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 →
Tag: Mao
DIY Lace Side Panel Mermaid Skirt (BDCW hack part 2)
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 →
DIY Belly Drape for belly dance bra (BDCW hack part 1)
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 →
DIY Caftan style Open Front Cover-Up (with pockets!)
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 →
High Quality & More Affordable!? Star Bright Rhinestones Review
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 →
3 tricks for sewing stretch fabrics (& avoiding uneven skirt hem!)
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 →
Pleating & Ruching: How to decorate dance costumes with fabric in 2 ways
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 →
DIY Baladi Dress with mandarin collar & placket – part 2: Sew them all together!
In my last post, we measured and cut out all panels we need to sew this DIY baladi dress with a mandarin collar and placket. I love when all the panels are cut and waiting for me to sew them together. 😀 Let’s get started! Click here to make your own Dina Bra! 😀 DIY Baladi Dress with mandarin collar &… Read more →
DIY Baladi Dress with mandarin collar & placket – part 1: Measure & Cut!
I picked up super cute spandex fabric when I visited the garment district in NYC last year with Mahin, and I knew I had to make a playful baladi dress out of it. I did a baladi dress tutorial before with a keyhole neckline, but this time I wanted to make one to pair with a Dina style bra. So… Read more →
DIY Dancer Shorts
Since I launched my latest costume making course, Aurora Convertible Skirt Premium Course, I received questions about what to wear under this type of skirt that has cutouts. Click the image to check out how to make this skirt! Generally, you can either wear nude colour underwear that doesn’t show, or some dancers wear boy shorts in nude colour. For… Read more →