Thread: Aargh! Moving hooks on hard Egyptian beaded costume!

What are your tips for moving the hooks on those hard Egyptian costumes that are totally covered with sequins with a seed bead on each one? How do you sew on top of that? Do you remove an area of sequins so that you can do it? I've almost given up on it. Anyone have special hints and tricks on how to do it without all the swearing and bleeding?..c::..l;,

with the eye, I'm usually able to wiggle it down so the holes are under the beads; with the hooks I use, which have three holes, if I can't wiggle it down, I'll wiggle it as much as I can and just sew over the beads for the rest. when I'm sewing, I just have to slow down and be careful as to where I place the needle, and often have to wiggle it around to get it past the beads.

depending on where you place the hooks, sometimes one side can go right on the edge of the bra or belt so you can go through the costume, through the hole, and then wrap it around to the back and push it through the costume again.

my secret weapon for doing any sort of sewing on costumes is a little scissors-type clamp that my mom got me at the hospital where she used to work (I think it's called a hemostat?). I poke the needle in, grab it with the clamp, and use the clamp as leverage to push it through. then, I undo the clamp and move it to the other side and use it to pull the needle through. works much better than an thimble!

if you can't get a hemostat, I'm sure you could find something along the same lines that is intended for jewelry making.

don't remove the sequins! you'll be sorry. the beading threads don't tend to be knotted very often and it will unravel all over the place.

Thanks for the hemostat tip, I've thought about using needle nose pliers, but that sounds better. I will try wiggling the hook feet down under the beads. Ugh, sewing sucks when you're not very good at it.

Then if I get them all sewed on and they are STILL in the wrong place.... oh no!

I have one Pharaonix bedlah which has extensive bead work and sew on crystals. The former owner uses shirt buttons to raise the eye enough so you could sew it around the crystals. In other words, there is a button under each end of the eye, which gives it plenty of clearance.

The other things which help are a pair of needle nose pliers and a good thimble.

{{{HUGS}}}

Oh, that button trick sounds brilliant!

Originally Posted by elisagamal

with the eye, I'm usually able to wiggle it down so the holes are under the beads; with the hooks I use, which have three holes, if I can't wiggle it down, I'll wiggle it as much as I can and just sew over the beads for the rest. when I'm sewing, I just have to slow down and be careful as to where I place the needle, and often have to wiggle it around to get it past the beads..

ditto, apart from i never MOVE hooks, i put in extra ones. some of my costumes have like three or four sets, especially the ones that troupe members sometimes use also ;-)

Originally Posted by dunyah

Then if I get them all sewed on and they are STILL in the wrong place.... oh no!

it's better to first sew them in very very lightly, try it on again, and THEN reinforce!

Originally Posted by elisagamal

my secret weapon for doing any sort of sewing on costumes is a little scissors-type clamp that my mom got me at the hospital where she used to work (I think it's called a hemostat?). I poke the needle in, grab it with the clamp, and use the clamp as leverage to push it through. then, I undo the clamp and move it to the other side and use it to pull the needle through. works much better than an thimble!

I use haemostatic forceps too (specifically mid-sized Spencer Wells forceps) ! ..l;,
The 'teeth' on them are great for gripping the needle and have saved me from many many blisters.
Forceps Spencer Wells, Westons Internet

I first started using them years ago (along with curved surgical needles) for darning the toes of point shoes, so just carried on using them when I switched to sequins instead of satin, LOL.

Originally Posted by dunyah

Oh, that button trick sounds brilliant!

totally! that would also help keep the hook from wearing on the beads/sequins below and eventually popping the thread.

I always reinforce each overlap with a gigantic, hard-core snap. I'm a huge snap fan! they're great if you're one who will double-secure a hook and eye with a safety pin. they'll also keep things in place if you have two sets of hook/eyes on an overlap (one at each end of the overlap) - like, if you don't have the tension between the two pairs perfect and one end tends to come undone.

You may not need to buy forceps, I just use my sturdy sewing shears when I need some extra grip/force when I'm sewing through really stiff material.

Another issue is to make sure your needles are sharp. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

The button trick worked well, and I'm also a fan of the giant snaps. Thanks for the tips, everyone.