Sew a Sweet Cummerbund Belt

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Sarah McFarland, associate editor

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Gretchen Hirsch derived an elegant look from Simplicity SewStylish 1920: A top, skirt, and wide cummer-bund-style belt you'll see how to make here.

Jack Deutsch

Here's a closer look at Gretchen's belt. You can see how the wide, gathered front fits into narrower side/back pieces. The belt closes at center back.

Jack Deutsch

The gathered end of the belt front fits within the opening on the belt side.

Gretchen Hirsch derived an elegant look from Simplicity SewStylish 1920: A top, skirt, and wide cummer-bund-style belt you'll see how to make here.

Photo: Jack Deutsch

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Gather the Belt Front

1. Fold the belt front piece in half lengthwise, with right sides together. Sew along one long edge with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press the seam open. Turn the piece right side out and center the seam between the folds.

2. With a 4 mm or 5 mm stitch length, sew 1/2 inch from the raw edges at each end of the belt front. Leave long thread tails. Pull the threads gently to gather the belt front's width evenly, until both ends are about 2 and 1/4 inches wide, narrow enough to fit with in the open ends of the belt sides. Knot the threads to hold the gathering.

Connect the Belt Pieces

1. Slide a gathered end of the belt front within the open end of a belt side. Tuck the belt front far enough into the beld side piece to cover the gathering stitches. Hand whip-stitch through the belt side's folded seam allowance to secure the pieces together. (Note: The interfaced belt side will face away from the body eventually - plan this before permanently sewing the second side together.)

2. Hand sew the hooks on the belt's right end. Try to keep your stitches from going all the way through the the belt's exterior.

Try on the belt and mark the placement for the corresponding bars. Hand sew the bars to the belt.

You're done!

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