Thread: Belly Dance Costuming Book Recommendations

So I'm learning to sew and I'm about to start out making my first belly dance costume. YAY. I'm quite the beginner sewer and dancer so nothing too insane. I'm also a petite pear (5'2" 38A chest, 46-ish" hip) so that pretty much necessitates learning to sew or having something custom made for me.

Which book/books would give me more bang for my buck (so I can save it for fringe and appliqués and other sparklies)? The Costume Goddess series or Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads? Or any other suggestions would be welcome.

I did invest in the Costume Goddess series and have been well pleased with it. I can not sew on a machine yet & just wing it hand sewing and I have been doing pretty well with my 1st cabaret costume (I come from a tribal/tribal fusion background) but man, it suuurrree takes a lot more time and money than you think!
But I will say that by following the instructions laid out in costume goddess, I am starting to see a very professional looking costume come out of it. I'm happy with the investment ..l;,

I second The Costime Godess, Wonderful books sadly ive only got one (the tribal one) but have gotten to flip throught the rest! I wish I had the $$ to get them!

Detailed reviews of many of the popular costuming books appear on my web site at Index to Articles About Belly Dance Costumes on Shira.net (Site Map)

Both the Costume Goddess books and Dawn Devine Brown's books are good. Dawn's little book "Skirting the Issues" does some nice math for you when making skirts.

However, they do assume you know how to sew and are willing to make patterns. So also invest in a beginner's sewing book, maybe one by Nancy Zieman or Palmer/Pletsch:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Pletschs-Painless-Sewing-Perfect/dp/0935278540]Amazon.com: Mother Pletsch's Painless Sewing: With Pretty Pati's Perfect Pattern Primer (9780935278545): Pati Palmer, Susan Pletsch: Books[/ame]

Thanks for the other book recommendation. I'll definitely check it out. The gentleman that I'm taking sewing lessons from usually makes these elaborate period gowns. He's going to guide me and hold my hand through this process but I think making a bedlah is a new one for him. It should be an adventure.