How to Make Beaded Hip Scarves

Making and wearing beaded hip scarves is a fashionable way to add some fun to your party wardrobe. They also are staples of belly dancers' outfits. The hip scarf that is described below uses bead trim rather than individually sewn-on beads or coins, which makes construction move along quickly. It consists of a triangular scarf that wraps around the hips and has a band across the top that ties on one side to secure.

Things You'll Need

• Lightweight silky fabric
• Tape measure
• Yardstick
• Tailor's chalk
• Iron
• Pins
• Bead trim or coin trim
• Thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. To make the triangle, cut a strip of fabric 26-inches wide and as long as the wearer's hip measurement plus 1 inch. Use tailor's chalk to make a small mark at the bottom edge of the fabric at the center. For example, if the strip is 38 inches long, then make a mark at 19 inches. With a yardstick, use tailor's chalk to draw a line from the center point to each end. Cut along lines.

2. 

   On the diagonal lines, make a narrow hem by folding under edges ½ inch twice. Pin and stitch. On the right side, lay the top edge of bead trim along stitched hemline, allowing beads to hang down. Sew in place.

3. To make the top band, cut a strip of fabric 6 inches wide and 28 inches longer than the wearer's hip measurement. On all edges, fold under ½ inch and press. Fold entire strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press. You now have a finished width of 2 ½ inches.

4. On the raw, top edge of the triangle, mark the center with a small line of tailor's chalk. In the same manner, mark the center length of the top band. Matching center marks, sandwich the top edge of the triangle between the two sides of the folded band, putting ½ inch of the triangle up into the band. Pin to hold triangle to band, and space pins along the rest of the band to hold the two sides together.

5. Starting at one end of the band, topstitch ¼ inch away from the edge. When you reach the triangle, you will be sewing through the band and the triangle. You may need to stop the machine and hand sew over the beads. Topstitch around entire band.