Belly dancing costume

Does anyone know of a belly dancing costume pattern? My daughter is starting belly dancing at school next term and I think it would add to the fun if she looked the part. I'd like to make her the harem pants and the top, together with the shawl. Is that really sheer veil material (I don't know what it's called) difficult to work with?

Reply to
Viviane
Loading thread data ...

Start here:

formatting link

Reply to
Kate Dicey

What size is your daughter? If she wears adult sizes, Simplicity has a costume that would probably work fine. (rummage, rummage, 5359.)

5357 is pretty much the same pattern for girls.

However. I would suggest that you check with her teacher first. There are many styles of belly dancing, and a show costume (which is kind of what these patters are) is different from a practice outfit.

Most of my belly-dancing friends practice in a leotard under a full skirt.

The only tricky part of a belly dancing costume is the top, and if you've got a bikini top pattern, that would work just fine. The skirt is as full as you want it to be, pants are full and flowy and usually tied at the ankle. Veils are rectangles of fabric, hemmed.

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Reply to
Jenn Ridley

Reply to
Liz Cork

Hey all, I forwarded the reply with the links to a friend of mine who sews and belly dances. ;) She was tickled with the links and had the below to say. I thought I should post it here since she's made several costumes for herself and knows of what she speaks. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Reply to
romanyroamer

The costumegoddess website that Liz posted is an excellent resource. D>I can suggest that they NOT use the Simplicity belly dancer / harem girl

costume. It is NOT constructed for anyone that is actually going to dance and required serious alterations.

Ditto! This is def>However. I would suggest that you check with her teacher first. There are many

styles of belly dancing, and a show costume (which is kind of what these patters are) is different from a practice outfit.

In addition, different teachers have different ideas about what's ok to wear in class (or not). Some want leotard & tights, so they can see your legs; some want top + full skirt; for some sport bras are not allowed. (Anybody else see the humor in that?)

Back to Viviane:

work with?

Chiffon. You want to be able to see through it. It can be difficult to work with, but all you need to do is straighten the ends & hem them, as long as you get something with a decent selvege, so the difficulty doesn't last too long. My personal veil preference is silk chiffon. I have a couple of polyester chiffon veils & they tend to be staticky & "grabby". I accidentally burritoed one of my troupe mates up in my veil during a group number a few years ago. ;)

gabrielle

Reply to
gabrielle

*snorting and chorteling at vision of burritoed bellydancer*
Reply to
Pogonip

Thank you all so much. Now I have so much info to help. I'd seen the Simplicity patterns but didn't think they look "flowing enough". We bought a belt with the bells on the way home from school. DD is ecstatic and has worn it all afternoon and evening, so we always knew where she was. She's

7, so this is really exciting for her and hopefully without recreating the burrito look.
Reply to
Viviane

Reply to
CNYstitcher

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.