Creating Belly Dance Strips and Accessories: A Step-by-Step Guide
Belly dance strips and accessories are essential components of a belly dancer’s costume, adding flair, comfort, and a touch of personal style to the performance. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to create some of these elements, focusing on adjustable lace belts and DIY fringe hip scarfs.
Making an Adjustable Belly Dance Lace Belt
Creating an adjustable belly dance lace belt is a great way to ensure a comfortable and stylish fit. Here’s how you can do it:
Materials Needed
- Lightweight fabric that matches your skirt (about 20 centimeters or 8 inches wide)
- Lace appliques to cover the entire waistband
- Matching color threads
- Felt
- Fabric glue[2].
Steps
- Cut the Fabric: Cut a strip of fabric that is 8 centimeters wide and the full width of your fabric. If your fabric is narrower, sew a couple of pieces together to achieve the desired length.
- Create the Tie: Cut another strip if you want the tie to be longer and sew the strips together at the short ends to make one long strip.
- Fold and Sew: Fold the strip right sides together lengthwise and do a straight stitch along the long edge with a 1 centimeter (3/8 inch) seam allowance. Turn it right side out.
- Finish the Ends: Fold about 1 centimeter from the edge towards the inside and do a straight stitch to neatly finish the ends. Press the tie well.
- Attach Lace Appliques: Use fabric glue to attach the lace appliques to the tie, ensuring they cover the entire waistband.
- Make it Adjustable: To make the belt adjustable, you can add ties or use a hidden adjustable mechanism. For a simple tie method, fold the tie in half and measure your belt line. Tie the ends together to create an adjustable loop[2].
Creating a DIY Fringe Hip Scarf
A fringe hip scarf is a fun and easy accessory to make, and it can be done without sewing.
Materials Needed
- An old T-shirt
- Scissors
- A ruler
Steps
- Choose and Cut the T-Shirt: Select an old T-shirt and cut it to the desired length for your hip scarf. For a small to average size, leave about 10 inches from the hem; for plus sizes, leave 12-16 inches[4].
- Cut the Fringe: Use a ruler to mark and cut fringe strips about 2 inches apart and 1/4 inch wide. Cut through both layers of the T-shirt.
- Cut Off Excess Fringe: Trim any excess fringe to ensure uniformity.
- Tie Knots: Tie knots in the fringe to prevent it from unraveling.
- Stretch and Tie: Stretch the hip scarf to the desired length and tie it around your waist. You can adjust the length by tying the ends together or using a small knot[4].
Additional Tips for Decorating Your Costume
When decorating your belly dance costume, here are some additional tips:
Using Appliques
- Create a basic belt blank that fits you well before decorating. This ensures that all your decoration work is not wasted on a poorly fitting base[5].
- Use appliques to create intricate designs. For example, you can create a wave-inspired look by drawing waves on a pattern and then cutting out appliques to match[5].
Attaching Fringe
- When attaching fringe to a grosgrain ribbon, sew the fringe onto the ribbon and then hand-stitch the cover fabric to hide the edges and create definition between each piece of fringe[5].
Important Facts About Belly Dance Strips and Accessories
- Adjustable Belts: Many fusion-style belts come with ties for adjustability, but traditional raqs sharqi belts often do not. Using a hidden adjustable mechanism or ties can solve this issue[2].
- Materials: Use lightweight fabric and matching threads for a seamless look. Lace appliques can be sourced from various online stores[2].
- DIY Fringe: Fringe hip scarfs can be made from old T-shirts without sewing. The length of the fringe depends on the dancer’s size[4].
- Applique Techniques: Appliques can be used to create intricate designs. Breaking down the project into smaller chunks can make it more manageable[5].
- Fitting: Ensuring a well-fitting base for your belt or bra is crucial before adding decorations. A poorly fitting base can render all decoration work useless[5].
- Comfort and Style: Accessories like adjustable belts and fringe hip scarfs not only add style but also ensure comfort during performances. They can be adjusted to fit different sizes and preferences[2][4].
By following these steps and tips, you can create beautiful and functional belly dance strips and accessories that enhance your performance and personal style.