Tutorial: Pretty Bow Belt

Friday, April 26, 2013

Bow belts are so easy to make and can add that pretty little detail to any outfit to finish it off. They are also great for using those scraps of left over fabric you have that you aren't quite sure what to do with.

There are endless options for customising your belt as well. You don't have to make the belt from one single fabric - mix it up and have a different coloured bow and belt, or a different textured knot on the bow.

You can also just make the bow part of this tutorial and use it as a decorative feature on any number of projects from head bands, pillows and cushions, hair pieces, shoe clips...the list is never ending.

So let's get started...

1)
You will need three rectangles of fabric. I used a smaller seam allowance of half an inch but you can add a standard seam allowance of 1.5cm (or 5/8") to all of your pieces (or more or less) as you see fit.

Belt -
Length  = measure your waist and add 2 inches (or more if you fluctuate in this area quite a bit) plus your chosen seam allowance. (FYI - the belt in the image above is cut off, it runs much longer on each side!).
Width = 4inches plus your chosen seam allowance

Bow -
Length = 13.5inches + seam allowance. Width = same as the belt

Knot - 2inches x 2.5inches + seam allowance.

2) Fold all pieces in half length wise, right sides together. Lightly iron.


3) Sew the knot along the raw edges lengthwise only, leaving both ends open. Back tack both ends and trim seam allowance down. Turn rightside out.



 4) Sew the bow together along the raw edges leaving a hole in the middle. Back tack and trim corners.


5) Turn the bow right sides out one side at a time. Use something sharp to poke the corners out (I used my scissors, but be careful if you use these as sometimes they can poke a hole in your corner!)


6) Iron the bow and the knot flat. At this stage you can choose to hand sew the middle opening of the bow shut, but you don't need to as you will be hiding it in the next few steps.


 7) Fold the bow in half. Measure 2.5inches from the loose ends and sew a straight line down, remembering to back tack at each end.


8) Open your loose ends out and push the fold down as per below. Iron flat.



9) Pinch the bow together in the centre. I like to fold my bow right sides together and then fold the edges out to get a nice even crease.


10) Wrap the knot around your crease and secure at the back with a few hand stitches. Voila! You have now made your bow!


11) If you are using interfacing on your belt, apply this now. Then sew raw edges together, from one end of the belt to the other leaving a small gap (this needs to be big enough to turn your belt in the right way!). Clip corners.


12) Turn your belt in the right way and iron. Close the gap you left with a few invisible hand stitches. Tack the bow onto the belt at one end.


13) You can choose any number of different closures for your belt. I used a bar and hook because that is what I had on hand, but you can use buttons, hooks and eyes or snap fasteners. Use what ever you are comfortable with.


14) Ta da! You just made your very own bow belt.


If you make one, I'd love to see it! Let me know in the comments or send me an email - jenniferlauren.is@gmail.com

xx
Jen

Edited to add - you can use interfacing on all pieces, not just the belt, for a stiffer/crisper finish :)


8 comments on "Tutorial: Pretty Bow Belt"
  1. Lovely idea. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Super cute!! I love how perfect the bows are with the perfect rectangle pieces.

    I would use a fusible interfacing on all the pieces to keep it crisper and make it hold up to any bending or pulling!

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  3. Adventures in Dressmaking - Yes, me too! I didn't add them into the photos for this because I was just using muslin for the images :)

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  4. Wow, I love this - can't wait to make one!

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  5. Lise - if you do make one, I'd love to see it :)

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  6. Lovely, thanks so much for sharing!

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  7. Adorable! This is so cute!

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  8. So cute! Thanks for the tutorial.

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