps were cut into strips - twice the width of the finished belt, plus seam allowance, and a length that was roughly 2 and 1/2 times the finished length I wanted the belt to be. Sew up the long skinny tube, press and turn, then I ran some firm, wide elastic through the center. This one fastens with a simple interlocking belt buckle. The buckle's original finish was brass (or something very like it), and I wanted something a bit different. A quick spray with some metallic copper paint gave me the look I wanted, and it should hold up just fine.

You may notice some knitting underneath the photo of the belt -- that's a tank I'm working on at the moment. (S. Charles 'Sahara' - citrus color) I was kind of hoping it might work with the green of the batik, but I'm not so sure. Looks more yellow in the photo. Ah well, sometimes a serendipitous match, sometimes not.

So, there you have it -- minimal time, very little money spent, and two belts that give me just the look I want -- can't beat that!