Thread: Making your belt fit

Is it just me or do the straight-across Egyptian style belts not fit anyone?

I have the hardest time trying to get them to fit-- always end up with a gap in the back of the belt, or the top of the skirt showing over the belt. The best conclusion I have is to try to angle front as it wraps around which creates a point near the hooks, making the fringe length uneven as it goes across the thighs in the front.

Anyone know how to properly dart this type of belt or if elastic would work?

:) Thanks (:
Thana

Yeah, those belts don't look so great as is on many of us with curves... you kinda have to wrestle them into the right shape. Wide elastic in the belt works best. I also angle in the front where they hook. If you still have skirt showing, tighten the elastic and you should always pin your skirt to your belt in at least one place. Trying to dart the belt if it is covered in sequins is a pain that I do not recommend. The elastic should get you through pretty painlessly.

This is actually pretty easy to fix, I have done it to a couple of belts. Basically you cut the fabric to fit you, then pin the elastic in place on the belt, just as you would for a skirt. Then stretch the elastic to fit the belt length and hand stitch along the top, just as you would a belt liner. You want to catch just the top of the belt so you aren't fighting with all those sequins. A few strategically placed stitches on the bottom of the elastic (in between sequins) to keep it down and you're done! I use a narrow elastic, maybe 1/2"-not sure, I can double check if you want to know. The narrow width pulls the top edge enough to give me a perfect fit, but without being too wide and smashing the sequins together. I use elastic along the entire belt because it distributes the stress evenly and also ensures that my belt doesn't slide around while dancing.

Reyveka

There are instructions for a more elaborate adjustment here Ask the Belly Dance Costume Goddess: Altering a Purchased Belt, and if you search the Bhuz archives for "tuna can" (seriously), there should be more discussion about un-tapered Egyptian belts in the costuming forum.

I just had this problem with a coin covered belt I bought. I have a big difference (AKA lots of curves) between the top and bottom. So I had to dart it to make it fit.... just elastic alone didn't help. Hopefully your gap is small, and the elastic will help. Darting was tricky but worked. I placed the dart on the opposite side of the overlap where the belt comes together. This created an overlap on both hips which made it look even.

I feel your pain. I have a six-inch difference between my upper-hip and lower-hip. For me, one piece belts simply do not work. I'm in the process of doing surgery on a one-piece to make it into two pieces (actually I have three I need to do this for -- ack!) as even massively elasticated belts are not enough -- if it gathers enough to fit the top it looks mighty funky. If you have two pieces you can adjust the angle of the front and back of the belt to accommodate your curves. It's not hard to do this, merely time-consuming and tedious and of course the first time you cut a belt into pieces you feel like your heart is going to stop...but it rarely does.

Haha, tuna can? Okkayyy... thx :)

I'm going to try the elestic first and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, how would one dart the belt? Do you actually have to cut into it?

scratch that-- Shira's instructions are a-maz-ing! woot!

Originally Posted by maiaraqs

I feel your pain. I have a six-inch difference between my upper-hip and lower-hip. For me, one piece belts simply do not work. I'm in the process of doing surgery on a one-piece to make it into two pieces (actually I have three I need to do this for -- ack!) as even massively elasticated belts are not enough -- if it gathers enough to fit the top it looks mighty funky. If you have two pieces you can adjust the angle of the front and back of the belt to accommodate your curves. It's not hard to do this, merely time-consuming and tedious and of course the first time you cut a belt into pieces you feel like your heart is going to stop...but it rarely does.

Please lmk how this goes and if you wouldn't mind posting how to do this, that would br much appreicated. I've sold many costumes because the 1 piece belts just do not lay right on me.