How to Sew Fabric Belt Loops for Your Summer Garments

Summer is the perfect season to wear light, comfortable, and personalized garments. If you’re making or updating a piece—whether it’s a dress, shorts, or a blouse—adding fabric belt loops can be the detail that gives your garment a professional finish. Belt loops aren’t just for threading a belt; they can also serve as decorative elements, button closures on sleeve cuffs, fasten a neckline or back or hold straps on a light summer dress.

Today I’m going to show you how to sew fabric belt loopsin a simple and effective way, so your summer creations look flawless.

At the end of this blog, you’ll find the video in case you want to see how I did it.

Materials You Will Need:

  • A strip of the same fabric as your garment (or a contrasting one if you want to play with the design)
  • Iron
  • Scissors
  • Thread in the appropriate color
  • Needle or sewing machine
  • Pins or clips

Step 1: Cut the fabric

Cut a strip of fabric that is easy to handle in width (the exact width isn’t very important since you’ll trim it later) and as long as you need.

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Step 2: Iron and prepare

Fold the fabric strip lengthwise,right sides together, and press it with an iron.

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Step 3: Sew

Start sewing by making a "V" about 2 to 3 centimeters long, then continue sewing straight about 4-5 millimeters from the edge.

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Step 4: Trim the excess fabric

Once your strip is sewn, trim along the seam leaving about 4-5 millimeters of fabric. This leftover fabric is what will later fill the inside of the belt loop.

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Step 5: Turn the strip

nsert the bias tape maker through the narrowest end (the opposite end to the “V”-shaped sewn funnel). Hook the fabric onto the hook at the end of the bias tape maker, and using your fingers, guide the fabric as you turn it inside out. This step is the most delicate. Do it slowly to avoid the fabric slipping off the hook. Once the fabric starts to show through, you can release the hook and finish turning the strip with your hands.

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Step 5: Cut the belt loops

The resulting cord can be used to make straps for your summer dresses, but in this case, I’ll show you how to make belt loops.

Cut several pieces to the size you need (this will depend on whether you want the belt loops to hold a ribbon or to use buttons. The size of the belt loop will depend on the size of the button you use). Fold the belt loops and place them on the right side of the fabric. Sew each one to secure them to the fabric. Next, place the other piece of fabric on top, right sides together, and sew with a 1-centimeter seam allowance. Turn it right side out and press the whole piece. Finish by sewing a topstitch about 5 millimeters from the edge.

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Extra tip:

Use lightweight but sturdy fabrics like linen, poplin, or cotton. If you’re working with a very thin or drapey fabric, you can make the belt loops a bit wider so they keep their shape.

Final result

All done! Now you have your belt loops sewn or your thin straps ready to wear on your lightest garments. Ready to give it a try? If you make this project, tag me in your photos so I can see how it turned out!

I’ve also prepared a video for you in case you prefer watching over reading:

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Note: The tailoring process that you have seen in the video is personal and indicative. That's how I sewed it, but you can include your own solutions or add new details that don't appear in the video. It's possible that you've sewn it at some point and at some point in the process you've done it differently. All options are valid. I advise you to try several and then decide the one that is most comfortable for you to sew.