Any tips on softening canvas belts?

United States
July 25, 2007 10:13pm CST
I make bottle cap belts by sewing bottle caps onto canvas Army belts. However, my fiance got me the latest batch, and they are brand new, which means they are really stiff and almost impossible to get a needle through. I know that it's possible to soften up canvas, but putting these belts through the washing machine doesn't seem to have helped much. Any tips on quick and easy ways to soften up canvas belts? Unfortunately, I can't run them through the dryer, because they have metal on one end (which I can't remove), and they make WAY too much noise in the dryer.
3 responses
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
26 Jul 07
It'sthe dryer that's going to do the most softening. Try putting them in pillow cases while they're wet and tying the cases closed. Maybe half a dozen in 1 pillow case. That should lessen the amount of noise significantly. There'll still be a little rattling, but it'll be muffled. You could of course use 2 pillow cases for ever half dozen instead.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jul 07
That's what I was afraid of--that they needed to go through the dryer too. Maybe I will wash a couple of pillows and the pillowcases, and then tie the belts in the pillowcase. I know we used to always dry our sneakers along with pillows so that they didn't make so much noise...
1 person likes this
@katydidmc (210)
• Canada
26 Jul 07
Did you try just rinsing them in water with fabric softener in it? it may work
• United States
26 Jul 07
Unfortunately, no liquid fabric softener in the house. We get our fabric softener in dryer sheets.
1 person likes this
• Canada
26 Jul 07
You can get the softener out of the sheet by soaking it in water and wringing it out.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jul 07
is it that heavy woven military belt with the brass end clips? i usually just wrap fabric on the metal part (like scarves or something) and throw them in anyway with some sneakers.granted the sneakers make a noise too,but it's not as bad as the metal.
• United States
26 Jul 07
I think that we're talking about the same type. :) That is a good idea about wrapping the ends in fabric, though. I have plenty of scraps that would do just fine! :)