Sewing Circle: A belt that's too long

Sewing Circle: A belt that's too long

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• 7.20.2010

Welcome to Sewing Circle!  This time, I got a not-directly-related-to-sewing question about altering a too-big belt to make it lay flat.
Q:
Natasha from twenty-something asked: have any quick-fix ideas on how to handle a belt that is just a little too long? I have a really beautiful belt I purchased from banana republic and I refuse to cut it...i believe i would ruin it. Unfortunately, it doesn't reach the next belt loop and it looks awful just hanging there. It is wide, so I cant fold under, as I do with the skinny belts. You are so crafty, I figured I ask for your help! :) I also attached a photo for you.

A:
Well, Natasha, I have had this problem before, too!  On one braided belt I have, I used a bobby pin to keep the tab pinned to the rest of the belt, but I'm sure there are better ways ;)
Cutting it would have been my other first thought, although it looks like you'd ruin the continuity of the finishing and stitching, so if you don't want to do that, you can...

1. Move the leather carrier over a couple inches by removing it from the back and inserting it a few inches down the belt, or 
2. Create a new carrier, possibly something innovative and not intended to match.  Or, a shoe repair shop would possibly have bits of leather to 
3. Create a new, matching carrier to attach a couple inches over from the existing one.

It will help to have a good leather needle if your machine will sew on leather, if you want to sew the carriers back in (they generally go between the lining and outside leather, with a row of top-stitching like it looks like your belt has. You don't have to do the top-stitching, but it will match better if you do.  If you attach the carriers invisibly with something like super glue, you'll add a texture that may create bumps on your blouse and may snag or pull off, and then you'll have super glue on the nice leather inside.

Hope that helps!  Does anyone else have tips or ideas on fixing this problem??

If any of you have questions for Sewing Circle, please email  me and let me know!