How to Make Your Own Pants Belt

Belts can be a purely functional item for holding up your pants or a decorative fashion accessory. You can use a belt buckle and eyelets (also known as grommets) for holes, or use a D-ring to make a simple belt with no holes. In either case, you should make the belt about 8 inches longer than the waistband of your pants. You can buy strap material for the belt at many fabric stores, or make a belt from fabric or two pieces of wide grosgrain ribbon and fusible web.

Things You'll Need

• strap material, wide ribbon or fabric
• matching thread
• scissors
• sewing machine
• belt buckle or two D-rings
• fusible web (optional)
• iron (optional)
• eyelets (optional)
• eyelet punch and installation tool (optional)
• hammer (optional)
• small safety pin (optional)

Instructions

Make a Pants Belt With a Buckle or D-Rings

1. Cut the strap material so that it’s about 2 inches longer than you want the finished belt. Fold each end of the belt over about 1/2 inch and stitch it in place to keep it from raveling. Or, you can make a belt from ribbon or fabric following the instructions below.

2. Wrap one end of the belt around the belt buckle or D-rings. Stitch across the end of the belt to hold the buckle or D-rings in place.

3. Wrap the belt around your waist to determine where you need to make the holes (optional), then remove the belt.

4. Punch holes in the end of the belt opposite the buckle using the eyelet punch. Space the holes 1 to 2 inches apart, or make just one or two holes where you need them.

5. Position the eyelets over the holes. Place the eyelet tool on top of one of the eyelets, then pound the eyelet in place with a hammer.

Make a Ribbon Belt

1. Cut two pieces of wide grosgrain ribbon, each about 2 inches longer than you want the finished belt.

2. Cut a strip of fusible web slightly narrower and shorter than the pieces of ribbon.

3. Place the fusible web on one piece of ribbon, paper side up. Iron the fusible web to the ribbon. Wait for it to cool, then peel away the paper.

4. Place the other ribbon on top of the fusible web. Iron the two pieces together.

5. Stitch along the top and bottom edges of the belt.

6. Fold each end of the belt over about 1/2 inch, then fold it over again. Stitch across the ends of the belt to keep the ribbon from raveling.

7. Attach a belt buckle or D-rings to the belt following the instructions above.

Make a Fabric Belt

1. Cut a strip of fabric that’s twice as wide as you want the finished belt plus 1/2 inch, and 2 inches longer.

2. Fold the short ends over 1/2 inch toward the wrong side. Press the folds flat.

3. Fold the fabric in half right sides together and stitch along the edge opposite the fold. Attach a small safety pin to the end of one layer of the fabric. Push the safety pin through the belt to turn it right side out. Remove the safety pin.

4. Press the belt flat, making sure the seam is in the back of the belt. Stitch along each end of the belt.

5. Attach a belt buckle or D-rings to the belt following the instructions above.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use two contrasting ribbons for the ribbon belt if you want.

• Use caution when working with scissors, sewing machines, irons, eyelet tools and hammers.