Thread: Belt bases?

Sugar Petals no longer offers belt bases. ,f:: My google searches haven't turned up any other sources. Anyone have any leads?

OH NO!! I always loved their bases. I can't think of any, but you could always try to do your own! And then trim and cut until it's perfect and then make a newspaper copy and save it for the next projects to trace and do. that's what i ended up doing. the only problem is that interfacing seems to be really expensive :(

I recently got buckrum (the stuff that they use inside of hats for stiffness) and it was only 3.00 a yard and I had a 40% coupon!

You could try simplicity pattern 2941?

The belts in that above pattern are just sort of wrap around that lace up in the back.
The skirt patterns are alright though. Stasha's costume books have a good belt pattern.
StashaMania: Products

Originally Posted by Mahsima

The belts in that above pattern are just sort of wrap around that lace up in the back.
The skirt patterns are alright though. Stasha's costume books have a good belt pattern.
StashaMania: Products

Ew. They lace up the back? WTH? I like the V-shape of view B, so I would just take that peice and alter it. At least it would give you a starting point for making your own.

Atira's Pattern #5 -- Tahia Alibeck's belts -- is a good start. This one actually has a curve too it and if making a wider version can use it to make a butt hugging style.

http://www.atirasfashions.com/images/NO05A.GIF

Thanks for the suggestions! One of them has got to work.

there's one problem with bukram, moisture tends to make 'em mushy.....that's why costumers build hats that end up outside with a core of that plastic netting used for rug hooking and needlepoint....more sturdy....sweat may have the same effect so you may want to use a really stiff interfacing with the bukram

Can you create a pattern out of one of your own belts (if you get the stuff out of the way)?

Originally Posted by Azhia

Can you create a pattern out of one of your own belts (if you get the stuff out of the way)?

Yes there is one I would like to try to trace as a pattern, it was from a Sugar Petals base and I like the look of it, it has a curved front with two peaks.

Eshta uses EZ felt for creating belt bases, you may want to ask her for more info on that.

From what I could tell, it looks like sugar petals used two or more pieces of interfacing fused together. Anyone else get that impression?

Also this page has a nice instruction for making your own belts: Nadya's sewing Instructions: Belt

Oh, that's too bad Sugar Petals isn't selling theirs anymore. That's where I got my start in costuming was using their belt forms. I make my own now.

Andalee is correct, they used to use two different types of interfacing together. What I use now is usually Pellon 70 together with fusable fleece or felt. The Atira's patterns are great and Dawn Devine Brown also has some belt patterns and ideas in her book "Costuming from the Hip".

Neue Mode 10212 has a V-shaped belt as an attached yoke that you could probably modify. (At least it doesn't lace up the back.) You can get it as a download online, and there may still be a few vendors selling the paper pattern.

I took a belt with fit and shape I liked and traced it on an opened up brown paper bag. Then used EZ felt like Eshta recommended. You can get EZ felt at Michaels. It is prestiffened felt in 12x18 sheets, many colors.

Originally Posted by NazirahDances

Atira's Pattern #5 -- Tahia Alibeck's belts -- is a good start. This one actually has a curve too it and if making a wider version can use it to make a butt hugging style.

http://www.atirasfashions.com/images/NO05A.GIF

This is the pattern I use. I make the bases out of canvas and it's worked well so far.

I also use canvas, several layers stitched together. Very sturdy.

thanks for the note about buckram----never knew sweat would wreck it---of course we never sweat!!!! i also use old denim as a layer---a friend used to do that, just gives the interfacing more body. you need some that still has lots of body to it.

I have used denim, too, it makes a nice base, not so hard to sew through.

Sadly I do not know the correct name, but I believe it is some kind of embroidery base fabric. It is stiff, has a woven, mesh-type texture, is made from what seems like beige-ish cotton. It has the body of buckram and denim, but without their disadvantages. Now, if only I knew what it is called ... I have not used it for beaded belt bases, only for mounting tribal belt pieces, with very good success, while it was easy to sew.

Originally Posted by Azhia

Can you create a pattern out of one of your own belts (if you get the stuff out of the way)?

I've photo copied mine in sections and taped it together to make a pattern. I have one of those printer/fax/copier/coffee maker/dog walking models ..g.:

Originally Posted by Souzan

I took a belt with fit and shape I liked and traced it on an opened up brown paper bag. Then used EZ felt like Eshta recommended. You can get EZ felt at Michaels. It is prestiffened felt in 12x18 sheets, many colors.

Do you reenforce it at all or is this special felt enough on it's own? I've never seen EZ felt before.

Originally Posted by steffib

Sadly I do not know the correct name, but I believe it is some kind of embroidery base fabric. It is stiff, has a woven, mesh-type texture, is made from what seems like beige-ish cotton. It has the body of buckram and denim, but without their disadvantages. Now, if only I knew what it is called ... I have not used it for beaded belt bases, only for mounting tribal belt pieces, with very good success, while it was easy to sew.

Do you mean Aida cloth? That would probably work pretty well :)

Originally Posted by lylagus

Do you reenforce it at all or is this special felt enough on it's own? I've never seen EZ felt before.

The EZ Felt is stiff. I am still working on the belt I am using it for but what I did was cut the EZ felt using my paperbag pattern. I had to do it in three pieces in order to get the width since the EZ Felt is only 18" long. Stiched the pieces together and covered it with soft regular felt on both sides for a little padding. Next I am going to cover it with cotton in the same color as the fabric I plan to swag on top of it. Not finished yet.

I always make my own. I usually take a belt and trace it. I have a couple of favorites, sometime I want slightly V shaped others it's straight or slightly curved. You can also just trace it to paper and cut it out (and keep that, just in case you ever sell the belt you use to trace).
I always used felt, and added interface to it (iron on) on both sides, then covered with fabric and decorations.
I have never used buckram for belts, it make it too hard. I only use buckram to make bra cups hard.

The last belt I made, I used denim I have a lot of old, big denim pants laying around, so I cut it out, and I ironed on the interface, just like before. It works just like felt, it's actually better, because it's thinner. By the time you add the fabric, and line it with felt, the belt can get a bit thick, so I think I like the denim method more.

EZ felt is totally where it's at!
you can stitch it on the machine, agitate it to make it softer, dart it. The works!