While the Marri slip dresses have a comfortable loose fit, you may wish to cinch in the waist. So I’m going to show you how to make a matching thin fabric belt, and some thread chain carriers to hold it in place. A thread chain carrier is just when you make a thin chain using only thread, and then secure the chain to the garment to hold your belt in place. While you can most definitely make fabric carrier belt loops if you would like, thread chain carriers are best for lightweight and delicate fabrics. Fabrics often used for slip dresses such as the Marri. So let me show you how…
You can make a belt however wide you would like. For mine, I’m going with a thin belt, cutting a strip of fabric 1 1/2″(3.6cm) wide. Alternatively, you can use the regular strap pattern piece of you’d like a thin belt that width. For the length, that will depend on your measurements. Make sure you cut it long enough to tie it around your waist
Fold the belt in half with right sides together and pin in place.
Sew together the entire length of the belt.
Trim back the seam allowance to a scant 1/8″(3mm).
Using a loop turner or safety pin, turn your belt the right way around.
And press well.
To finish the short ends, you can either tie it in a little knot…
… or fold under twice and stitch in place.
Now grab your finished dress. Try it on, and determine where you want your belt to sit. Mark above and below where your belt will be, making sure there is a little wiggle room – just a tad wider than your belt. You can mark with pins are a fabric marker, etc.
Double thread a needle, and knot it at the end.
From the inside, bring your needle up trough to the right side out the garment at one of your markings, directly in the seam.
From the right side, pull it up all the way until you hit the knot of your thread.
Right above where your needle came up, pick up just a tiny bit of fabric with your needle.
Slowly pull it through, but not all the way through. Instead, leave a loop at the end, keeping your thumb and index finger in the loop as pictured above.
With that thumb and index finger that is holding open the loop, reach through and grab the long end of the thread with the needle.
Slowly start pulling it through, but not all the way thorugh, forming a new loop with your finger and thumb.
With your finger and thumb in the new loop, and your other hand holding the needle end of the thread, pull slightly to form a knot at the base near the fabric.
Keep repeating these steps – holding the loop with your finger and thumb, reaching through and grabbing the other end of the thread…
…pulling it through to create a new loop…
…and tightening to forma knot at the base.
Keep repeating these steps over and over, and each knot you add will start to form a chain.
Repeat these steps until you have the length of chain you need to reach your other marking.
Once its at your desired length, you need to secure the end of the chain. To do this, once again reach through your last loop and grab the other end of the thread with the needle.
But this time, pull it all the way through the loop.
Oull to tighted and create one last knot.
Now to attach this end to the garment.
Put your needle directly in the seam, right ast your second marking.
Pull it through to the other side.
Flip to the inside of your garment.
With your needle, pick up a tiny bit of fabric within the seam allowance.
Pull though and make a knot. Do this two or three times to secure.
Here it is finished from the inside.
And the finished loop from the outside!
Just thread your belt through.
Ta da! Holds your belt in place while barely being noticeable and not weighing your dress down.
LOOKING FOR MORE MARRI POSTS?
- How to choose between Marri & Marri Curve
- Marri Inspiration & Ideas
- Marri Sewalong : Joining pattern pieces
- Marri Sewalong : Darts & Staystitching (all views)
- Marri Sewalong : View A Straps, facings and side seams
- Marri Sewalong : View A Cami hem facing
- Marri Sewalong : View B (All steps)
- Marri Sewalong : View C Straps & facing
- Marri Sewalong : View C Pockets, side seams and finishing the straps and facing
- Marri Sewalong : View C Hem & slits
- Marri Bonus : French seams
- Marri Hack : Colour blocked
- Marri Bonus : Fabric belt & thread chain loops (this post!)
Don’t have the pattern yet?
