How to make a dress fabric belt diy from discarded tote bag handles and a handsewn belt 'button' holes in a caftan, dress of the day 546
DIY belt for a caftan. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
This belt is made from the handles of tote bags, removed from paper tote bags either torn and discarded or no longer needed. Usually you can unthread the end of the handle. You only need to disentangle one end of the handle and you can usually pull the other one out. Occasionally I cut the bag in order to remove the handles.
If you want to preserve a bag handle in the bag in order to carry the bag, you can thread one of the handles diagonally from one side to the other.
In the dress, I first tie the two handles together at the ends with a slip knot. You could sew them or fix them with glue or nail varnish. You can tie the rope handle around your waist, if you have an hourglass figure, which I do. However, there is always the risk of the belt hanging lopsided or falling off in the street and being lost or dirty. So I made two slits for the belt with the edges sewn like button holes.
The handle is a soft gold coloured twisted rope, with metallic fastened ends in black, like the ends of shoe laces. I tied the ends of the two handles together
I cut the hem off my caftan becuase it was too long and I was falling over it. the spare fabric made a handy belt. But how could I stop it sliding off. I wanted it through half the waist at the front. Why? To leave the two frills at the sides. To let it flow loose and airy, at least at the back.
My buttonhole is not perfect. But it's my first. And nobody will notice it.
What is a buttonhole?
A buttonhole is a slit large enough to hold in place a button. The first thing you do is make a slit the right size.
A belt slit
My slit is longer, for a belt, ideally a self fabric belt. Mine is cut from the hem of the caftan which was too long.
Wrap Around Skirt Belts
If you have a wrap around skirt, you probably have a slit or two, or a slit and a fabric loop, to catch the belt. Look at how the 'buttonhole' is made. You may have an edge covered in bias binding or pretty ribbon. On a wrap around skirt you have one long belt strip, fastened at one end. It ties to itself, or is secured by a button of hook and eye or button and button hole.
The Slit
I made the slit too ragged, using a large pair of scissors. I had to fold in or oversew the edges. You want to cut a neat, straight slit.
The slit must be large enough for the belt.
Guarding Against Tearing
The edges on the ends of the slit have a triple or multiple stitch at right angles to prevent the shank of the button from pulling the fabric and making a tear. The same applies to a belt. A light fabric belt is might cause less pulling. But the likelihood and degree of tearing could also be affected by the weight of the fabric and the thickness of the thread density of the weave.
Glossary of terms
bar - the sewing on the short end of the oblong button hole
keyhole button hole - has a round shape at one end which the shank of the button slides into
welts
Frankly, if I had the money and space I would just buy more sewing machines, with the built-in attachments. Or send my clothes to be mended by tailors.
Useful Websites
5 best machines with button holers
Starting with the cheapest and easy to carry. Ending with two which have automatic needle threading.
how to thread using an automatic needle threader (it has a little hook which pulls the thread through the hole - you still have to thread through the rest of the machine)
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