Belly Dance Costume DIY
Whether you belly dance for fun and exercise, as a professional, or just need a unusual costume, you can try to make your own belly dance costume. Usually, the costume consists of an adorned bra and wide pants or a skirt with flowing scarves and headgear as accessories. Belts of coins are common as are finger bells. You can sew sequins, beads or even coins to the bra to decorate it.
Things You'll Need
- Underwire, hard-cupped, satin bra, with a halter top
- Sequins, coins or beads
- Fringe
- Scissors
- Hand-sewing needle
- Embroidery floss
- 3 yards chiffon
- Ruler
- Straight pins
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- 1-inch wide elastic
- Sheer fabric for veil
Instructions
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1
Decide on a pattern for the sequins, beads or coins for the bra cups and sides. Position the fringe along the edge of the bra sides and cups and cut to fit.
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2
Separate the embroidery floss into three strand lengths. Thread the hand-sewing needle and sew the sequins and other decorations to the bra. Sew the fringe to the edge of the bra.
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3
Cut the chiffon fabric into two 45-inch squares. Fold the edges of the fabric 1/2 inch, pin and sew to hem.
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4
Place one square of fabric on a flat surface, then place the other piece on top of it, and slightly titled. The bottom piece should be positioned like a square and the top piece like a diamond, so you have a shape with eight points. Both right sides should face up. Pin the fabrics together.
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5
Measure around your hips, where you want the skirt to sit. Cut a circle in the center of the fabrics that matches the circumference of your hips.
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6
Cut a piece of elastic so that it measures a few inches smaller than the width of your hips. Pin the elastic to the pieces of fabric around the cut-out circle. Carefully stitch the elastic in place.
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7
Adorn each point of the skirt with sequins, coins or beads. If you would like, sew fringe to the corners of the skirt.
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8
Cut the veil fabric into a large, 45-inch diameter circle. Cut a pie slice out of the fabric so that you are left with about 2/3 of a circle. Fold the raw sides of the fabric over, pin and sew. Adorn the veil with sequins if you wish.
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References
- Photo Credit Mannequin modelling a red shiny belly dancing costume. image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
