Needlepoint a Geometric Belt

Updated April 6, 2021.
Have you been wanting to stitch a belt but couldn’t find a design you like? Then you’ll love this idea from a recent blog post from Ridgewood Needlepoint.

These belts are based on a preppy icon, the grosgrain ribbon D-ring belt. Because they aren’t leather and use D-rings instead of buckles, they don’t require specialized finishing. These are fashion belts, not made for hard use. They are easy to stitch; you can even finish them yourself with minimal sewing skills.

Here’s how to make them:

1. Take your color cues from the colors in a grosgrain ribbon. Pick solid or overdyed threads in colors to match.
2. Use the width of the ribbon to find the width of your stitching. Measure the ribbon, multiply that number by your canvas width, add 6 threads. This will be the width of the stitched area.
3. Using stitches that are never more than four threads long, stitch your belt to within 2 stitches of your width on either side.
4. Stitch a row of Continental, then a row of Interlocking Cross, also called Binding Stitch, along each side. These stitches create stronger edges for the needlepoint and will make the belt wear better.
5. Block the needlepoint.
6. To finish the belt yourself, follow the instructions below.

If you feel confidewnt about your hand-sewing skills you can finish the belt yourself. To do so you will need:

• stitched and blocked needlepoint with 5 threads of raw edges on all sides
• grosgrain ribbon 3″ longer than your needlepoint
• D-rings
• heavy-duty sewing thread
• interfacing (optional)

If you are using interfacing, cut it about 1/8″ narrower than the ribbon. If it is iron-on interfacing, iron it to one side of the ribbon. Using iron-on interfacing will make the belt easier to handle and more sturdy.

Fold under the raw edges on the long sides of the needlepoint.

Whipstitch the ribbon to the back of the needlepoint with the interfacing on the side. The extra length of the ribbon should be 1″ on one end and 2″ on the other.

On the end with the 1″ overhang, fold the raw edge of the ribbon over, then fold under the raw end of the needlepoint in the same way.

Bring the folded ribbon to the front of the needlepoint. It should completely cover the raw canvas and some of the stitched area. Whipstitch the ribbon firmly to the needlepoint all around, so you have a firmly stitched end.

At the other end, Fold over just a bit of the ribbon to hide the raw end. Place the D-ring about halfway along the ribbon. Bring the ribbon through the rings (see picture) and securely whipstitch the end of the ribbon to the needlepoint. Stitch the edges of the ribbon together to hold the rings in place.

Your belt is ready to go!