Crafting an Adventure Ready Tool Belt

As an elementary school principal, I am a BIG advocate for sparking and fostering creativity in young children. Children learn essential life-skills and develop higher-thinking skills through play and exploration. Needless to say, I loved creating a little treasure for the little adventurous spirits in my life: the Ammo Belt, pattern design by Tracy Citron that’s both functional and whimsical, made with the charming It Takes a Village fabric collection designed by Jennifer Long for Riley Blake Designs. This fabric line has all the playful elements needed to spark young imaginations. Each fabric piece feels like its own story, featuring characters, landscapes, and burst of color that invite endless daydreams. The result? A perfect tool belt that’s ready for whatever daring adventures await!

Tool Belt

For this project, I turned to the Ammo Belt pattern by Tracy Citron, which is just as versatile as it is sturdy. The design has plenty of pockets to hold all kinds of tools and treasures, making it ideal for budding explorers. So, whether it’s a magnifying glass for examining mysterious plants, a set of colored pencils for mapping out their journey, or even a snack stash for mid-adventure refuels, this belt has space for it all.

It Takes a Village Fabric – well, it calls to the heart of the young imagineers.

The It Takes a Village collection is all about community, imagination, and collaboration – key ingredients for any epic adventure. I chose the fabric design, Smoke Main because it had a mix of color and fun city-scape motifs and the occasional (tiny) quirky animal such as a cat climbing a ladder in the midst of this busy town with a calm grey background color. The fabric scene gives the belt a playful, storybook feel. Jennifer Long’s design bring a nostalgic charm and inspire creativity with every little detail.

Durable and Adventure Ready – was the spice in making the belt.

One of the most important aspects of this project was durability. I wanted the belt to stand the test of time and plenty of play! Once again, RBDs’ fabric quality didn’t disappoint. It is sturdy, yet soft, it promises a long even with regular use. As an experienced mom, auntie and teacher, I knew to pay extra attention to and use strong-stitching along the seams and reinforce any high-wear areas to ensure that this tool belt can hold up through all kinds of play, rain or shine. Kindergarten classroom tested and approved!

Imaginary Adventures Await!

Since gifting this to my little adventurers, I’ve watched them delve into a world of endless possibilities. Sometimes, the belt becomes part of a mission to save the town from a mischievous green dragon. Other times, it’s their “explorer’s toolkit” for discovering hidden treasures in the backyard or on the playground. Knowing that this simple, handmade gift is helping fuel their imagination and giving them the tools to create memories has been such a rewarding experience.

If you’re looking for a project that combines creativity with practicality, I can’t recommend this tool belt enough. With It Takes a Village and the Ammo Belt pattern, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation that your young adventurer will treasure for years to come! Mom, auntie, elementary school principal, teacher and imagineer approved!

Happy sewing and creating!