DESIGNED BY REGINA RIOUX
Top off a simple dress with this stunning belt and turn a basic outfit into a stylish statement! Tunisian crochet forms the base for this piece, making it perfectly sturdy and completely comfortable at the same time. The grid-like structure of Tunisian stitches is an ideal canvas for embroidery or cross-stitch—get creative and add your own spin to the embroidery, going as elaborate or minimal as you like.
About 27¾ (30¼, 33¾, 35¾)" [70.5 (77, 85.5, 90.5) cm] circumference (buckled).
DK weight (#3 Light).
Shown here: Knit Picks CotLin DK (70% tanguis cotton, 30% linen; 123 yd [113m]/50 g): Linen (MC), 1 (1, 2, 2) ball(s); Harbor (A), Moroccan Red (B), and Coffee (C), 1 ball each.
Size 5 (3.75 mm) Tunisian hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
MJtrim.com Faux Leather Buckle with Tabs, Style #42058, tan; sewing needle; matching thread of belt buckle; sewing pins; tapestry needle.
18 sts and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Tunisian simple stitch (Tss).
Take time to check gauge.
Tss (Tunisian simple stitch) (Worked in 2 passes to complete a row)
Forward Pass: Beg with a single loop on the hook from the prior row, sk 1st vertical bar, *insert hook in next vertical bar, yarn over, draw up loop; rep from * across leaving all loops on hook. Do not turn.
Return Pass: To complete row, yarn over, draw through 1 loop on hook, *yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook; rep from * across until 1 loop remains on hook.
Inc 1: Insert hook under 2 horizontal strands bet 2 vertical bars, yo and draw up loop.
Dec 1: Insert hook from right to left into 2 vertical bars, yarn over and draw up loop through both vertical bars.
Backstitch: Bring the needle and thread from the back to the front of the fabric. Put the needle down through the fabric about ⅛" (3 mm) away from where you started.
Bring the needle up about ⅛" (3 mm) away from where you went down. Pull the thread through. Put the needle back down in the same spot you did before, taking a backstitch.
Instructions
Belt
With MC, ch 8.
Row 1 (Forward Pass): Draw up loop in back side loop beg in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across—8 loops on hook, do not turn.
Row 1 and all rows on Return Pass: Yo, draw through 1 loop on hook, *yo, draw through 2 loops on hook; rep from * across—1 loop remains on hook (counts as 1st st on next row), do not turn.
Row 2 (Forward Pass): Inc 1 bet 1st and 2nd sts, Tss in each st to last st, Inc 1 bet last 2 sts, Tss in the 2 edge loops of last st—10 Tss, do not turn.
Rows 3–6: Repeat Inc Row 2—18 Tss.
Row 7 (Forward Pass): Tss in next and in each st across to last st, Tss in the 2 edge loops of last st, do not turn.
Rep Row 7 until piece measures 22 (24½, 28, 30) " [56 (62, 71, 76) cm] from beg.
Next Row (Forward Pass): Sk 1st st, Dec 1 over next 2 sts, Tss to last 3 sts, Dec 1 over next 2 sts, Tss in the two edge loops of last st—16 Tss, do not turn.
Rep last Dec Row 4 more times—8 Tss.
Last Row (Forward Pass only): Skip first vertical bar, *insert hook under next vertical bar, yo and draw through both loops on hook; rep from * across. Do not fasten off, ch 1, rotate work 45° to right.
Edging
Work 5 sl sts evenly along edge, rotate work 45° to right, ch 1, sl st in each st to end of long side (at point where the belt rows beg to Dec), ch 1, rotate work 45° to right, work 5 sl sts evenly along edge, ch 1, sl st in next st. Fasten off.
Finishing
Lay belt on surface with WS facing, fold ends about ⅓ toward middle. Position and pin buckle about 1½" (3.8 cm) from each end. With needle and thread, sew buckle to belt using existing holes in top stitching of buckle. Weave in remaining ends and embroider belt as detailed below.
Belt Embroidery
With colors A, B, and C, embroider the RS of the belt using backstitch, as shown in diagram.
Color key
