When I first visited a fabric store, I was at a loss.
All I saw there were rows and rows of fabric bolts, labeled with foreign names, and I didn’t know what I was looking for. I didn’t even know whether I’m allowed to touch the fabric.
I simply walked out of the store empty-handed. 🙁
Well, I don’t want you to walk out of the store empty-handed!
In my last post, I shared with you Beginner’s Guide to Dance Costume Making Part 1 – what you need and don’t need to start making dance costumes, and easy DIY projects for you to try 🙂
In Part 2 (this post), I’ll share with you how to pick the right dance costume fabric for your projects, so you can jump onto your project right away! Let’s get started!
Click here to get the handy dance costume fabric chart!
Common types of dance costume fabric
For dance costumes, here are types of fabric that are used often:
Chiffon
This type of really lightweight, sheer fabric is called chiffon. You may hear polyester chiffon or silk, but that’s just what the fabric is made out of. Polyester one is cheaper than silk one, and if you touch it in person, it feels very different. Silk one is much smoother and floats amazingly.
Often people make flowy circle skirts, veils and drapes with this fabric. As you can see, it’s great for making things that catch air as you move.
Satin
Another lightweight fabric you see often is satin. The major difference between chiffon and satin is that satin is opaque and has this beautiful sheen to it.
Just like chiffon, satin is great for making skirts, and the texture creates a luxurious feel. But it is opaque and not see-through, so it doesn’t appear as lightweight as chiffon does.
Spandex (also called Lycra)
If you want to make a more fitted costume, you need stretch fabric. If you make a fitted skirt with fabric that doesn’t stretch, it’ll rip as soon as you start to dance.
Spandex fabric is great for this! Spandex is actually the name of stretchy fiber contained in the fabric. Try going into the “performance wear” or “swimwear” section of your fabric store, and look at the label on fabric. It would say 8% spandex, 92% nylon or polyester or something like that.
There’s stretch fabric that’s 100% polyester, for example, but for making dance costumes, I prefer stretch fabric with some percentage of spandex in it. It tends to be sturdier and more comfortable.
This fabric is great for making fitted skirts, bodysuits and leotards…. anything that requires good stretch!
Velvet
This fuzzy, luxurious texture – this is velvet. Velvet has this beautiful texture, and instantly makes the costume look expensive.
Some velvet comes with stretch. If you want to make a leotard or a fitted mermaid skirt with velvet, make sure it has good stretch in it.
This fuzzy texture can be great at hiding imperfections. So for belly dance bra making, I always recommend velvet for the finishing fabric for beginners.
Depending on your dance style, you may see other fabrics, but these are common ones. The best way to get to know them better is to go to a fabric store and actually see them in person. Speaking of seeing fabric in person, here’s the next question.
Can I touch fabric in fabric stores?
Yes, unless the store says to not touch, which I’ve never encountered personally.
Of course have clean hands and be gentle, but it’s okay to pick up some fabric, and feel the texture and drape with your hands.
Some projects specify how much stretch your fabric should have. So make sure to feel the fabric and feel the stretch and pick the right one.
How do I buy fabric?
A fabric store should have a cutting station with a large table. Take a bolt of the fabric you like to the table.
Fabric is usually priced per yard or per meter depending on where you are. If you’re unsure, ask the store person before they start cutting the fabric.
Also, you should know how much fabric you need. Your project may say how much you need. If not, you should think ahead and estimate. It’s a good practice to buy how much you need plus 1/2m to 1m, just in case you make a mistake and need extra. It’s quite possible that a fabric store doesn’t carry the same fabric all the time, so it’s better to buy a bit more the first time.
Oh, and if the store is like a warehouse and you can’t get a bolt yourself, do ask for help. Those bolts can be very heavy.
I’ve summarized everything I covered in a downloadable chart which you can get from the below link:
Click here to get the handy dance costume fabric chart!
I hope this guide helps you feel more confident when you visit a fabric store for your dance costume project!
And if you want to learn more about how to cut, how to sew, or how to handle different types of dancewear fabric, I cover all those topics in my Belly Dance Costume Workshop. You can learn more about my workshop here!
Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!
P.S. Pin this image for future reference! 🙂
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