Help sewing a sash/belt

[snitker79]

I'm trying to sew a sash type belt and I've got it about done. I took 2 pieces of equal length fabric and sewed it together for a middle seam. Then I folded it in half width wise, right sides together and sewed it leaving a bit of the center open to turn the ends of the sash back to the right side of the fabric. But now how do I close the middle of the sash up and still make it look like the rest of the stitching on the belt. I'm using one off of a satin robe as a guide, but it is all one piece of fabric with no center seam, so it's not much help.

I could slip stitch it, but then the stitching would show up different, wouldn't it? I'm a fairly inexperienced in sewing and don't know a lot of different types of stitching. (I know just enough to be dangerous )

Thanks for your help.
Miranda

[Novella]

No, you are right on track. A slip stitch is EXACTLY what you want to do.

I'm assuming you have already turned your sash right-side-out. Then be sure to press the seam allowance to the inside on both layers of fabric. If you are careful to make sure your needle pricks go exactly into the crease of the fold and are careful to make sure that your needle pricks line up from side-to-side (ie. not offset, which will make it look like a bit of a whip-stitch) then no one will ever be able to see (even with scrutiny) that you slip stitched it.

How visible is this? How fancy/special a sash is it? If I have a well-matched thread, I'll often just forego the hassle of hand-sewing the opening and simply do a straight stitch on the machine: right through all the layers and within a millimetre of the pressed folded edge. This isn't as professional and I slip-stitich if it's a nice piece. However, with most sashes/belts in most wearing opportunities, no one is going to see it. That's why so much off-the-rack clothing has belts stitched the quick way.

[KariM]

Depending upon the look, you might also be able to do a decorative top-stitch. Fold in the seam allowances and press. Then top-stitch around the edges of the sash.

[WC_hapamama]

I would have sewed the sides and one end first, turned from the open end, press and then top stitched around the whole thing.