Kids Makes

Just Zip It - Belt

Simple and fun are two apt words to describe this belt. Made from a zipper and bound on either side with leather, this belt can be worn with jeans or over a skirt in various ways to suit your whim. Add your favorite zipper pull (ours is an earring), and you have a versatile, one-of-a-kind fashion statement.

MATERIALS

63.4 cm (25") metal-tooth zip and pull
150 cm of 2 cm leather binding (60 of ¾”)
One size -24 snap set
Thread to match for machine and hand-sewing
Double-stick tape
Scissors
Rotary or handheld hole punch, size 3 mm (1/8")
8-oz leather or 6 mm–13 mm (1/4" to 1/2" ) wood for punching board
Optional
Glover’s needle

To make

1. Use double-stick tape to fold and secure the leather binding evenly over each of the zipper’s two long cloth edges.


2.  Topstitch the binding on the zip 3 mm (1/8") away from the bound edge. (See illustration A.)

3. To reduce bulk at both ends of the zip, carefully cut away the metal teeth along the last 13 mm (1/2") of each side of the zip, leaving the cloth intact. Use double-stick tape to cover the closed end of the zip with a 9.5 cm (3 3/4") piece of leather binding. Machine or hand-stitch (using a glover’s needle) the binding to the zip tape. (See illustration B.)

4. Use double-stick tape to cover the zip’s two open ends with two 7.5 cm (3") pieces of leather binding. Machine or hand-stitch (using a glover’s needle) the binding over the zipper tape on each open end.
5. Punch a hole in the centre of each leather-bound open end and set a snap through the two holes, with the male set on one side and the female set on the other.

Further information 

This project has been reproduced from Making Stylish Belts by Ellen Goldstein-Lynch, Nicole Malone and Sarah Mullins. Published by Quarry books and distributed by RotoVision, this fabulously practical book is full of DIY projects to craft and sew at home,including 18 different belts with step by step instructions and full colour photography. Making Stylish Belts, ISBN 978-1-59253-372-5 is priced £16.99. To order please call Grantham Book Services on tel: 01476 541080 or email: orders@gbs.tbs-ltd.co.uk.