Project Snake Print Peplum Belt

from camilleco.com

Peplum belts are all the rage at the moment. They can transform any outfit and any boring looking top with a splash of colour or a funky print. I made this bad boy for Wild Wednesday at work (my department wear animal print on wednesdays - so fun!). There is a pattern available on the internet by very crafty people, but as I love to make my own clothes custom to my shape and size, I drew it freestyle and measured what was needed. I have a short torso, wide hips and long legs. When I measure and cut, it is to flatter my shape. This is why its important (pattern or not) to measure yourself. If youre making these for sale, you dont have to worry about it. But if its for yourself and you want to love it, make it customised as much as possible.

These belts can range anything from single fabric ones ($30) to the expensive high end ($400+!!!!!)

If you are like me and dont have money to just throw around on clothing, I suggest you follow these easy steps and you will have a range of cool belts to suit anything! All of my materials only cost $15.

The finished product... i love it!

Components:

• Sewing machine
• 1 meter of non stretch fabric. (i used a fabric called Leatherette in Snake print. I grabbed it as soon as i saw it. Lucky for me, Spotlight had a sale on and the fabric cost $14/m)
• Matching thread and bobbin
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Dressmakers chalk/pencil
• Scissors

TIME TAKEN: 30 minutes

Directions:

1. Measure your waist.
2. Fold fabric in half, and then halfways once more.
3. The top right hand corner (should have no seams) is your waist. Draw a semi circle. The length of the line cut should be 1/4 of your waist circumference. 
4. From this line, measure however long you would like the peplum. I did 50cm, as i wanted it to be mid buttock length. Draw the 1/4 circle line, keeping it the measurement that you want from the waist line.
5. Unfold the fabric. you should get a perfect circle with a whole cut out the centre. This whole should be the size of your waist.
6. Hem the edges.
7. Cut into the circle with whatever size you would like the back opening. I cut away about 100mm. Hem
8. With a small remnant of the fabric. Measure out the length of your waist plus 200mm. This will be what you attach the press studs to for closure.
9. Sew the waist band onto the peplum.
10. Measure out a couple of widths on the band and attach the press studs.

This is what I made up from scratch and I made a few adjustments here and there to suit my body type

I plan on making many more of these. Maybe even venture out to the world of leather and feather hehe

HAVE FUN!