Can I brag for a moment? 😉 One of my absolute favourite moments of running Sparkly Belly is when I see costumes that everyone created based on my tutorials and courses. When people share their photos with me via email or in Sparkly Belly’s FB group, they totally make my day! After running this website for almost 3 years, these… Read more →
I have to admit, I’ve been putting off making a 25-yard skirt for a long time even though I love the skirt and many people requested this tutorial. That’s because this skirt has too many hurdles: Lots of sewing Lots of fabric = expensive Too much calculating and planning (how many tiers? how long for each tier?) You need a… Read more →
As a belly dancer, you can’t have enough hip scarves. They are great for practice and of course for easy costuming! So today I want to go back to basics and create this cute and simple fringe hip scarf. Let’s get started! 😀 Click here to sign up for my FREE email course Belly Dance Costume Making 101! 😀 To… Read more →
One of the most common costume making problems I hear from Sparkly Belly readers is actually not related to costume making at all. It’s about finding time to sew. When I share my costume tutorials, I often get comments like, “I love this! But first I have to find time to sew….” The other day, I saw a FB discussion… Read more →
In my last post, we made a beautiful and classy DIY lace belly drape for your belly dance bra. And in this post, we’ll create this matching colour block mermaid skirt skirt by hacking my favourite mermaid skirt pattern! Let’s get started! Learn how to make your own Goddess Skirt pattern here and try this lace panel mermaid skirt! And/Or… Read more →
Earlier this year, I shared my Plus Size Belly Dance Costuming Guide which became a very popular post on Sparkly Belly. 🙂 One of the tips I included there was what I call the “Belly Drape” – It’s a design created with fabric that drapes from the bra and provides light coverage over the top of your torso. It’s really easy… Read more →
As a belly dancer, it’s important to wear a cover-up before and after performance so you make a great impact when you’re in your magical costume on stage. 🙂 I did a Caftan inspired cover-up tutorial a while ago, but I wanted to make one that opens in the front. It makes more sense especially when you are wearing a… Read more →
A few months ago I did a review on Swarovski’s shimmer effect rhinestone series, which was initially introduced to me by Alisa at Har-Man Importing. And last month, she sent me another new line of rhinestones, called Star Bright. Thanks, Alisa! Sign up for the free course & start making costumes! Star Bright is an Austrian Crystal collection, and Har-Man… Read more →
Want to make this lovely grey skirt? Learn here! For making dance costumes, stretch fabric is essential – it helps us create fitted costumes and gives the flexibility we need for when we move around and dance in it. 🙂 So I have a lot of tutorials where you use stretch fabrics – like this mermaid skirt, Goddess Skirt, and… Read more →
Have you seen gathered fabrics used to decorate dance costumes or formal dresses? That might be pleating or ruching. Both of them add colours, textures and such elegance to costumes and dresses, and it can be an easy way to decorate your costumes. But it can be tricky to create the look, especially when you’re working with… Read more →