How to Make a Tool Belt
One of the most exasperating aspects of making home repairs is hunting for tools. Instead of endless rounds of "I put it right over there," make a tool belt to carry what you need. This project may not be right for a beginning sewer; knowledge of how to back-stitch, bar-tack and top-stitch with a little practice in those techniques is of great help. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- 1 yard 36-inch or wider heavy-use fabric (canvas, rip-stop nylon, tote-weight cotton/muslin)
- Thread
- Scissors
- Pins
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
-
1
Wash cotton/canvas fabric in hot water, to prevent later shrinkage. Dry.
-
2
Cut a rectangle 2 feet by 2 1/2 feet out of fabric. Reserve the remainder to complete project. Hem all sides of the rectangle with a double-fold 1/4 inch seam.
-
-
3
Place the hemmed rectangle face down, 2 1/2-foot side closest to you. Fold bottom side up toward the top, stopping four inches before the top (folded fabric makes a rectangle that now measures--allowing for hems--approximately 2 1/4 feet wide and 15 inches deep). Top-stitch folded section at edges, back-stitching to strengthen. You now have a giant, wide single pocket.
-
4
Using pins, divide pocket into five pockets (make the center pocket widest, to hold nails or screws). Top-stitch pocket divisions, using two rows of stitches 1/4 inch apart between pockets. Bar-tack top corners of pockets to help them stay secure under stress.
-
5
Cut, piece, and fold most of remaining fabric to produce a double-thick tie long enough to go around your waist or that of your handyman. (Many prefer to make the waist-ties long enough to go all the way around your waist and tie in the front--commonly referred to as the "French chef" strategy). Center on the wide, single-layer top of the rectangle and attach the tie. Out of scraps, cut and fold two double-thickness 4 1/2-inch tool-loops one inch wide. Tuck in the raw ends, topstitch these two strips to the area above the pockets and below the tie leaving enough fabric looped to hold a long-handled tool like a hammer.
-
6
Go back over stitching with both your eyes and hands, testing for stress-points. If you have any doubts, stitch over seams or corners that will take the heaviest use.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Sewing at a slower pace than usual will help prevent bending machine needles. Since it is a small project, slowing down will not seriously add to sewing time.
This is a good project to do when you are teaching yourself to modify patterns to individual needs or create sewn work without paper patterns.
If the new tool belt will be used in a "real fixer-upper," you may find that it wears faster than a commercially-available fabric belt. But, if repair-supply stores are hard to get to, this is a quick and immediate answer to the problem,. It's fun to make, serves well with light to moderate use, and also gives you practice in keeping track of your tools.
