The belt fastening is another thing that I think I need to work out -- I suspect some of my problems may have been due to releasing the tension with the left hand at various points, and it's certainly not practical to do anything other than a simple unison turn of the cards with the right-hand when working single-handed.

The main problem was that I simply don't have any belts long enough to fit *over* multiple layers of winter clothing -- it has been three-jumper weather for the past week or so (one thin under-jumper plus a main one, and an extra bodywarmer/fleece either over or under the main garment), and my belts are aimed at holding things up around a skinny waist. And I didn't particularly want to hike up all my layers and have a draught whistling round my waistband for hours, either!

Maybe a piece of string might function...