Constructing: Velvet Bow Belt

We all love accessories, but the price demanded for a bit of leather or

ribbon is generally overwhelming and leaves us shaking our heads.

"Seriously?" we think, "They want that much for a shoestring?"

These bow belts are everywhere right now,

but I can guarantee you they'll cost more than

the $5.35 it cost me to make this.

Plus, this belt belongs to a dress I made for my

black & white collection, which I'll be introducing next week,

so I wanted to go ahead and share the tutorial with you.

I used my sewing machine for most of these steps,

but a hot glue gun or needle and thread will get the job done also,

if you don't have a machine.

I bought a yard of this black velvet ribbon.

Make sure you check the ribbon itself around your waist,

since fabric can stretch more or even have less give

than a measuring tape.

You can also use a hook and bar closure to give more strength to the fastening point.

I made my bow to be approximately four inches wide after it was folded.

After sewing the snaps onto the belt, try it on and remark the center for bow placement.