Thread: Making a pearl costume--now with pictures of progress!

I love pearls. It is my birthstone (along with moonstone) and when I make jewelry I almost always use them. Oh and my boyfriend brought me back 4 pearl necklaces from China. They are amazing.

I was thinking of making a pearl costume. I love Sarah Skinners and I saw SandraCZ's that she got from Maliam. AMAZING!!!

Let's talk technique...Where do you start with this? How time cosuming is it? What do you glue and what do you sew? Do you tie a knot in between each pearl. I want details!

Oh and I've mostly seen the ivory colored ones...does anyone have any that are different colored pearls?

There are dumploads of faux pearl trims, appliques and fringes on offer out there for the making of wedding gowns. You can take advantage of all this abundance if you go with white/ivory for your trim color.
Bead sellers (Shipwreck, Fire Mountain, etc) have glass pearls or dyed real pearls in all sort of colors; gorgeous, but you will have to do much much more work. If you're going to hand-bead, would suggest inspecting other beaded costumes that look good to you and see how they're done.
I would never glue anything on a costume, personally. When things are sewn, they can be repaired or changed without revealing an underlying mess, as with glue. Exception is using FrayCheck to reinforce knots or secure spot repairs in beading.
Good luck with your project and don't forget to show us photos; we costume pix!!!
Rosette

Yes, I agree with Rosette; try to avoid glue. You can also find strings of seed pearls at Bourget Bros., not to mention good ol' eBay. I guess you already have a set to cover, or you can find blank bits at Sugar Petals. You will have better look if you cover the bra/belt in something a tad darker than the pearls, like a ivory or pastel colored satin or velvet. That way they will stand out more. Don't forget pearls drape beautifully, just secure the end bits of drapes well (triple stitch knot plus Fray Check, and connect to the underlining). I love the pearl look, it's so opulent!
Have fun, and yes please; show us what you've done when it's finished.

I have red metallic ones that I do not need!
Satin metallic red.

Originally Posted by Azhia

I have red metallic ones that I do not need!
Satin metallic red.

You mean you have pearls that you aren't gonna use? ;)

Thinking about this project more, I think it would be great to mix ivory, white and light pink. Oh it would look like the moon at sunset!

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

You mean you have pearls that you aren't gonna use? ;)

Thinking about this project more, I think it would be great to mix ivory, white and light pink. Oh it would look like the moon at sunset!

Correct! Would you like to add red? I can post pic...

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

You mean you have pearls that you aren't gonna use? ;)

Thinking about this project more, I think it would be great to mix ivory, white and light pink. Oh it would look like the moon at sunset!

I think pearls would look stunning on you. Someone posted a pearl bra and belt on the swapmeet a short while back and it looked so unique. Go for it..g.:

You can also buy used wedding gowns in the thrift stores and cut off the pearl trim and use it on a costume.

I'm interested in doing a pearl set too, so keep us posted on your progress and let us benefit from your experience, tips and tricks... I'm torn between doing a classic pearly look and more of a punk mermaid look utilizing seafoam green chiffon, gold stuff that looks like "netting", shells and the like.

I bought some pearl trim on the swap meet not too long ago from a lady who had scads of it. It's a creamy ivory color and has silver bugle beads and teardrop pearls. She had a couple other styles too, you might search for the thread, just use "pearls" in your search.

Suzan

Originally Posted by ghazallah

I'm interested in doing a pearl set too, so keep us posted on your progress and let us benefit from your experience, tips and tricks... I'm torn between doing a classic pearly look and more of a punk mermaid look utilizing seafoam green chiffon, gold stuff that looks like "netting", shells and the like.

I bought some pearl trim on the swap meet not too long ago from a lady who had scads of it. It's a creamy ivory color and has silver bugle beads and teardrop pearls. She had a couple other styles too, you might search for the thread, just use "pearls" in your search.

Suzan

Look what I found! I really like the fringe.
Glitz and Glamour: All Pearl Products

I think I am going to use AB crystals too...so like light pink, peach, light purple and ivory with AB cyrstals and iridescent sequins. I am going to get the base from sugar petals. I don't know what base fabric to use yet...

Oh, I am so excited!

cant wait to see it..keep us posted..

Okay, so I am finally gonna ask: What are AB crystals?

I think it would be interesting to see a black pearl costume.

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

Okay, so I am finally gonna ask: What are AB crystals?

aurora borealis

Originally Posted by Azhia

aurora borealis

I know what they are but I never knew that is what AB stood for...am I a...a...failure at sparklie knowlege?

Originally Posted by mish_mish

I know what they are but I never knew that is what AB stood for...am I a...a...failure at sparklie knowlege?

There, there... it is the name of the finish on the sparkly.
I'm confident you know your sparklies.

I've wanted a pearl costume for over 20 years!

<jealous>

Sounds magnificent! Do give us pics!

Deborah

...

That would be cool. Wonder if you have as vast of a bead selection though.

Gosh I am THRILLED to seduce others into the joy of pearls!!!

I just wrote up more about making the costume:

Salome costume | Shakemyday

enjoy!

Sarah, thank you for sharing! I started a pearl costume once, never finished it -- but you are almost inspiring me to try again. I love all the mixed textures and the way you play with scale in the size of your embellishments!

Originally Posted by bellydancerinfo

Gosh I am THRILLED to seduce others into the joy of pearls!!!

I just wrote up more about making the costume:

Salome costume | Shakemyday

enjoy!

Thank you so much Sarah, for posting this. I was desparately searching your blog the other day looking for a run down on this one, and you finally posted.... :)

Question: Did you make a strand of pearls and then sew them on using loops around the strand or did you sew each individual pearl on the fabric?

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Question: Did you make a strand of pearls and then sew them on using loops around the strand or did you sew each individual pearl on the fabric?

I flat beaded the pearls down just like I would with regular beads.- put 4 on, back through two, four more, knot, back through two-- and so on.

Originally Posted by bellydancerinfo

I flat beaded the pearls down just like I would with regular beads.- put 4 on, back through two, four more, knot, back through two-- and so on.

Thanks. That makes sense. You must have needed a skinny needle. Most pearl holes are pretty small.

one thing that sort of demotivated me on my original attempt to make a pearl costume is that I was told that real freshwater pearls (which I had 2 pounds of - don't ask!) will crack if used as fringe...that they are not strong enough to handle the clacking against each other. Any input on this?

Originally Posted by lotus

one thing that sort of demotivated me on my original attempt to make a pearl costume is that I was told that real freshwater pearls (which I had 2 pounds of - don't ask!) will crack if used as fringe...that they are not strong enough to handle the clacking against each other. Any input on this?

I've noticed that when I buy strands of the rice-sized freshwater pearls that they have a tendancy to break in half a lot more than other kinds of pearls. I don't know about using them as fringe though.

HI Andalee, Yes. That is the kind I had too. The ones that look like glammed-up rice krispies!

I want to make new costumes but it's too hard for me..! I will buy!

Hi all! Update on the project...I ordered Sugar Petals bra and base and I started buying pearls...Well, fake pearls. I decided to go with the cheapy glass pearls from AC Moore, called Dress it up. I decided not to do Swarovski because they are too expensive. I actually bought a few from Ebay, but I always mess up ebay and they are being shipped to the wrong address.

A.C. Moore - Dress It Up Pearls-Cream - These beads are on sale plus $6 flat-rate shipping. Plus there is an AC Moore really close-by so I can pick up extra when I need them. I bought cream, pink, ecru, almond and white. Multicolored pearls! It is going to be gorgeous (in my head at least).

I still want to buy AB crystals, but they are so dang expensive. I haven't had the heart to spend that kind of dough yet.

Now is the hard part...sketching it out and finding the perfect fabric to cover the bra and belt!

Originally Posted by Azhia

I have red metallic ones that I do not need!
Satin metallic red.

PMing you, Darling :)