Now that Christmas is over and I have time to breathe again (and now that it’s too late for you to use for this Christmas…), I’m going to be writing up tutorials for the handmade gifts I made for my boys this year.
First up: Tool Belts
These come together quickly using mostly scraps. Here’s what you’ll need:
MATERIALS
- scrap of old jean (or other heavy weight) fabric – approximately 14″ x 17″
- scraps of quilting cotton for the binding
- 1″ nylon strapping
- parachute buckle
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut a 14″ x 17″ rectangle from old jeans or use some other heavy weight fabric.
My boys are 4 and 2 (and taller than average) and this size worked well for both of them. I’d say this size will be just right for 2 – about 8 years old.
2. Finish the edge of one of the short ends of the rectangle. You’ll want to fold over 1/4″ and sew down with wrong sides together.
3. Make the binding for finishing the edges. Cut 3 strips each measuring about 1.75″ x 18″.
Fold each strip in half and press. Unfold and fold them in half so the raw edges meet in the center and press. Fold the whole thing in half again and press.
4. Along the other short end of the rectangle (the one you DIDN’T finish), attach the binding strip. There’s no need to finish the edges, just leave them raw.
Insert the the edge of the rectangle into the binding strip making sure that the edge of the rectangle is in the exact center of the binding strip and that the binding strip is even front and back.
Snip the excess binding from the ends.
5. Fold the bottom of the rectangle up so the now bound edge is about 4″ down from the other finished edge.
Attach the other two binding strips to the two long edges of the rectangle. Fold the ends of the binding tape in so there are no raw edges and attach from the bottom of the tool belt to the top. (Start at the bottom and leave about 1/4″ past the end of the rectangle to fold in to finish.)
6. Turn the tool belt over so the wrong side is up, lay the nylon strapping along the edge and fold over. The edge of the jean fabric should extend about 1/4″ past the edge of the strapping. Pin. Remove strapping and edge stitch the casing in place.
7. Sew a few vertical lines just through the pocket part to create the sections.
8. Attach a parachute buckle to the ends of the strapping and that’s it!
My boys have LOVED their new tool belts!!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and here’s to a head start on handmade ideas for next year…
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