This pattern hack can be used to add a belt and side belt loops to a dress or tunic, such as the Breeze Shirt or Driftwood Blouse + Dress. This is a simple way to add some waist shaping to a garment, and is a lovely detail for some extra visual interest.
There is a separate tutorial for creating an a belted A-Line Driftwood Dress here.
Please note that waist ties are for adult garments only. Ties may pose a hazard to children and are not safety compliant in many countries.
Materials
- Extra fabric yardage for ties and loops (see chart below)
- Fabric marker
- Ruler
- Scissors
Sewing the belt loops and belt
- Cut 1 belt loop piece on the bias: 7 3/4" x 1 5/8" (20cm x 4.1cm)
- Cut 1 belt to measurements in chart below:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | ||
| Belt dimensions (length) | inches | 33.9 | 34.6 | 35 | 35.4 | 36.2 | 36.6 | 37.4 | 38.2 | 39.4 | 40.2 | 41.3 | 42.1 | 42.9 | 44.5 | 46.1 | 47.2 | 48.8 | 50 | 51.2 | 52.8 |
| cm | 86 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 100 | 102 | 105 | 107 | 109 | 113 | 117 | 120 | 124 | 127 | 130 | 134 | |
| Belt dimensions (width) | inches | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
3.5
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3.5 |
3.5
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3.5 |
3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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| cm | 9 |
9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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9
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Note that the belt measurements in the chart will result in a belt with a 1.5" (3.8cm) finished width. Feel free to adjust the width for a wider or narrower belt.
Sewing the Belt Loops
1. Cut out the belt loop piece (see the cut chart above for dimensions). Press the long edges in 1/4" (6mm) towards the wrong side.
2. Fold in half lengthwise and press.
3. Stitch along the open edge with a 1/8" (3mm) seam allowance.
4. Cut into two pieces, each 10cm long. Set these aside for now.
Sewing the Belt
1. Cut out the belt piece (see the cut chart above for dimensions).
2. Press in the shorts ends 1/4" (6mm) to the wrong side.
3. Press the long edges 1/4" (6mm) to the wrong side.
4. Fold in half length-wise and press.
5. Stitch along the open edges with a 1/8" (3mm) seam allowance.
Adding belt loops to the garment
Sew the garment as per the tutorial instructions up to sewing side seams.
Before sewing the side seams, baste the belt loops to the sides of the dress at the level of the waistline. Or, position the belt loops lower for a dropped-waist look.
Continue sewing your garment as outlined in the pattern tutorial until complete. Then, thread the belt through the belt loops, and voilà - a gorgeous belted tunic or dress!
Join us in the Twig + Tale Facebook group to ask questions, look for inspiration, and of course to share photos of your lovely T+T creations.
