Featured fabric: Blank Quilting Corp. Amazing Aliens! by Hannah of Pencil and Ink Studios

Pattern design by: Lindsay Conner

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

Ready for a quick sewing project that’s fun to make for kids? This child’s toolbelt sewing tutorial can easily be whipped up in an afternoon! With three pockets and a hanging loop, this waist apron can be used to hold art supplies, gardening tools, or kids play tools (like a hammer, wrench, and screwdriver). The tool belt ties in the back (with a total length of 41”) and fits most children ages 3 to 12.

Want to make a tool belt for a teen or adult? Instead of cutting 42” of strap fabric, measure your waist and add about 14” inches. This will give you enough length to knot the ends. Let’s get started!

Technique: Machine sewing, 4-fold straps, binding

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: Belt 11” x 7½”, Strap 41”

Fabric Requirements:

Main fabric: ½ yard (1990G-01 White Tossed Aliens)

Pocket & loop fabric: ¼ yard (1991G-77 Blue Alien Collage)

Strap fabric & pocking binding: ¼ yard (1994G-99 Black Galaxy Stars)

Lightweight fusible interfacing: 2/3 yard of 20” wide

Equipment Needed:

Sewing machine

Iron

Fabric cutting tools (scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat)

Pencil or turning tool

Fabric marking pen

Cutting Directions

Main fabric: Cut (2) 12” x 10” rectangles (with the print running along the 12” side)

Pocket & loop fabric: Cut (2) 12” x 5” rectangles (with the print running along the 12” side). Cut (1) 6” x 4” rectangle (with the print running along the 6” side).

Strap fabric & pocking binding: Cut (1) 42” x 4” strip and (1) 12” x 1½” strip.

Lightweight fusible interfacing: Cut (2) 12” x 10” rectangles and (2) 12” x 5” rectangles.

Sew the Tool Belt

1. Place the textured side of the lightweight fusible interfacing against the wrong side of both 12” x 10” main fabric and 12” x 5” pocket fabric rectangles. Use an iron and follow the manufacturer’s directions to fuse the interfacing to the fabric.

2. We are going to make a 4-fold strap from the 42” x 4” strip of strap fabric. First, fold the fabric in half widthwise (wrong sides facing) and press.

Next, unfold and refold each of the raw edges inward toward the center fold line and press.

Unfold your strap once again. Fold each of the short ends under ¼” so the wrong sides of the fabric are touching.

Refold the entire strap along the pressed lines to make a 4-fold strap. Topstitch along the left and right sides, 1/8” from the edge.

3. Repeat step 2 to make a 4-fold strap from both the 6” x 4” rectangle of loop fabric and the 12” x 1½” strip of strap. It’s okay to leave raw edges on the short ends of the strap—no need to fold the edges under by ¼”. Do not topstitch these straps yet!

4. Stack the (2) 12” x 5” rectangles of pocket fabric together so that the wrong sides are touching. Unfold the 12” strip of strap fabric and place it right side down on top of the stacked pocket pieces, with all 12” top edges aligned. Clip in place and sew along the fold line closest to the raw edge.

Wrap the 4-fold strap around so it encases the top raw edges of both pocket pieces like a binding. Clip in place and sew the binding 1/8” inside the folded edge.

5. Place 1 main fabric rectangle in front of you, right side up. Place the pocket piece with binding on top so the bottom edges are aligned. Clip the pieces together. Using a ruler to measure across the pocket binding, mark a dot at 4” from the left and another dot 4” from the right.

6. Start stitching a vertical line from the first dot you marked dot directly to the bottom of the pocket piece, sewing through all layers. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end! Sew another vertical line from the second dot you marked to the bottom of the pocket piece, sewing through all layers.

7. Find the 4-fold strap you made in step 3, which should measure 6” x 1” wide when folded. Topstitch 1/8” from the edges along the 6” sides. Next, fold the strap in half so the raw edges touch. Clip this loop in place on the main fabric piece just above the pocket on the right side.

8. Baste the loop in place by sewing down the raw edges 1/8” from the edge. After basting the loop in place, baste the left, bottom, and right sides of the pocket piece 1/8” from the edge of the main fabric. Make sure to backstitch when you start and stop.

9. Take the other main fabric piece and place it right sides together with the main fabric/pocket combo. Clip the pieces together and stitch ½” from the edge all the way around, leaving a 3” section unstitched toward the top of the tool belt. Don’t forget to backstitch at the start and end. Carefully snip off the corners (making sure to avoid cutting into the seam) and trim the seam allowances to ¼” wide.

10. Turn the tool belt right side out through the hole you left earlier. Use a pencil or turning tool to gently poke out the corners. Press the tool belt, adjusting the raw edges of the hole so they point inward. Press again and clip in place. Stitch a straight line 1/8” from the edge across the top of the tool belt, closing the gap from earlier.

11. Turn the tool belt pocket-side down. Place the topstitched belt strap horizontally across the top. Fold the top over the belt strap to make a casing that extends ¼” below the strap. Clip in several places to hold this fold in place.

12. Take the clipped tool belt to your sewing machine and stitch 1/8” from the edge to complete the casing. You can sew right on top of the previously stitched line for guidance. Sew on top of the same line once more to reinforce your stitches.

Fabric Details:

Blank Quilting Corp. Amazing Aliens! by Hannah of Pencil and Ink Studios

1994G-99 Black Galaxy Stars

1991G-77 Blue Alien Collage

1990G-01 White Tossed Aliens

View full collection & find a retailer near you here.

Learn more about the fabric designer Hannah of Pencil and Ink Studios here.

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Learn more about Lindsay here.