How to Make a Long Black Belly Dancing Skirt

Create a full skirt for belly dancing.

Belly dancing skirts are flattering on the dance floor, swaying and flowing with your every movement. A typical belly dancing skirt is made from two or more half-circle panels of fabric to give extra width at the hemline with no bulk at the hip or waist. When you spin, this full fabric creates a graceful, feminine effect. A belly dancing skirt made from luxurious black fabric will present an ethereal look while you dance.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Fabric marker
• Pencil
• Compass
• String
• Iron
• Elastic
• Bodkin or large safety pin
• Trim and embellishments (optional)

Instructions

Measuring and Cutting the Skirt

1. Cut off a 2.5-inch strip of fabric from the cut edge and put aside.

2. Cut the remaining yardage in half, lengthwise to create two equal sized pieces. For example, a 4-yard piece of fabric with the 2.5-inch strip cut off will give you two pieces that are slightly less than 2 yards each.

3. Fold both pieces in half, lengthwise and lay on top of each other with the folded edges together.

4. Measure around the widest part of your body between your belly button and your hip and divide this number by four. Make a note of this measurement. This is the measurement for the opening of each panel on the top of the skirt.

5. Create the curve for the waist opening. The waist opening falls right below the belly button. Start creating the curve by making a mark with a fabric marker 5-inches down from the top of the fold. Insert a pencil into the compass and place the pointed end of the compass at the top of the fold. Align the pencil with the 5-inch mark and draw a curve. Do not cut at this point as you may need to adjust the curve.

6. Adjust the curve to fit your hip measurement by measuring the curve in a straight line from end to end. If this line measures less than the number from Step 4, which is one-quarter of your hip measurement, you will need to increase the curve in increments until you reach your correct measurement. First, make a new mark on the fold at 6 inches and draw the curve. This will adjust the opening slightly to make it larger. Then measure the straight line again and keep adjusting, one inch at a time, until you have a measurement that equals one-quarter of your hip measurement. Cut the hip curve from the fold line out to the top of the fabric.

7. Create the circular hem. Measure the length from the hip to the hem using a pencil and string as a compass. Tie the pencil to one end of the string. Hold the string along the fold at the waistline. Position the pencil at the measurement for the desired length and draw a curve along the bottom edge of the fabric. Cut through all layers of the fabric along this curve line.

Sewing the Skirt

1. Attach the waistband casing to the skirt panels. Fold the 2.5-inch strip removed earlier in half lengthwise to create a long narrow strip. Press with an iron for easier handling. Cut in half and sew each strip, with raw edges together to the top edges of the half circles.

2. Measure the elastic to fit your hip line with enough give to get into and out of the skirt easily. Add an inch or two and cut the elastic in half to use in each panel. Thread each piece of elastic through the waistband casing on the half circle, using a bodkin or safety pin. Once threaded through, stitch the elastic in place through the casing at the sides to keep it in place.

3. Sew the seams of the two half-circle panels together, with right sides facing, to assemble the skirt.

4. Sew the hem of the skirt with a rolled or handkerchief hem.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase yardage that is four times the amount measured from hip to floor.

• If you want your skirt shorter, to wear over pantaloons or another skirt, adjust the length measurement when marking the bottom curve.

• Embellish the waist and hemline of the skirt with ribbon trim, beads or sequins.

• If you are adding trim to the hemline, turn the hem toward the right side before stitching and add the trim to cover the stitching line.

References

• Visionary Dance Productions: Alexandra's Belly Dance Skirt

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Bellydance Plus: Making a Circle Skirt; Shira; 2008