Photo: energeticspell / Flickr

Save money by creating your own belts this season. Make a bold fashion statement with do-it-yourself belts in leather or bold fabrics and have loads of fun at the same time. So round up any pieces of fabric, bits of leather, plastics, buttons and bottle tops and start creating some colourful and eccentric belts to complement a variety of outfits. By following a few simple steps you can make your very own masterpiece!

Get the right measurements

In order to make your perfect belt you need to make sure you fit it correctly. Measure your waist or hips (depending on where you want the belt to sit) and be sure to follow these measurements. Also measure where you want the fastener to be and allow room for it to move slightly to make the belt tighter or looser. If you are making the belt for a friend measure the waist line of their trousers and just make it slightly longer than that.

Ribbons

Ribbons are great for creating belts in any colour. You can reinforce ribbons with backing so that they are more durable and stich the ends to prevent fraying. Ribbon belts can be tied off in cute bows either in the front or join two ribbons and tie at the sides for a cute, vintage look. If you are good at sewing attach some metal rings to the one end of the ribbon and thread the other side through to fasten it. Alternatively loop a long ribbon in half, using the middle to hold the rings and slide both loose ends through to fasten.

Leather

Leather is a hard fabric to work with but a homemade leather belt can make a great gift for a friend. First you need to cut your leather to the correct length and width (normally 1.5 inches wide) and soften it up using a damp sponge. You can carve in your own design on the belt or use leather stamps to create a design. You can then dye the belt using oil-based dyes, punch your holes, attach your buckle and you have your very own leather belt.

Too much like hard work?

If making your own belt seems too much like hard work consider buying a cheap, plain belt and decorating it with buttons, badges and bottle topsto create your own look. You can also plait or twist lengths of offcut fabrics to make interesting belts in various colours and simply tie a knot at the end to keep it all together.

Tags: fashion, fashion accessories, homemade