Needlepoint Belt - A Stylish Accessory For Men & Women

Very briefly, here is how you make a needlepoint belt.
 

                

1. Determine the belt size by adding 2" to the wearer's pant size. Another method is to measure a belt that fits, from the outer edge of the buckle to the hole most worn, and subtract 4" to determine how much of the canvas you will be stitching the design on. (The remaining canvas will be covered by leather at each end.)

2. Choose a design for your belt. You can use a ready-made design that has been painted on a needlepoint belt canvas. Or you can use a design from a book or design your own on graph paper. In either case, you will need to buy canvas and cut it to the proper length and width.

3. Cover the edges of your needlepoint canvas. You can hem the edges with a sewing machine or wrap the edges with masking tape.

4. Center your needlepoint design on the canvas & begin working your needlepoint stitches with wool yarn or cotton embroidery floss, using a single strand of the ply.

5. After you've completed your stitching, you must turn it under or use a binding stitch on the edge. Neatly secure the ends.

6. Wash and block the belt. Make sure when you block it that you have it pinned accurately to the correct size it is to be. Let the belt dry completely.

7. To complete your needlepoint belt, use a professional finishing service to apply a leather backing, leather ends and a buckle. The standard finishing charge is $100. Or you can finish the belt yourself with cotton belt webbing or suede and a buckle.
 

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons