Sew a Newspaper Dress

Step 19 Make the Waistband

-Start with 2 stacks of newsprint with 2 sheets each. These can be the half-width pages left over from various sections.

-Try to pick a side that has a contrasting color from the rest of your dress. My dress was light grey, and I picked a dark black image to contrast.

-Set the side you want to be the outside of the waistband face down.

-Overlap the 2 stacks by 6 inches on the shorter side.

-Sew a seam 1/4 inch from the edge of each piece (so, two seams total).

-With the outside of the waistband face down, fold up 3 1/2 inches from the long side and crease well. Use a ruler to make sure it is straight and even.

-Keep folding over neatly 3 more times, creasing each time.

-Trim the excess newsprint along the edge of the folded part, just like you did with the strap.

-Sew along the 2 long folded edges 1/4 inch from the fold.

-Attach a 3 1/2 inch strip of the soft side of the velcro along one edge.

-Put on the dress bodice with the help of a friend, then wrap the waistband around your waist. Have your friend mark where the velcro edge meets the rest of the waistband.

-Take off the dress. Sew the scratchy side of the velcro along the line your friend drew.

-Trim the excess length from the waistband.