How to Make a Striped Origami Belt

When you open and angle the folds, the stripes in the fabric create a kaleidescopic effect.

Cut or tear the fabric into three 5-inch-wide strips.

When you open and angle the folds, the stripes in the fabric create a kaleidescopic effect.

The SewStylish Summer Fashion 2012 issue features a "Fast and Fabulous" tutorial for making a folded fabric belt. The Origami Belt features a front panel with a series of vertical and diagonal folds. Stripes are a super-hot fashion trend this season, and if you make the Origami Belt in a striped fabric, the folds create an amazing geometric pattern. It may look complicated, but it's very similar to making the belt in a plain fabric and really just as easy. The folds and stripes do all the work of creating what just looks like a complex design. You'll need a little more fabric for this version, 1 and 1/4 yards, but it is enough to make two belts.

Buy your copy of SewStylish Summer Fashion 2012 now!

Shopping List

1⁄2 yard crisp fabric
2-inch by 18-inch quilting ruler
Air-soluble fabric marker
Glass-head pins
Loop turner
Sewing machine and basic supplies

Optional:

1 yard fusible interfacing

Begin the belt by making a long tube from three fabric strips. In striped fabric, you must plan the strips so that the stripes are A) centered within the strip and therefore the belt center, and B) matched from strip to strip. Then fold a tube section into a design that is stitched and pressed in place.

1) Cut or tear the fabric into three 5-inch-wide strips. For the plain version of the belt, the strips are cut cross-grain. Most stripes, however, run with the grain. Center the stripe or stripes within the each strip, or match the stripe placement from strip to strip. Each strip is 44 inches long.

2) Connect the strips. With right sides together, sew two strips together along the short ends with a 1/2-inch seam allowance and matching the stripes. Sew on the third strip in the same manner. Press the two seams as sewn, and then press them open. The single strip is 130 inches long.

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Sarah McFarland, contributor
Posted on Jun 11th, 2012 in sewing, online extras, sewstylish summer fashion

Comments (4)

eatsallinsects writes: I would love to see the finished product on a model?
Posted: 9:46 am on July 16th

nani writes: Looks like fun! In the lower left of the blue and green belts, a bit of the bottom peeks out as a triangle, but it is not that way in all the other folded thingys. Why is that?
Thank you so much for posting this tutorial!
Posted: 3:44 pm on July 2nd

LaurieDiane writes: I'd love to try this! thanks...it is really cool looking. fun as a pillow detail...purse...lots of great applications for this!
Posted: 12:50 pm on June 27th