Thread: Making a belt form

So I am going to make my own belt form for the first time and I have a question. I want to make it simple so I am just going to have straight edges on the top and bottom. Do I need to put darts in the back on the bottom as well as the top or is that more for ones that have the rounded bottom edge in the back?

I think it depends more on how you want it to fall on you. I did my first belt pattern by first trying on a paper version to give a small hint of if I need darts. I almost always need darts at the top.

Originally Posted by Linnyg

So I am going to make my own belt form for the first time and I have a question. I want to make it simple so I am just going to have straight edges on the top and bottom. Do I need to put darts in the back on the bottom as well as the top or is that more for ones that have the rounded bottom edge in the back?

i agree with resullivan! I think the thinner belts only need darts at the top...but the thicker ones will need it on top and bottom. If you are doing a REALLY thin (like under 3 inches) you probably could get away with no darts...but for someone with a body shape like mine- you always need darts.

The paper version is a good idea - for my first belt attempt I made a paper version. I have been fine with just putting darts on the bottom of the belt, but everyone is shaped differently.

Hi dear,

Nadya's website is my favorite: Nadya's sewing hints for belly dance / oriental dance costumes;

She use darts on the back of the belt so is hugs the "cheeks". It's looks more custom made fit.



Good luck with your project, send us some pics.

Qamar ..g.:

God has blessed me in the backside of things so I know that I will need darts on the top. I don't want to make it tooooo wide (it is my first so I thought small and simple to start), I was thinking maybe 5 inches or so.

I like the idea of doing a paper mock up first. It will also give me a good idea of how much fabric to buy.

Originally Posted by Qamar60

Hi dear,

Nadya's website is my favorite: Nadya's sewing hints for belly dance / oriental dance costumes;

She use darts on the back of the belt so is hugs the "cheeks". It's looks more custom made fit.



Good luck with your project, send us some pics.

Qamar ..g.:

I have bookmarked this site. I love it!

Another little question. When you put the hooks on the belt, do you leave a little for overlap and put the hooks there or put them right on the ends so that they butt up against each other? All of the sites I have looked at treat this step as a known. I would like to make sure that I have a way of adjusting/resizing the belt later when I have lost a few inches around the hips. The seam on one side is no big deal but as far as the hook side I am clueless.

haha... leave overlap! my measurements change week to week, so I have a couple sets of hooks :)

So I went out and bought some supplies this weekend and I have a question. I got some interfacing and it is pretty thick. The package says that it can be used for hat brims. I put a sample together with all the layers (some cotton, felt and the interfacing) and it is pretty thick. It is still bendable and formable but thick. How thick are belts usually?

I don't make mine really thick and I have never had a problem. I usually use one-two layers of jeans material + 1-2 layers of interfacing. I usually don't do extensive beading on the belt though, I add appliqués that I make myself and it works out fine. I am probably not the most experienced, but I have made 4 belts myself and have never had any problems with them falling apart.

I don't think there is such a thing as TOO thick, though it will make getting your needle through it much harder. Most people don't go all the way through the belt when beading anyhow.

I did do some sample beading on it over the weekend as well (lord my hands hurt) and the needle went through pretty well. I don't plan on doing a whole lot of beading though because I just love the fabric so much that I don't want to cover it up too much. Thanks!

post pics asap!

I'm working on a really simple bra/belt stretch velvet covering it....with only fringe, one centerpiece & hot fix rhinestones for some sparkle

I want to put finge on mine as well which is why I wanted to make sure that it was strong enough to stand up to it. I don't really have the belt form made, just a rectangle of all the stuff together to get an idea of what I am going to be dealing with. I am one of those that no matter how much skectching and planning I do, I always end up with something different. I was going to use a deep red velvet but when I got to the fabric store I found this really odd velvet with a mixture of colors on it. Soooooo...I had to change the beading colors and the pattern that I was going to do. I always like to "rough" bead samples before I commit to them to make sure that they turn out in real life the way that they looked in my head.

I can post pictures of my sample in a day or so but keep in mind it is rough.