- 1). Measure your natural waist with a measuring tape. Add 6 inches to the measurement to find your fabric length. Triple your waist measurement to find your ribbon length.
- 2). Cut a piece of 1-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon to the ribbon length. For example, if your waist measurement is 28 inches, cut a piece of ribbon that is 84 inches long.
- 3). Apply no-fray fabric sealant to the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying. Allow the adhesive to dry for 10 minutes.
- 4). Lay the fabric, face-side down, on your work surface. Mark a rectangle with dressmaker's chalk that is your sum waist measurement by 6 inches. For example, if your waist measurement is 28 inches, your rectangle should measure 34 inches by 6 inches.
- 5). Cut the rectangle out of the fabric with scissors.
- 6). Lay the rectangle horizontally on your work surface with the backside of the fabric facing you. Fold a 1-inch hem at the top and bottom edges of the fabric. Secure the folds with straight pins. This should reduce the width of the rectangle to 4 inches.
- 7). Fold a 1-inch hem on each of the short sides of the rectangle. Secure each fold with straight pins.
- 8). Stitch the hems in place on a sewing machine. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance on all four sides. Remove the pins as you go.
- 9). Lay the hemmed fabric horizontally on your work surface. The top side of the fabric should face you. Lay the ribbon horizontally on top of the fabric.
- 10
Center the ribbon so there are 1 1/2 inches of fabric above and below it. Each end of the ribbon should extend an equal length from the sides of the rectangle. Secure the ribbon to the fabric with straight pins. For example, if the fabric is 32 inches by 4 inches, and the ribbon is 84 inches long, you should have 26 inches of ribbon hanging off each end of the fabric. - 11
Stitch along the top and bottom edges of the ribbon, from one end of the fabric to the other. Remove the straight pins as you sew. Leave as little seam allowance between the sewing machine needle and the edges of the ribbon as possible. For example, if the fabric section of the belt is 32 inches long, sew two 32-inch long seams along the top and bottom edges of the ribbon band in the center of the belt. - 12
Hold the obi belt to your waist. Center the fabric section over your navel. Wrap the fabric section around to the center of your back. The edges of the fabric may overlap slightly. Wrap the loose ends of the ribbon back around to the front of your waist. Tie the ribbon in a bow to secure the belt.
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