How to Create a Bellydance Coin Belt

Coins, beads and sequins add interest and detail to your dance costume.

Bellydance costuming is noted for its vibrant, shimmying coins, beads, sequins, tassels, appliques and jewelry pieces. The two pieces of the bellydance costume that are adorned with the heaviest amount of decoration are the bra and the belt. A bellydance coin belt catches the light and emits distinctive sounds as the dancer shimmies, sways, circles and undulates her hips. Because the coin belt is so intimately linked to the fast-paced elements of the dance, it is often referred to simply as a "shimmy belt."



The no-sew instructions below will yield two coin belts.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard 45 in. wide stretch velvet
• 3 yards coin fringe
• Scissors
• Permanent fabric adhesive
• Additional fringe, sequins, beads or coins (optional)
• Needle and thread (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut your fabric diagonally from one corner to the other. This will give you two triangles, each one ready to be prepared as its own coin belt.

2. Glue the rough edges of the fabric to the underside of each triangular belt. This will help prevent fraying along the edges and give your coin belt a more polished look overall.

3. Glue the coin fringe around each side of each belt. You can find coin fringe at most craft stores in the ribbon and trim department. The coins are usually lightly beaded in such a way that they dangle from either a satin or velvet ribbon. Coins come in silver, gold and copper tones, and ribbons are available in a wide variety of colors.

4. Glue rows of coins in either horizontal, wavy or V-shaped lines through the body of your belts. The more coins you layer into the middle section of your belt, the better it will sound as you dance.

5. Glue or sew on additional embellishments, if desired. You might want to add sequins, beads, appliques or even pieces of jewelry to your belt to give it extra sparkle and detail.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to add very heavy embellishments to your coin belt, you might want to choose a heavier fabric as the base. You can also reinforce lightweight fabric with iron-on interfacing.

• Never machine wash coin belts. Spot clean them, as needed, and allow them to air dry.

References

• Bedlah, Baubles & Beads; Dawn Devine Brown; 2001
• Fabric Suggestions for Bellydance Costumes