Twill Parachute Clip Boy's Belt: Tutorial

When it came time to get my boys' ready for school, that meant putting together their first day of school outfits.

In years past, since I only had one to buy clothes for, I would get something new specifically for the first day (okay maybe I got something new for the first SEVERAL days). This year I had two kiddos to buy for. So buying a bunch of new stuff really wasn't a financial possibility.

So I tried really hard to get creative mixing and matching items that were new and items that I already had in the closet.

I mentally put together Oldest's first day outfit in my head. I was pretty happy with the outfit idea except I really wanted a gray twill belt. I looked a little here and there, but I could never find it. Since I was still trying to be budget conscious, I also wasn't willing to scour for it.

If I found it and it was cheap than I would buy it.

I didn't find it cheap or expensive.

When I was telling some friends my woes, one of them laughed and said, "Uh I am sure you can just whip one up!"

We all had a good chuckle at my obsession with just "whipping" stuff up.

Then in my head I was like, "DUH! Why don't I just whip one up?"

And the Twill Parachute Clip Belt was born.

This belt is ridiculously easy to make and just as ridiculously cheap.

Here is what you need:

twill belting (enough to go around your little guy's waist with extra...I just bought a yard)
1 Parachute Clip
lighter/match
coordinating thread

I bought my belting and the clip at The Mart. I think altogether I spent $2.50 for it all. You can get belting and the clip at a major sewing store too.

After measuring the waist you are belting add on a good 5-8"...when in doubt get extra.

Loop one end through the loop of the first buckle piece (the female piece). Pull through with a couple of inches of excess.

Then take the other end of the twill belting and put it through the other piece of the buckle (you can see I had a bunch of excess).

Trim off excess on this end, leaving just a couple of inches.

Now take your handy dandy lighter/match/campfire...kidding about using a campfire...don't do it!

Anywhooo...

 
With your lighter, melt the ends of the belting. This will keep it from fraying.                                
                                      

Now you will want to attach the twill together on one side. 

I choose the side with the female buckle piece.

I sewed the belting in place with three rows of messy zig zag stitching.

Now the belt has one end secure and one end that can be tightened or loosened.

Belt done. Money saved. 

Outfit complete.

Oh happy day.

Back to School Shopping

The time of year is here.

The time where displays of crayons, glue, markers, rulers, pencils, and paper meet you as soon as you walk in any store.

Clothing stores start teasing and tempting you with fabulous sales on the newest jeans, tees, hoodies, socks, and shoes.

Back to school shopping!

I have such fond memories of the end of every summer growing up. As summer came to a close, I could be found skipping through the store loading up with all the necessary school supplies...it paints quite the picture, huh?

Even when I got older and was an oh-so-mature college student, I LOVED buying school supplies.

College school supplies were made even more exciting by the need to purchase big ol' text books.

Yup, I even loved buying text books. Yup, I am weird.

For years after I was done with school, in a mild depression I would wonder the store at back to school time. I was a little blue that I had no reason to buy school supplies.

I was not so blue that I wanted to enroll in school again. Nah. I still have nightmares I am back in school. So I will pass.

However, I still missed buying school supplies.

Then a couple of years ago I got to rejoin the supply-buying masses. Oldest was in school. Yipee!

So I loaded up on all the regulars:

crayons
pencils
glue
markers
paper
kleenex
wipes

I now floated through the store in school supply bliss (my bliss may end every year when the total comes up on the register...but I try not to let it ruin my love affair with school shopping).

Fast forward some years and this year brings even more excitement.

I am now shopping for TWO students.

All the supplies you could dream of...plus it seems a little extra. Is it just me or does it seem like we are supplying enough items for 3 students? I am just saying, I don't think my Kindergartner is going to use FOUR 24 pks of crayons.

Now as much as I love school supply shopping, there is another back to school shopping I love more.

Back to school clothes shopping!

I heart it. I just love restocking the boys' closets. I love putting together a special first day of school outfit.

I love new jeans.

A pile of nicely folded new tees make my heart sing.

Then there are new shoes. Sigh. After a summer of wearing flip flops, it is lovely to bring out a sporty pair of lace-ups or a causal pair of slip-ons.

Shirts from Target 

Love it.

If I could, I would go back to school clothes shopping crazy. I love mixing and matching different items to make pretty much the most awesome boy outfit.

It takes some time. It take some skill (if I do say so myself). It takes some patience.

Shopping for boys is WAY harder than shopping for girls. The availability of to.die.for boys clothes is slim.
Oh you can find an awesome item here and there, but hardly ever can you find an entire outfit.

Especially if you are on a budget. I mean I love Target and all, but their selection for boy's clothes isn't even that great all the time.

I love to "window" shop for my boys online. You know when you peruse all your favorite sites, even the ones you can't afford, and put together what you would buy if you had a mountain of money. A Scrooge McDuck vault of money to swim in if you will.

Recently in a momentary hallucination that I was Scrooge McDuck, I kind of went crazy and put some outfits together for my boys. I even put them together story board style for my organization and viewing pleasure.

It was a little addicting to put together ultra awesome outfits. I had the giddy claps after several of the outfits.

I don't want to hog all the giddy blissness, so I am sharing my boy outfits with you.

Here are my favorite so far. I put the links to all of the clothing items underneath each outfit just in case you have a little man you need to dress for school and you have a vault of money that you occasionally swim in.

ENJOY!

This is my absolute favorite. Trying to figure out a way to 

justify buying this outfit.

Marvel Shirt: Zara

Stripped Shirt: GAP

Yellow Puff Vest: GAP

Skinny Jeans: Old Navy

Red Sneakers: Zara

This outfit is super cool and laid back. LOVE those shoes. All this

outfit needs is a knit beanie.

Gray V-neck Tee: GAP

Purple Plaid Button-up: Old Navy

Jeans: GAP

Black Hightops: Old Navy

This for sure is the most expensive and day-dreaming outfit.

I mean I did include TOMS after all.

Gray Stripped Shirt: GAP

Skull Sweater: GAP

Blue Puff Vest: GAP

Skinny Stretch Jeans: GAP

Black TOMS

For a little reminiscence of our good old Ohio, here is 

a Go Buckeyes outfit. Hubby will appreciate this one.

Ohio State Shirt: GAP

Red Plaid: GAP

Gray Pants: GAP

Gray Slip-Ons: GAP

Red Watch: GAP 

I already have some more outfits in the works. So excited. Almost enough to make up for the fact these will never see the boys' closet. Hahaha.

Happy back to school shopping friends!