Ok, it is my ONLY fused plastic belt, but I’m loving it. I made one for Sienna too but I ordered a vintage “seat belt” buckle for it, so I’ll post photos of hers when finished.
I was brainstorming ways to recycle the rice bags we use in a fun way (we eat a lot of rice and stir-fry)….. and I remembered some fused plastic products I had seen. That gave me the idea that I could use the plastic bag fusing to “thicken” my rice bag enough to be durable, as well as make it opaque enough so the writing would show up. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but this might be one of my favorite projects ever! My husband is waiting for me to make one for him now (with something else besides rice bags)!
Before starting you’ll need the following materials:
:: 1.5″ cotton webbing (or polyester or nylon)
:: Plastic grocery bags or other plastic packaging
:: Fray Check or thread glue
:: Belt buckle (I took one off an old belt)
:: 3/16″ metal eyelets and eyelet tool (make sure your belt prong will fit through this size)
:: Coordinating thread (and heavy duty thread if you have it around)
Tools needed: sewing machine, scissors, and hammer
Before starting you’ll also have to measure your waist or hip area….(where you like for your belt to sit) and add 8″ to that measurement. This is your “belt length” that I refer to in this tutorial.
Step 1: Cut your top layer plastic (for me it was a rice bag) into 2″ strips making sure to concentrate on the areas that are most interesting. Note: Some plastics shrink more than others, so you may need to test some first. The rice bags are perfect because they barely shrink at all.
Step 2: Cut a piece of freezer paper slightly longer than your belt length, fold it in half, waxy sides together…..
…..and then fold it in half again. This is going to be your ironing “pocket” to melt your plastic in.
Step 3: Take several plastic grocery bags…..
…and cut them into 2.5″ strips. I only used the white parts for my belt because my design was dependent on the colors of the rice bag and I didn’t want other colors showing through.
Step 4: Open the freezer paper “sleeve” (no waxy portion should be showing) and lay the grocery bag strips on one side, several strips thick, overlapping them slightly.
Step 5: Lay your top layer of plastic (for my project it was the rice bag strips) on top of the grocery bag strips, overlapping the strips about 1/2 inch. You’ll lay enough of these strips to create the length of your belt.
Step 6: Close the sleeve carefully making sure that the strips do not shift any……
….and iron (no steam, medium setting) along the freezer paper sleeve to melt the bags together. You’ll have to do this for about a minute…. keeping the iron moving slowly at all times.
Let your sleeve cool. This is important** because plastic tends to curl when it cools.
**Note: The thick double freezer paper sleeve will help your plastic stay flat as it cools. Because of the thickness though you’ll need to check to make sure all the plastic melted. If not, close the sleeve again and repeat your ironing.
Step 6: The white plastic grocery bags tend to shrink considerably so check for “voids” like below (which means your iron was probably a little too hot)……
….but you can place more plastic grocery bag layers under that area and re-iron to fill it in.
Step 6: Cut a piece of cotton webbing as long as your belt length. You can use cotton, nylon, polyester webbing, or even jacquard…. whatever your preference.
Use a long straight edge to cut one side of your fused plastic piece…….
…..and then measure from that side 1 3/8″ so that your resulting plastic “belt” is 1/8″ smaller than your webbing width.
Here is what my two pieces looked like before I attached them together.
Step 7: Place your plastic belt piece on top of the webbing (I don’t pin them, it jacks it all up), and sew carefully down one side.
Note: You’ll want to use a longer stitch than normal (I use a 7 on my machine). A short stitch will weaken the plastic by punching holes too close together.
One side attached:
Step 8: Carefully stitch the other side of your belt and you’ll have the main belt piece finished!
Step 9: Notch both ends of your belt piece as shown below and zig-zag stitch the edges so that it won’t fray. I also like to coat the ends in Fray Check or thread glue.
Note: If you are using nylon, you can use a match to seal the ends.
Step 10: Cut a 1/2″ slit in one side of your belt for the buckle prong….
….and finish the edges using a narrow zig zag stitch. Be careful not to sew the hole closed!
Step 11: Insert your buckle prong through the hole……
…..and sew the end of the belt backwards by hand using a needle. I used a heavy duty thread for this step.
Step 12: Try on the belt and see where the buckle prong will hit and mark this spot and mark 2 other points at 1″ increments from each side so you have a total of 5 holes marked.
Step 13: At each of the holes marked, take the a sharp object such as scissors to poke/cut large enough holes through so that you can fit one of your 3/16″ metal eyelets through.
Note: Try to disturb as little of the fibers as possible so the holes won’t fray and weaken.
Place the other side of the eyelet in place……
……and use a hammer and your eyelet tool to lock the eyelet in place. Repeat for each eyelet.
And you are done!
I had the HARDEST time getting a photo of the belt myself since my husband was at work. I don’t trust my 2-year-old with my camera….no way. Here was the first attempt….using a mirror:
Note: I am not 7 feet tall….I was standing on a stool. Please don’t send emails asking if my inseam is 64 inches.
Then I went outside and took some by pointing my camera backward….it worked a little. Good thing I have long arms….
Pheww….that post took a while! Now I’m off to straighten up the house… and maybe get back in the painting studio, I’ve got a portrait to work on!
Oh my gosh! You are SO stellar! I love it! I am not that crafty yet…. maybe one day 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me everyday!
WOW!! I'm just in awe of your creativity!
You are so talented and skinny. We just can't be friends any longer.
LOL @Beachbrights…..it was a skinny mirror….and I'll sucking in 😉
ADORABLE!!! I love it… oh and its BRILLIANT too…
Oh I LOVE it! That would make some awesome handles for the Kidlets I've made for Serenity's room too!
You look GREAT too!
Holy cow, that is awesome! Thanks so much for all those detailed steps and photos. I've wanted to make some fused items for a while now, and this will make it so simple.
I'm so glad you commented on my blog, as this is my first time here. I'm subscribing to your feed.
i. love. this.
i can't even say anything else. you're a genius. ps. can you send me your address so i can send you a pattern?
That is seriously cool. And very creative of you:)
Are you 7 feet tall? Is your inseam 64 inches?
Haha, great job!
Thats awesome!
really cool idea! you are too creative! How do you find time to b a mom, create 100 things a day and blog about them? you are amazing!
That's so funny….I've been thinking of doing something with the fused plastic bag idea too! Though I never thought of a belt. Brilliant. I love what you chose. Really cool.
This is way too cool!! I think I will have to try it. I have two boys and I love to sew but there is really not many things I can sew that they would like at their age. This would be something they'd think is cool!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, I'd love to do one with candy wrappers. Fun!
This is so cool!! I'm going to start hoarding food packaging now.
I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-fused-plastic-belt/2009/08/14/
(link will go live at 11:45 pm CST)
–Anne
This is so cool! Can you please sell these so that I don't have to go through all that work for one? 😉
Amazing tutorial, though – I love photo tutes!
this is the coolest thing ever!! I think I'll need to make a belt so I quit flashing my fanny whenever I bend over in my fall jeans!! : )
That is so cute and creative, I love it! And I love rice! =) Thanks so much for the directions, I'll be linking.
WOW!!! You are so creative! I LOVE that you recycled to make this belt. So cool! 😉
This is just brilliant! Recycling AND fashion all at once. I posted your belt photo with links and full credit on (mostly)Handmade Holiday. If you need anything changed or removed, please let me know. I think this would make an awesome holiday gift.
Love it Ashley! I have way to many grocery bags! I will you some of them!
thank you!!
Love a good refashion!
I loved this tutorial so much I have featured it on my blog.
You can see it here….
http://allysonadeney.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/handmade-gift-ideas-with-tutorials-kids-little-boys-little-girls/
… if you like.
Thanks for taking the time to put it together and for sharing it with blogland.
Ally on harrysdesk