How to Make A Waist Belt With Interchangeable Colors

First, you need to measure your waist at the narrowest part. Since you will be wearing the belt over clothing, do this measurement over your shirt (refer to photo). We'll refer to this measurement as X inches.

Supplies:

• 3" wide heavy-duty elastic (any color), length X+2 inches (for example, my waist measurement was 33", so I used a 35" long piece of elastic)
• Thread, same color as elastic and same color as fabric used for cover
• 3 pairs of large hook-and-eye closures: I used simple ones, but fancy is ok too.
• Fabric cover: width 7.5", length X+7.5"
• Sewing machine
• Scissors

Procedure:

1. Fold down 1" on each end of the elastic (make sure they are folded so that the raw edge is on the same side!) and pin. Wrap around waist, the folded ends should just meet (not overlap!) without stretching. Adjust if necessary.
2. Sew down folds. Check length again, remove pins.
3. Hand sew the hook-and-eye closures to the ends of the elastic as shown in the pictures. It is more important that they are even and securely stitched than that the stitching be neat, since only the ends will be exposed. See picture.
4. Cut the fabric to the dimensions specified above. Next, we will make tabs!
5. Measure 2" in from each corner on the short edge of the fabric, and mark with chalk. Measure 3" in from each corner on the long edge of the fabric, and mark with chalk.
   
6. Use a ruler to extend the lines parallel to the fabric edges until they intersect; it should look like four rectangles, one in each corner. Make sure that the space between the short end rectangles is 4" and not 1.5", because if it's 1.5" you reversed the measurements of the rectangles.
   
7. Cut out the rectangles -- you should now have a piece of fabric shaped like a long, stretched out plus sign. Take your scissors, and trim the 4" by 3" tabs on the fabric ends into tapered trapezoids. Next, cut .5" long notches into the base of each tab. Fold over .5" and sew down, so that right side of fabric faces out. See picture.
8. Next, at base of tab (3" wide, now that seams are sewn) use chalk to mark out 3 dashes about .75 inches long, equally spaced (see picture). Sew around chalk marks (like buttonholes) and snip.
9. Next, Fold fabric in half wrong side out, and sew the long sides using .25" seam allowance. See picture.
   
10. Turn the belt right-side out, and slide over elastic belt (use a large crochet hook to pull it through by the eye closure; it should be snug!)
11. Push hooks and eyes through slots in ends of fabric, and tuck tabs in as shown in pictures.
    
12. Wear it! Make multiple fabric covers for different looks.
    

Other Ideas

I made my first cover out of brown faux-leather, but you could use black patent leather, velvet, or corduroy for a different look. Here are some other ideas to try:

• Try putting appliques or studs into the fabric before sewing closed for even more variety.
• Make the sleeve about 6 inches longer and omit one tab.  Let the clasp part be in the back, and put decorative frogs, a faux buckle, or a bow in the front.
• Stretch out thin elastic and sew it along the center of the fabric strip (add 2 inches to the original length) using a zigzag stitch for a ruched effect.
  

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