haramaki (tummy warmer) tutorial
I saw this post on Craftzine yesterday about the new Japanese fashion of wearing colourful haramaki aka ‘belly warmers’. I think this is the best idea I’ve seen in a long time! Ever since the advent of low-rise jeans, women have been stuck with a little cold gap between the bottom of our shirts and the top of our jeans. This is a cool way to cover that gap, and why import one from Japan when we can all make our own?
I whipped this one up this morning as a prototype, so I left it plain, but just imagine how amazing it could look if you freezer paper stencilled a funky design on the fabric before sewing it…
When it was finished, I tried it on and was surprised by how warm I felt – it really does work, even when it’s just made from 2 layers of t-shirt fabric.
To make your own haramaki:
You can use any fabric with some stretch, so you can pull your haramaki on and off. I used a knit jersey (i.e. t-shirt fabric).
You will also need a sewing machine with a stretch stitch (pictured below).
- Work out the dimensions you need. The height is up to you – I decided to go for an 8″ tall haramaki but you could make it longer if you want. The length of the haramaki depends on the size of your tummy..! Of course it would be easier to estimate for a skinny straight up-and-down Japanese model than for a regular curvy lady. I decided to make mine 30″ around (without giving too much away, that’s halfway between the measurements for my waist and my hips). If you want to wear it high up, make it a bit shorter than your halfway measurement, and if you want it to cover your hips, you may need to make it a little longer, depending on how stretchy your fabric is.
To get the fabric dimensions, the length is 1″ over the length you decided (mine is 30″ + 1″ = 31″) and the width is double the height plus 1″ (mine is 2×8″ + 1″ = 17″). Cut your fabric to these dimensions and lay out as shown (right side up):
- Fold your fabric in half so the top meets the bottom, as shown below:
- Pin the 2 long sides together, all the way along. It’s better to space the pins more closely than you normally would, as the stretch fabric can get out of alignment more easily than a regular fabric:
- Sew along the line you’ve pinned. You have 1/2″ seam allowance, but that 1/2″ includes the full width of the zig-zag stitch, so you may need to practice on scrap fabric first to see which guide line to follow on your sewing machine. Trim the extra seam allowance after sewing:
- You have just made a long tube. Stick your arm through the tube and grab onto the far edge of the tube:
- Pull your arm back out of the tube, bringing that far edge of the tube back through the middle of the tube. Stop when the raw edges meet up, and align the edges:
- Pin the inner and outer layers together, all around the raw edge:
- To clarify, you should now have a tube that is half as long as before, made from 2 thicknesses of fabric. The pins should not close off the end of the tube:
- Sew around the pinned edge (again, 1/2″ seam allowance), leaving a gap of about 3″. Turn the harimaki right side out through this gap:
- Fold the edges of the gap under, and hand-sew the opening shut. That’s it! All finished!
I’ve been wearing mine all day and it’s warm and comfy and like having a hug all day long 
Please leave me a comment if you like this idea or if you make one!
bellywarmerlover said
Great tutorial! thank you so much for sharing this, I don’t have a sewing machine, but I have a black tube cotton dress( that I don’t use very often , I am going to try to convert this one into my own haramaky ^_^.
Selina said
Wish i’d seen this earlier, i bought two belly bands while pregnant and ended up having to re-sew them on an angle to make them sit right. could’ve saved time and money if i’d thought to make them from scratch.
This is a great idea for pregnancy but will now continue to wear it while nursing, thanks for the tip from Tamara Watson XOXOX
Tim said
Very good tutorial thank you!
Bump Bands - Pregnancy - First Trimester Forum said
[...] have actually made myself a few – I found the instructions here: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/haram…rmer-tutorial/ and made them because I'm tall so sometimes my tops aren't long enough. I think they are a great [...]
rokuchan said
If anybody out there wants to know how to KNIT haramaki, there is this one book, “cables on the go”, that shows a picture of a cabled neck warmer that works perfectly as a haramaki! All you need to do is use larger needles and yarn, and I prommise you it works!! (^_^) Though it only fits those who have about a 30 inch waist, so if you can calculate your patterns and how many stitches you need, then you’ll have to figure that out on your own. BTW, the pattern is near the end of the book, take it out from your library and find out!
Sewing project ideas « Creativity by Lolly said
[...] PlanetJune by June Gilbank » haramaki (tummy warmer) tutorial [...]
Kirsten said
Good Day,
I just wanted to let you know that I have linked to this fun tutorial and hope to make myself one really soon as it is winter here in South Africa.
Amy said
Thanks! I was looking for a practical pregnancy gift for my sister-in-law, and couldn’t justify the boutique price of a tube of knit fabric. I’ll be making my own now, Thanks!
Christine said
I have made this, but with a slight modification – 3 layers thick. Was a bit of fiddling to work out how to do it best, but very warm – currently wearing it. Thanks heaps for the instructions. My mum has also knitted me a couple.
Sandy said
Love the tutorial, thankyou! My acupuncturist recommended I use a haramaki as my belly is chilly, common amongst those of us who spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer – apparently we get blood stagnation in the belly which causes the chilliness, and the harimaki helps to improve the situation (along with chi gong and needles of course)
So I’m off to dig into my fabric stash and make a couple this weekend – so they’re not just for pregnancy 
Kristi said
I actually use this for my 12 year old daughter!! Alot of the shirts she has are too short for school (usually hit right at her hips) Since she is self conscious about bending over at her locker, I decided to whip up a couple of these in various colors for her to wear under her shirts for the layered look. They have worked FABULOUSLY even in the hot weather! She LOVES them and has asked me to make her several more! Thanks for the tutorial and the idea! Saved me from having to spend alot of money (even at the thrift store) to find school appropriate shirts!
susan said
Yes I am wearing a Haramaki as I type this. I have made my own from just wrapping a length of stretch material around my abdomon,tucking the ends, then wear a mini skirt over that, very snug. I feel secure and will probably start making one on the sewing machine now that I have seen your excellent intructions, thank you, much appreciated, regards Susan
Haramaki ou, na nossa versão, tapa-cofrinho! | SuperZiper said
[...] os que preferirem fazer a peça do zero, do molde até a costura, aqui tem um passo-a-passo detalhado (em [...]
Márcia Reis said
Amei a ideia!!! Há muito tempo venho enrolando e adiando usar um belo jeans que ganhei, só por causa do maldito cofrinho!.
Staying Warm with Ginger and a Haramaki « Whispering Earth said
[...] I got mine from this company here but you can also buy them from these people here. I have recommended them to so many people this winter I am considering ringing up and asking for commission! For those of you with a sewing machine and a bit of free time they are not difficult to make and instructions can be found online here. [...]
William said
Wished I’d read this before I started, I worked on one yesterday and thought it was going great, (I have a simple sewing machine but haven’t sewn a project in 20 years) I ended up with a pillow…
(
Tomorrow I’ll start seem ripping and follow directions.
mina said
thank you, i have copied your instruction, this will be my project.
Jennifer said
Thank you! I am always befuddled by the “turn the tube halfway” concept, but it never fails when I follow the directions. My mom suggested the elastic stitch–looks like a fancy fence embroidery– as a stretchier alternative. I tried and almost 8″ difference between the top and bottom measurements: that worked 2 out of 3, but the tops slump down, so their either aren’t tight enough or I was making them too tall.
June said
I made a “haramaki version 2.0″ where I tapered the top half at each side before stitching up the tube, to make the waist narrower. I think it’s a better solution for curvier ladies (with a large difference between waist and hip measurements) because I found the same thing – if you make it narrower to fit your waist better, it rides up because it’s too narrow for your hips…
I must find time to write up the modified tutorial when I’m settled here in South Africa and my luggage (including the sewing machine and photo equipment!) has arrived
Bella said
Thanks heaps for this. I have to go out dog walking and i wouldnt go without something to comfort me. Made a belly warmer out of two old tshirts and it took no time at all. Hurrah!!
sherry said
I never heard of a belly warmer before. It’s hard for me to find shirts long enough. I am going to make several of these in different colors to use as a layered look. Thanks! Great idea.
Hanni said
Thanks for this nice tutorial. I made two waist warmers.
Noura Barakat said
What lovely idea, I was making my own by knitting cotton thread, I will try -hopefully soon- this briliant idea.
Thank you
Chris Simpson said
I just saw these on TV. They were called a Hip-T and were selling for – I can’t believe it – $35. I thought it looked like a great idea at the time but the price was not what I would pay. I will have to try this for my daughters using thrift store shirts. I should be able to make 1 or 2 for a dollar. Thanks.