Thread: Making an egyptian style costume

I've been making my own beaded bedlahs for years and have been thinking of trying a more egyptian style costume. As in, doing bead work on a lycra or other stretch material skirt. Does anyone know how the bead work is done in order to keep some stretch in the material? When I look at the two that I own, it looks just like the way I bead my non-stretch bras and belts. Is it just as simple as leaving some space between beaded motifs to allow for some stretch between motifs?

I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried it and what did or didn't work for you.

Glad you asked this - I've been wondering the same thing as I usually stick to bras and belts too.

Not that I really, like, KNOW - but - I've thought about this a lot lately too. I'm guessing the beadwork is done while the costume is stretched out on some kind of frame. I have a skirt on which I need to do some re-beading on a stretchy hip section and I was thinking of trying it with it stretched over the legs of a chair. This would leave some uniformly distributed slack in the threads so they would not break when the costume was put on - I hope.
Anybody else? Inquiring minds want to know!
Rosette

I did this once using stetch velvet, not lycra. It isn't heavily beaded but for the beading I did I just left the beading a little loose not pulling the threads as tight as when I bead nonstretch fabrics so that it doesn't strain the threads when I wear it.

Originally Posted by Rosette

Not that I really, like, KNOW - but - I've thought about this a lot lately too. I'm guessing the beadwork is done while the costume is stretched out on some kind of frame. I have a skirt on which I need to do some re-beading on a stretchy hip section and I was thinking of trying it with it stretched over the legs of a chair. This would leave some uniformly distributed slack in the threads so they would not break when the costume was put on - I hope.
Anybody else? Inquiring minds want to know!
Rosette

I once put a strand of fringe around the hips of a costume and put beads and sequins over the ribbon part using this idea of having the fabric stretched on my dressform. It looked great until I took it off the dressform and it didn't conform to the fabric when not stretched and looked awful. Would look fine on and stretched but if a smaller person wore the costume it would pucker (I think that is the word). Maybe if I hadn't stretched the fabric as far as I did.

I'm thinking that the idea of leaving space between beaded sections where the fabric can stretch is probably the answer. I have noticed that on many of the costumes that the bead theads are left quite loose also.

Surida, I was thinking about using that gorgeous sky blue stretch velvet I bought from you recently. I could see that with some gold hologram sequined motif of some kind.

I saw a thread somewhere here where somebody talked about using elastic thread which is an idea too (although I think it would be hard to get through a needle small enough for beading). I might try some small samples on waste stretch fabric to see how I can keep the stretch in the fabric using some different techniques.

I don't think they make them while the fabric is stretched. The beading looks too tight to me when it's unstretched. I think it would look distorted on different sizes (or during my own weight fluctuations for that matter) if you tried stretching it before beading it.

I've done a little of it. I made sure not to pull the threads very tight, and tried to make all my stitches on a diagonal, or vertical to the direction of expected stretch. It worked out just fine.

I also tied off my thread often, just in case of a breakage!

Originally Posted by shahla

Surida, I was thinking about using that gorgeous sky blue stretch velvet I bought from you recently. I could see that with some gold hologram sequined motif of some kind.

I saw a thread somewhere here where somebody talked about using elastic thread which is an idea too (although I think it would be hard to get through a needle small enough for beading). I might try some small samples on waste stretch fabric to see how I can keep the stretch in the fabric using some different techniques.

I don't think they make them while the fabric is stretched. The beading looks too tight to me when it's unstretched. I think it would look distorted on different sizes (or during my own weight fluctuations for that matter) if you tried stretching it before beading it.

Oh I think the sky blue with gold will be very elegant!! When you work on it please post and share any secrets you unearth (if you are willing ). I'm not going to experiment with this quite yet as I have just started a bra/belt set in royal blue inspired by SummerSahar's incredible teal Bella that I wanted to buy but could not squeeze into.,r:;

Originally Posted by Surida

Oh I think the sky blue with gold will be very elegant!! When you work on it please post and share any secrets you unearth (if you are willing ). I'm not going to experiment with this quite yet as I have just started a bra/belt set in royal blue inspired by SummerSahar's incredible teal Bella that I wanted to buy but could not squeeze into.,r:;

*sniff*
I miss that costume every day.

I have started to make costumes like this - with the beading straight onto the skirt. I love it!! I make sure the skirt fits me PROPERLY before i start to sew beadwork, so the stretch is minimal. I havn't, (so far!!) needed to do anything special as far as allowing for fabric stretch. I use small stitches, tie off often and keep the tension even. If I am stitching on biggish decals/motifs I do stretch the fabric (usually by putting the skirt on!!) and pin them on just so they are actually in the right place! Even though I am using stretch fabrics ( I have found velvets to be the easiest so far ) I find that by making the skirt to fit me with minimal stretch over my butt, the beading need very little allowance.
I have tried using zips, but they havn't looked great so far. The one time I found the skirt was just a little firm to get on and off I just added a little split in the top and used 3 hooks/eyes to close it. That was really easy and really effective.

Originally Posted by Surida

Oh I think the sky blue with gold will be very elegant!! When you work on it please post and share any secrets you unearth (if you are willing ). I'm not going to experiment with this quite yet as I have just started a bra/belt set in royal blue inspired by SummerSahar's incredible teal Bella that I wanted to buy but could not squeeze into.,r:;

I'd be delighted to share when I get around to it. My plan was to start a leopard bra and belt set with gold looped fringe and coins next. Kind of tribaret looking. I saw a leopard bella on the swap meet page that I liked parts of that I want to try to morph into my own design. But, maybe I'll do this egyptian one next, who knows. I finally finished the yellow bra and belt set that I made to go with the yellow chiffon skirt I bought from you. I'll post pics as soon as I get a good sunny day. It looks so cute!

I have done a beaded stretch skirt, I mainly beaded around the waist/hips, but I put a zip in too, so stretch wasn't a major problem, it still had a bit of give though. I was worried it would end up a scrunchy mess but it didn't pucker up at all. For some of the more intricate areas I used a small embroidery hoop, but I didn't stretch the fabric over it very much it was just enough to keep the area flattish, and stop me losing my place.
The main thing I would advise is to make sure that the pre-adorned skirt fits you well around the waist and hips, ie the fabric is not straining too much! Then losing a little stretch is not an issue.
Good luck!

Originally Posted by Rosette

Not that I really, like, KNOW - but - I've thought about this a lot lately too. I'm guessing the beadwork is done while the costume is stretched out on some kind of frame. I have a skirt on which I need to do some re-beading on a stretchy hip section and I was thinking of trying it with it stretched over the legs of a chair. This would leave some uniformly distributed slack in the threads so they would not break when the costume was put on - I hope.
Anybody else? Inquiring minds want to know!
Rosette

But if you did this then wouldn't there be extra thread resulting in dangling beads?? hmmm .... I guess it depends how much you stretched it.

I just checked out some of my cozzies and I have a theory that the beaded sections were done with the fabric (in my case, lycra) slightly stretched. However, I think the sequins were sewn on unstretched fabric (ie. after the bead outlines were sewn). Interesting .... I hadn't thought about it until this post came up. ..g.:

Thank you ladies for all your good ideas. I like the idea of using the embroidery hoop. I think I have one laying around here. Sounds like I need to make sure the skirt fits reasonably well first, then using my hoop and bead a little looser than I usually do. I'm also going to leave a little space in between my beaded parts so that will allow for a little extra stretch where needed. I'm also going to to take Lauren's suggestion and use vertical or diagonal stitches where possible. Wish me luck....

elastic thread sounds like an awesome idea! I was just going to add that there are some pretty cool needles out there that are more like two pieces of wire attached at both ends. maybe saudered? I'm not sure. Anyhow the eye of the needle is essentially 3 inches long and you just separate the two wires. Anyone else use these for beading? they tend to get bent out of shape easily, but they are so cheap its worth it!

I wonder if this would work? Seed beads have such small holes.
10 ROLL,BEADING WIRE,THREAD CORD,STRING,STRETCH,ELASTIC - eBay (item 260221119142 end time Mar-23-08 18:51:06 PDT)

Originally Posted by Surida

I wonder if this would work? Seed beads have such small holes.
10 ROLL,BEADING WIRE,THREAD CORD,STRING,STRETCH,ELASTIC - eBay (item 260221119142 end time Mar-23-08 18:51:06 PDT)

it looks like it might work....but my worry is that it is the funky stretch nylon looking stuff....I was thinking more along the lines of sewing elastic thread.
what do you think?

Hmmm, sewing elastic sounds better. Does Joann's sell it?

Originally Posted by Surida

Hmmm, sewing elastic sounds better. Does Joann's sell it?

I know I've seen it at my Jo-Ann's in the specialty thread rack. I think I've only seen it in black and white colors though.

Originally Posted by shahla

I know I've seen it at my Jo-Ann's in the specialty thread rack. I think I've only seen it in black and white colors though.

Well I usually use white beading thread so that's okay. I'll check at my Jo'Ann's sometime when I drive that far. Mine is 45 minutes away . . . oh, small town Vermont!

oh man! I'd die if i had to drive that far to joanns! i have one like 5 minutes from my work, one on my way home from work, and one about 20 minutes on the other side of home!
I guess i drive 45min-2 hours commute to work, so I shouldn't make it a big deal...but i think I fabric shop more than 5 times a week, haha. JK