SCRAPS TO FABRIC BELT
Turn fabric scraps into a simple belt. This quick and easy project is good for sewing practise if you’re just getting started.
You will need:
Long strips of scrap fabric (at least 15cm wide)
Strip of medium-weight fusible (iron-on) interfacing, 8cm wide Two 4.5cm D-rings
Basic sewing kit
Blunt-tipped chopstick or knitting needle
1 Sew your fabric strips together to form one long strip that’s twice your waist measurement plus 50cm in length and 7.5cm wide. Trim to size if necessary. Press the seams open, then press the whole strip to get rid of any creases. Fold the strip in half.
2 Cut the strip in two, to give you two pieces each measuring 7.5cm wide and your waist measurement plus 25cm in length.
3 Cut medium-weight interfacing to the same measurement as one of the pieces. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply the interfacing to the wrong side of one of the pieces.
4 With right sides together, pin the fabrics together and sew around the rectangle with a 1.5cm seam allowance, leaving an 8cm gap in one long edge.
5 Trim the corners and turn the belt right side out through the gap. Use an object with a blunt tip, such as a chopstick or a knitting needle, to poke out the corners to make sure the edges are neat and sharp. Give the belt a good steam press.
6 Carefully top-stitch all around the belt. This creates a neat, clean finish and also closes the opening.
7 Slide the two D-rings onto one end of the belt. Fold over 2.5cm to cover the rings, then sew across the strip as close as possible to the D-rings. Maker’s note: Pick leftovers from mid- to heavyweight fabrics in block colours or with patterns. Woven fabrics such as denim, wax fabrics or mid-weight cotton drill will give a relaxed but clean finish.