Make a Jeweled Belt
Make a Jeweled Belt
The last stop for costume jewelry is your local thrift store. Brooches in particular are a piece of office wear that often ends up selling for pennies.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Sash or Belt?
We are talking about adding style, here, not holding up your pants. For our purposes, you can use a sash or scarf that has been folded in half lengthwise. Folding it will make it thicker when you wear it.
It is easier to attach the pins to a sash than a leather belt, and scarves or sashes are much more versatile because you can change the width depending on how you tie it. There are also more color choices with scarves, so you can get as creative as you like.
Let's pick our pins and brooches.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Choosing a Brooch
Pick a brooch or pin with a lot of sparkle to add toward the front of your belt. You are looking for something bold, but not cheesy. There are so many animal, flower and funky shapes to choose from with brooches. Even holiday pins find their way to the thrift store.
When you are perusing the brooches, keep in mind how you intend to add them to the belt. Do they still have working clasps? Are there any jewels missing?
Next, let's attach the pins to the belt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Attaching Pins to the Belt
You should put the brooches in places closer to your front, at the waist and hip. Lay out your sash and try arranging your pins until you are happy with the result. Pin the brooches in place on the sash.
To prevent the brooches from wobbling when you walk, use a needle and thread to loop through any jewel settings or edges to help secure the pin to the belt. You may want to consider adding ribbon or fabric for a bow, like Miss Von Teese.
Next, we'll see how to tie the belt, or add a buckle.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Try wrapping the sash around you so that you have a nice, thick belt happening at the waist. The great part about using a sash is that you can tug at the fabric to adjust the width of your belt.
Tie the belt at the side of your hip, or directly in front. You can even use another brooch to gather and pin up the loose ends of the sash if you like.
If you don't want to tie the belt, hit the craft store.
They have lots of belt finding that you can use to cap the ends of your belt and make it the perfect fit. These buckles cost only $2.00-$5.00.
Pairing a glittering belt with the right clothing can be a challenge. Here are some tips for wearing your belt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Every bold accessory comes with a set of rules. I'm not one to squelch your creative spirit, but here are a few guidelines on how to get the most out of your bejeweled belt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Easy Clothes to Make:
How-To Pants . How-To Skirts . How-To Dresses . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects . T-Shirt Surgery . Stencils Library . Top 10 Hippie Clothes . Punk Clothes to Make
Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces and More:
Junk Drawer Jewelry . Decoupage Jewelry . Make Bracelets . Jewelry Making . Hemp Jewelry
Bags, Hats, and More Accessories:
Free Hat Patterns . How-To Bags . Make Scarves . College Student Accessories . Index of Accessory Projects . Gloves and Wristbands
The last stop for costume jewelry is your local thrift store. Brooches in particular are a piece of office wear that often ends up selling for pennies.
- What You'll Need:
- A long sash or scarf
- Your choice of thrift store brooches
- A needle & thread
- Scissors [recommended scissors]
- (Optional) A belt buckle
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Sash or Belt?
We are talking about adding style, here, not holding up your pants. For our purposes, you can use a sash or scarf that has been folded in half lengthwise. Folding it will make it thicker when you wear it.
It is easier to attach the pins to a sash than a leather belt, and scarves or sashes are much more versatile because you can change the width depending on how you tie it. There are also more color choices with scarves, so you can get as creative as you like.
Let's pick our pins and brooches.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Choosing a Brooch
Pick a brooch or pin with a lot of sparkle to add toward the front of your belt. You are looking for something bold, but not cheesy. There are so many animal, flower and funky shapes to choose from with brooches. Even holiday pins find their way to the thrift store.
When you are perusing the brooches, keep in mind how you intend to add them to the belt. Do they still have working clasps? Are there any jewels missing?
Next, let's attach the pins to the belt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Attaching Pins to the Belt
You should put the brooches in places closer to your front, at the waist and hip. Lay out your sash and try arranging your pins until you are happy with the result. Pin the brooches in place on the sash.
To prevent the brooches from wobbling when you walk, use a needle and thread to loop through any jewel settings or edges to help secure the pin to the belt. You may want to consider adding ribbon or fabric for a bow, like Miss Von Teese.
Next, we'll see how to tie the belt, or add a buckle.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Try wrapping the sash around you so that you have a nice, thick belt happening at the waist. The great part about using a sash is that you can tug at the fabric to adjust the width of your belt.
Tie the belt at the side of your hip, or directly in front. You can even use another brooch to gather and pin up the loose ends of the sash if you like.
If you don't want to tie the belt, hit the craft store.
They have lots of belt finding that you can use to cap the ends of your belt and make it the perfect fit. These buckles cost only $2.00-$5.00.
Pairing a glittering belt with the right clothing can be a challenge. Here are some tips for wearing your belt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Every bold accessory comes with a set of rules. I'm not one to squelch your creative spirit, but here are a few guidelines on how to get the most out of your bejeweled belt.
- Let the belt shine. Don't try to make your other jewelry compete. Wearing a big belt means that your necklace doesn't have to work overtime. Stick with a light necklace and earring set. Also, don't wear a choker while you are wearing your belt. One cinch is enough.
- Use your belt over a dress or with straight-leg pants. Solid colors work well with a blinging belt, but you'll want to add a little pattern to the mix so that your belt isn't blinding innocent passerby.
- This punky style can spice up some of your more casual clothes. Try this with a t-shirt tank top or a simple skirt.
(Need help? Ask in the forum.)
More Belts to Make
Easy Clothes to Make:
How-To Pants . How-To Skirts . How-To Dresses . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects . T-Shirt Surgery . Stencils Library . Top 10 Hippie Clothes . Punk Clothes to Make
Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces and More:
Junk Drawer Jewelry . Decoupage Jewelry . Make Bracelets . Jewelry Making . Hemp Jewelry
Bags, Hats, and More Accessories:
Free Hat Patterns . How-To Bags . Make Scarves . College Student Accessories . Index of Accessory Projects . Gloves and Wristbands