Thread: mounting coin belt for non-belt-wearer

I don't generally wear stiff belts because I'm not shaped for them. I'm big, have high "fluff" over my rear end, and a bit of a tummy. So generally I wear hip adornments that are soft and tie, on a diagonal, putting in pins to keep them where I want them.

But I found such a good deal on a simple coin belt I couldn't resist... they were short, but so cheap that I bought two! It should be easy to link them together. However... I know from experience that coin belts don't stay stable on me. They shift around like crazy. So I'd like to mount this belt on... something.

Question is, what should I mount it to? A tied sash? Strip of reinforced black velvet shaped to my hips? I don't really know where to start as I don't have a current belt to use as a pattern base.

Color me puzzled. Any suggestions?

The only coin belts I've mounted have been too heavy to put on just fabric. I used buckram sandwiched between two layers of something soft (I use that iron on felt-like interfacing I think it's called), and then covered it with decorative fabric. I just make two long strips (one for the front and one for the back) as wide as my medallions or top row of coins or whatever I want to sew onto them. When I add darts to the back piece for fitting, it becomes curved, almost like a narrow Egyptian style belt. You could make it in one long piece, but I like two piece belts in case I want to adjust the fit or sell them later, and it's also easier to find the centers for marking the darts and mounting the coins.
ETA, I think darts on both pieces would probably make them conform to your body, but maybe a more experienced seamstress will chime in.

Originally Posted by Nazarah

The only coin belts I've mounted have been too heavy to put on just fabric. I used buckram sandwiched between two layers of something soft (I use that iron on felt-like interfacing I think it's called), and then covered it with decorative fabric. I just make two long strips (one for the front and one for the back) as wide as my medallions or top row of coins or whatever I want to sew onto them. When I add darts to the back piece for fitting, it becomes curved, almost like a narrow Egyptian style belt. You could make it in one long piece, but I like two piece belts in case I want to adjust the fit or sell them later, and it's also easier to find the centers for marking the darts and mounting the coins.
ETA, I think darts on both pieces would probably make them conform to your body, but maybe a more experienced seamstress will chime in.

Two pieces is an excellent suggestion. Are a coat hook and giant snap strong enough to hold the belt on each side, or should I go for tougher closures?

If it's a lighter belt you could probably mount it to felt. That would stick to your skirt fabric better, make it slide around less.

I hand sewed one side together with upholstery thread after the two pieces are lined and finished, and used two heavy duty trouser hooks on the other side. Snaps or velcro are always nice, but I'm not patient enough with sewing to do many "extras."

I use upholstery fabric. Two pieces doubled with a large seam allowance with the seam going down the inside center which allows the seam allowance to become a third layer. Hope that makes sense. Once you figure out the angle, stitch one side closed, just like any other two piece belt. And I have found that heavy trouser hooks or what are sometimes called locking hooks, work fine.

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