DIY Scarf and matching fabric belt - optional sequins. Post 755 by Angela Lansbury.

Indigo Moon belt. 


Indigo Moon Belts

I was looking at Indigo Moon belts on ebay. One of them was marked small. I wondered if it would be too short. 

Making Tie Belts

Then I wondered whether I could make a tie belt. It is basically a long piece of fabric, seamed along the length. You turn it inside out with the aid of a large safety pin as a guide and pusher.

Finding Spare Fabric At Home

Where could I find spare fabric? Cut off a garment which was unwanted or too small? 

New Uses For Unused Scarves

What about cutting up a scarf. I often see scarved with ridiculous complicated patch patterns.  Why not cut a strip off a scarf. A large, wide scarf. The sort which comes from sarees or Indian outfits. 

Scarf And Matching Belt

Then I would have a scarf and a matching belt! How smart. Co-ordinated. Why did I never think of that before? 

How To Make Patchwork Belts

You could make a patchwork belt by cutting up two plain belts of different colours. Make small square patched from other scraps in your sewing box. Or add odd buttons.

How To Use Sequin Ribbon On Belts

I was wondering what to do with length of sequin ribbon I had bought. They are too short to edge the hem of a skirt. But they could decorate a belt. 

Cut a length off a child's sequin dress which is now too small. 

Buy sequinned or beaded hats. Styles you don't like, too small, berets. Cut strips or oblongs to make patches.

DIY Belts - How To Restore Broken Belts

Use an old leather or plastic belt as a base. Cover an old belt which has split so it was no longer wearable. Cover just the split area. 

Or cover the entire belt. If you are not keen on the base fabrics texture or colour, that won't matter if you wear a jacket on top, or cover the belt with beads.. A plain black, brown, navy or grey can match your shoes or gloves or suit. Or be hidden or contrasted with a brighter edging. Cover the old belt with a fabric you don't like, the weight or colour you don't like. Complement the colour, and/or sew pretty patches on top. 

I don't like heavy belts. If patches would make it too heavy, just add small, pearly shirt buttons. Sew them on. Or glue them on.

Buying Fabric Belts

On ebay when I typed in patterned belts I got more than a thousand. I had to add clothing. I was distracted by belts for medical conditions, and heavy work such as belts for tools for construction workers. However I flicked down and found fabric belts for women's clothing.

 I noticed some patterned belts were called Chinese Hanfu. What was this, maybe the fabric or pattern? No. Hanfu, Han-fu means Chinese Han group of people, fu clothes.

Search Words For Belt Styles

That gave me more ideas for search words. Chinese. Japanese. Oriental. Exotic. Patchwork. Embroidered. Patterned. Loads of ideas and opportunities for buying belts. 

DIY Belts

Plus ideas  for making belts from scraps in your sewing box. Or cutting up discarded clothes.

Matching Colour Using Dye

To make clothes matching accessories, dye the clothes and accessories in the same batch. For example, take a tee shirt with a white background, and a strip of cloth or scarf with a white background. Dye them both black, dark blue, or even red, orange, green or pale blue. In my experience, if the two items are of different colours they will not come out the same shade of the same colour. However, they come out with different shades of the same colour. So you might get a dark pink shirt with a pale pink scarf, or vice versa. Try it on two old garments which don't matter, using part of a carton of dye. You can darken the colours by dyeing again. Or add another colour. If all else fails, dye both black.

Planning Matching Sets With Dye

I discovered this way of creating matching sets by accident. I wanted to dye a discoloured item. I had leftover dye and looked for other items to dunk in the dye, and leave to soak in it, with added salt to set the dye. Without planning it, I ended up with two matching items which made a co-ordinated outfit. 

You can watch videos and buy kits which include handles.

Useful Websites On Bag Handles And Eyelets For Ribbons

Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faankiton-Grommets-Eyelets-Curtains-Tarpaulins

Ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389834350479?_skw=bag-making+handles

Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/bag_handles_for_craft

Youtube on making bag handles

Wikihow

I watched a You Tube tutorial on making bag handles. Another on reinforcing bags. You could use some of these techniques to reinforce a fabric belt, with interfacing.

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