Replies

1. 
   KharminJ | Sep 02, 2008 08:16pm | #1

   Greetings!

   This is a "thought" answer, not an "experience" answer, but ~

   Cotton duck cloth may provide the body you're looking for - It's relatively easy to find right now, too, because it's what they make "bean bags" (the toss game) out of. JoAnn's sells it for $8/yard, in lots of saturated colors, but also white and natural.

   "CraftFuse" by Pellon may do the trick for you, too.

   Duck would probably benefit from a stay stitch along the edges - to reinforce the bias-y ends (depends on how deep your curve is).
   ~~~
   *My* next question would be: How do you get a smooth wrap of the fashion fabric around the curved belt? That's for someone else to answer, I guess.

   Good luck - looking forward to your solutions!

   KharminJ

   PS - Just had another thought - craft felt, maybe 2 layers?
   Bonus - there's a new brand made from recycled pop bottles :) K

1. 
   sewfar | Sep 03, 2008 05:37am | #3

   Thanks for your advice. I used to help my aunt, a seamstress in France when I was young and I seem to remember her clipping the curve like when doing an applique and doing the same for the inside of the belt. She would put the two together with hand stitching like slip stitching. The curve is not that deep. Think of the little "dent" in the center backs of a man's well worn belt.
   I could be wrong but this is what I plan to try. That was in the 60's and I am sure that there are many easier options now like maybe gluing or fusing before slip stitching the fabric front and back together. Also I can say that people were more careful to treat their "special " hand made items more delicately with hand washing and such so maybe items like this hung together.
   I got to help with making buttons and buckles and she really had an interesting supply of forms for both. I loved the challenge of centering designs on the forms plus her clients would invariably come in with the smallest scraps as they so seldom bought any extra fabric and it could be challenging.
   By the way I did copy a curve for the belt either from the internet or a from a book but I am at our summer home and do not have it . It seems to me it may have been from an old Sewing with Nancy site.

   Edited 9/2/2008 10:47 pm ET by sewfar

1. 
   junctioncats | Sep 15, 2008 01:49am | #4

   If you go to Wild Ginger's site and download their free "Wild Things" software, there are four or five belt patterns in it. Seems to me there's one that is curved at the back. I don't particularly like their patterns all that well, but since I've never tried one of their belts, can't tell you much about them.

2. 
   ThreadKoe | Sep 02, 2008 09:25pm | #2

   What you want for your belt depends on how flexible you want the belt to be. Buckram is a very stiff sew in interfacing that would work perfectly. It is a heavy weight woven, similar to what you see in hat forms. The non woven header tape for curtains will also work. If you want something fairly flexible, a heavy weight interfacing will work just fine. Remember, you can layer or double up interfacings to give you what you want, where you need it. Most of the beltings are made for narrow stiff belts, like leather belts. Your best bet is to try a few samples to see what you like the feel of. Cathy

   
   

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   Edited 9/2/2008 7:01 pm ET by ThreadKoe