diy: bow belt

 I've been wanting a mint bow belt for quite some time and so when I had made a spare moment, I decided to make my own!

supplies:
cotton fabric
needle + thread + sewing machine if you have one
sew-on snaps

belt directions:

step 1: measure your waist and add two inches to the length.

step 2: cut out fabric 2 inches by the previous length

step 3: fold the fabric in half "hot-dog" style with the yuckier sides facing out toward you and press with an iron. Fold in the edges at the top and bottom of the belt 1/4 inch and press.

step 4:  Sew along the edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. (not the top or bottom)

step 4: turn that sucker inside out (use a pointy device to help you with this.)

step 5: Sew along the top and bottom (your frayed edges should be neatly tucked inside.) set the belt aside.

bow directions:

step 1: cut out two rectangles of fabric, 1 large, 1 smaller.  I did 4 x 10 for one, and 3 x 5 for the other.

step 2: fold the large rectangle in half, press it with an iron and fold in the edges of at the top and bottom (about 1/4 inch) and press.

step 3: sew along the long edge. turn inside out and press the fabric so that the seam is in the middle-- (see the image below at left)

step 4: tuck one end into the other and stitch it so you have a tube (see above image at right)

step 5: follow step 2 for the small rectangle. This should result in a nice little tube (see image at left).

step 6: Pinch your large rectangle into a bow shape and squeeze it through the tube.


bow belt:

step 1: stitch the bow to your belt

step 2: measure where you want your snaps to be (I wrapped the belt around my waist toward the front and marked with a pen where I wanted the snaps to line up) and sew them on.

step 3: pair your cute bow belt with your favorite dress or skirt!

** if my bow tutorial wasn't so great... check out these directions too-- they're a tad different.

** this belt tutorial is super fun! but it's not for you to make and sell... just to make and wear or make and share. :)

xo, erika

p.s. you still have time to enter my birthday giveaway. it's pretty good. jus' saying.