Free Project: mul•tex™ Belt
Posted by Tristan Gallagher on Apr 8th 2012
How cool is this belt that Creative Troupe member Diane Knoblauch created using fabric and mul•tex? mul•tex not only takes rubber stamping and painting beautifully, but it also is durable enough for repeated passing through belt loops…Diane used it to create the perfect custom fashion accessory.
Materials:
- mul•tex
- lightweight fleece interfacing
- fabric scraps for front of belt
- contrasting fabric for belt lining
- fabric with a bold print to layer under mul•tex
- buckle
- rubber stamps and ink pad
- craft drill or heavy-duty hole punch
Instructions:
- Determine the finished size of your belt. For the width, measure the space inside the buckle where the belt slides through, less 1/4″ for wiggle room. For the length, measure around your waist and add 7″ to 9″ more for overlap and buckle attachment.
- Cut strips of mul•tex that are ½” wider than your belt. Sew strips together end to end until they’re twice the belt’s length.
- Randomly stamp a pattern on the paper side of the mul•tex strip, let dry.
- Create box pleats on the mul•tex strip by grasping and folding small 1-1/2″ sections along the paper side, pinching the shiny sides of the mul•tex together and pressing each fold against the strip, so each pair of folds face each other, then sew lines 3/4″ away from each fold to secure the pleats. Continue pleating approximately every 1-1/2″ until the strip becomes your intended original length in step 1.
- Insert a fabric scrap inside each pleat (cut scraps to size as needed), so the fabric edges are tucked all the way under the folds; finger press flat. Sew another seam at each fold edge to secure. Continue adding fabric scraps between each pleat.
- Cut a strip of the bold print fabric to lay under (and peek through) the mul•tex at the same length and width. Baste in place along edges.
- For the belt lining, cut a strip of interfacing to the belt’s length, but 1/4″ less than its width. Cut a strip of lining fabric to the belt’s length, but 1/4″ wider. Center the interfacing strip on top of the wrong side of the lining fabric. Fold edges of fabric over the fleece and baste.
- Finger press the edges of pleated mul•tex strip under itself to match the width of the lining, place on top of liner fabric with interfacing sandwiched in between, then stitch the two strips together along both edges. Satin stitch the width ends closed.
- Fold and stitch one end through the buckle, punching a hole in position for the prong. Punch 3-4 holes at the opposite end in whatever positions are comfortable around your waist when the the belt is fastened. Reinforce the holes with stitching.
