Make your own belly band - easy and CHEAP!

[hippydippymama]

(Sorry in advance for the gimungous pictures, I'd already edited and uploaded them into this thread when I realized how big they were, and I don't feel like doing it all over again. :blush: )

I don't even have a belly yet but I am already busting out of my regular pants, so I decided to make some DIY belly bands (like Bella Bands) today. They are great for holding your pants up if you want to wear them unbuttoned because you can't fit into your maternity pants yet, and they can bridge the gap under regular shirts so you can wear those longer.

You need:
-An old T-shirt (no holes or stains on the bottom half)
-Scissors
-Sewing machine (duh!)
-Pins
-Measuring tape

You could use any stretchy fabric to make this belly band, but an old T-shirt is free. :mrgreen: Can't beat that!

Step 1: Lay the T-shirt on the floor and cut the bottom 6 inches or so off. If you have a long torso or just want more coverage, you can cut more. Add about 1/2 in. for seam allowance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-001.jpg

Step 2: Measure yourself around the highest part of your belly, NOT around the widest part in the middle. The band needs to be tight, and if you sew it to the measurement of the widest part, it will look silly (trust me :giggle: ).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-003.jpg

Step 3: Cut the T-shirt loop at one of the creases and lay it out flat. Measure to where your waist measurement is, and cut, adding about 1/2 in. for seam allowance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-004.jpg

Step 4: Fold over the raw edge onto the wrong side about 1/4 in. and pin down.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-005.jpg

Step 5: Sew right down the middle of the fold, with about 1/8 in. on each side of the stitches.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-007.jpg

Step 6: Fold over again about 1/4 in., pin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-008.jpg

Step 7: Sew in line with the first seam that you made, so the raw edges are all nicely tucked in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-009.jpg

Step 8: Meet the ends together, right sides facing each other, and pin. It might be hard to get the tops and bottoms to lie straight with each other, you might have to stretch one side and scrunch the other to make them even.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-010.jpg

Step 9: Sew a straight stitch, again being careful to keep the tops and bottoms lined up with each other.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-011.jpg

Step 10: If you have a serger or serge stitch, serge off the raw edges. Or you can use a zigzag stitch. (I didn't bother being very neat with this sicne it will be on the inside anyway.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-012.jpg

Step 11: Turn it right side out. Voila! You have a belly band. It looks tiny, doesn't it? Trust me, it's supposed to be snug.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-013.jpg

Here is mine on. Sorry for the crappy pics, it's dark in my closet!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-016.jpg

It has a little room to stretch, jersey is good like that. As it continues to get worn and my belly grows, it will stretch more and more.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/barefootpoetry/2007-12-15-017.jpg

It probably won't snap back to its original shape after the pregnancy is over, but since it was free to make, I won't care about making another one if I have more kids in the future. :mrgreen:

[jausten]

That is BRILLIANT!!! I am totally going to remember this next time I'm pg.

[JoyfulRose]

Awesome tutorial! Thanks for sharing that. :)

[meowmixx3]

that's really neat. My gosh you are already popping..when is your due date?

[hippydippymama]

that's really neat. My gosh you are already popping..when is your due date?

Probably sometime in Sept. :mrgreen: My belly has looked like this for the past 3 years though, :giggle: I was on Shape Of A Mother in December last year and I looked exactly the same. The only difference now is that I don't have to suck it in!

[patty_o_furniture]

I'm not pregnant, but I have a long torso and most shirts don't go long enough for me. This is a great way to bridge the gap without those expensive long shirts! :thumbsup: I will be making tons of these!

[hackermd]

.v.v.v.v.v.v.

[11-13-06]

You are so smart! Why don't I think of this stuff!! LOL

[kocho]

I'm not pregnant, but I have a long torso and most shirts don't go long enough for me. This is a great way to bridge the gap without those expensive long shirts! :thumbsup: I will be making tons of these!

Me too!! I was seriously going to give away some shirts I love, because they're too short on me!!

[susansabrina]

Great tutorial. Thanks for the pics!

[iammommyof5]

thanks for the step by step

[ferrferr]

I wish you had posted this like ... ooooh back in March. :giggle:

[Julie K]

oh I am totally going to make myself some! Sure beats spending $25+ on them! Thanks!

Do you mind if I post this idea in my due date group?

[hippydippymama]

Do you mind if I post this idea in my due date group?

Go for it! I'm sure someone else has already came up with this idea, it's not that original. :goodvibes:

[Julie K]

Go for it! I'm sure someone else has already came up with this idea, it's not that original. :goodvibes:

I haven't seen too many people talking about making their own - so you get lots of credit for that! :)

[hippydippymama]

I haven't seen too many people talking about making their own - so you get lots of credit for that! :)

Sweet! :giggle: I actually kinda stole the idea from a DIY maternity pants tutorial: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=28377 I just didn't put pants on the bottom of mine.

One thing I have found, after wearing one of these all day yesterday, was that they tend to ride up a lot if you're constantly sitting then standing or laying down or whathaveyou. So they might work even better using a shirt or fabric that has a lot of stretch to it and can move with you, whereas a regular T-shirt would only have a little bit of stretch.

[Sweet_Fantasy_Fox]

awesome!!!

[HaleysMommy]

oh my! ANOTHER project!!

thanks for the tutorial. I'm not pg but I'm about an inch away from my pants buttoning. :giggle:

[greenMImama]

I love it, I will have to make one fo rmy friends who are always pregnant!

[Shanna]

just had another thought for your bands...

For those Mamas who are very selfconscious nursers and/or use nursing tees, this would be the perfect (and much less expensive) alternative!!!

That's not me by any means, I don't care if someone sees a side shot of my bare muffin top, but I might be changing my tune as I'm nursing in the middle of a Montana winter this time, :giggle: This looks like a great way to keep my fat warm! :lostit:

[kannondicarpo]

just had another thought for your bands...

For those Mamas who are very selfconscious nursers and/or use nursing tees, this would be the perfect (and much less expensive) alternative!!!

That's not me by any means, I don't care if someone sees a side shot of my bare muffin top, but I might be changing my tune as I'm nursing in the middle of a Montana winter this time, :giggle: This looks like a great way to keep my fat warm! :lostit:

I was just going to say this.

Also, thanks, I will be making a few for my SIL who is due in June!

[daddyn4wisechix]

This is WONDERFUL!!! :thumbsup:

[Dahlea]

Ah wish I would have seen this a while ago! I'm going to make one for after the baby though, for breastfeeding and hiding the tummy.
Great tutorial!