Assiut Costume Question

dunyah · 07-23-2007, 08:45 PM

Has anyone made their own assiut costume? I have two gorgeous pieces of the old assiut that I never use. I could easily cover a bra and belt and make a panel skirt. It's just the idea of actually cutting into it that throws me.

One of the pieces has damage and is very fragile, the other is smaller but in good condition. They are both light amethyst color. I'm thinking some pieces of Kuchi jewelry here and there would look good.

Has anyone tried this?

sabrinabellydancer · 07-23-2007, 09:03 PM

you should be ok. make sure to zigzag stitch or serge
[if you have the machine ] around the edges of the pieces you cut [in their final shapes] before sewing into / onto your costume base. this will help the net edges from fraying.

going around each piece twice will make it even stronger on the edges.

i would keep metal jewelry away from the fragile piece as it could cause snags and tears.

some people like mixing assiut and kuchi pieces. the look is great. i am concerned about the jewelry wearing on the fabric. it is up to you.

good luck! maybe post pics when you are done :)

desertroses · 07-23-2007, 09:05 PM

Honestly I would never cut "old" assuit I would spend 40 - 60 dollars on some newer assuit off ebay and make it from there, I dont know I'm just weary of cutting up the old stuff, I would just display it or use it as a head scarf

dunyah · 07-23-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertroses

Honestly I would never cut "old" assuit I would spend 40 - 60 dollars on some newer assuit off ebay and make it from there, I dont know I'm just weary of cutting up the old stuff, I would just display it or use it as a head scarf

I know, it seems kind of like blasphemy to cut it.

But the one piece is too fragile to wear and too big to use as a headscarf. You can't hang it to display it because the fabric stretches. So it just sits in a drawer. The other piece is also a bit heavy for a headscarf while dancing, I suppose I could drape it over my head and then discard it after the entrance or something. Then I would be throwing beautiful assiut on the floor! Gah!

jessedan · 07-23-2007, 11:48 PM

Me too. I have several antique pieces that I had thought of making costumes with. One weighs over 2 pounds. But I can't bring myself to cutting them. They're nice as piano shawls or to display around the house. I know they'd make breathtaking costumes, but aside from my reluctance to cut them they're also terribly uncomfortable to wear. When they have as much silver as most old pieces do, they're heavy and freezing cold. To cover a bra and belt I'd use one of the new less expensive assuits. I dunno, it just seems such a shame to cut something that is becoming more and more difficult to find.

Regards
Priscilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertroses

Honestly I would never cut "old" assuit I would spend 40 - 60 dollars on some newer assuit off ebay and make it from there, I dont know I'm just weary of cutting up the old stuff, I would just display it or use it as a head scarf

mahira-michelle · 07-23-2007, 11:50 PM

I made my first assuit coin costume. Here it is
My new assuit coin costume
Have fun. Be sure to post pics of it!

reyhan · 07-24-2007, 02:37 AM

Please do not cut old assuit - my heart starts bleeding just thinking about it. It is so rare now.
As someone suggested buy a new one for cutting.

dunyah · 07-24-2007, 03:37 AM

Found old assiut on e-Bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1920s-Eg...QQcmdZViewItem

This is really a gorgeous piece and similar to the larger piece that I have. The bidding starts at only $40.

Going back to look at new assiut.

dunyah · 07-24-2007, 03:40 AM

Hmm, not finding any other listings for assiut. Does anyone have a source for new assiut on eBay? or elsewhere?

Sashy · 07-24-2007, 06:03 AM

For those of you who have one of those Assiut costumes:is it only me or do you feel it scratchy to the skin?I know i have to wear something under it but anyhow.

bintbeled · 07-24-2007, 06:57 AM

Phaedra of New York danced in a beautiful assuit bedlah the first time I saw her. When I reminisced with her about it later, she said that the assuit started disintegrating the vaery first time she wore it! She had it draped in a triangle shape over her bra -- it was gorgeous. And it was the old assuit.

I'm like most posters -- I have a lot of old assuit sitting in a drawer, but can't bring myself to cut any up! (Some of it belonged to Ibrahim Farrah, so it's very special.) But if your assuit is already damaged... I would take the plunge and do it.

bintbeled · 07-24-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sashy

For those of you who have one of those Assiut costumes:is it only me or do you feel it scratchy to the skin?I know i have to wear something under it but anyhow.

Sashy, the new assuit feels very scratchy to me, but not the old stuff.

ssipes · 07-24-2007, 07:12 AM

Well, I am an unapologetic cutter, dyer, and sewer of old assuit. What makes my heart bleed is a piece of assuit living out its final days stuck on a shelf somewhere where it doesn't get looked at, touched, or enjoyed. It's a piece of cotton netting and it has a finite life expectancy. Its not going to last forever unless you store it in a museum case away from regular air and light. Do whatever it takes to get the most enjoyment from it. If that is making it into a costume, make it into a costume.

And in terms of wearing it as a costume, I am much more a fan of cutting it up and floating in on top of other material, as opposed to the various ways of tucking and draping it around your body. The latter doesn't require cutting but puts stress on the fabric and exposes it to more sweat. If you are cutting and sewing it you can use it as an ouside layer that doesn't take any direct stress and hopefully won't take on as much sweat.

Sedonia

Sashy · 07-24-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bintbeled

Sashy, the new assuit feels very scratchy to me, but not the old stuff.

I guessed so.I bought my already made one at Mahmoud's in Cairo.I read from some bhuzer here that the antique style came in panels,were hard to find and pretty expensive.So i'll rather scratch myself once in a while

jessedan · 07-24-2007, 09:10 AM

I've bought a couple of pieces from this seller on ebay. It's just the ordinary new assuit that they sell everywhere in different colors. Most of his assuit is available on "Buy it Now" on Ebay rather than auction.

http://stores.ebay.com/Egyptian-Bedo...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Regards
Priscilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunyah

Hmm, not finding any other listings for assiut. Does anyone have a source for new assiut on eBay? or elsewhere?

bintbeled · 07-24-2007, 10:12 AM

Has anyone experimented with ways to make the new assuit softer? The base fabric is pretty stiff, and I was wondering if they put sizing in it to make it easier to do the metal work. I know that Amira Kattan (Pharaonics) makes her own, and the base fabric feels much softer.

mahira-michelle · 07-24-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sashy

For those of you who have one of those Assiut costumes:is it only me or do you feel it scratchy to the skin?I know i have to wear something under it but anyhow.

my set is lined so it's not bad.

dunyah · 07-24-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Well, I am an unapologetic cutter, dyer, and sewer of old assuit. What makes my heart bleed is a piece of assuit living out its final days stuck on a shelf somewhere where it doesn't get looked at, touched, or enjoyed. It's a piece of cotton netting and it has a finite life expectancy. Its not going to last forever unless you store it in a museum case away from regular air and light. Do whatever it takes to get the most enjoyment from it. If that is making it into a costume, make it into a costume.

And in terms of wearing it as a costume, I am much more a fan of cutting it up and floating in on top of other material, as opposed to the various ways of tucking and draping it around your body. The latter doesn't require cutting but puts stress on the fabric and exposes it to more sweat. If you are cutting and sewing it you can use it as an ouside layer that doesn't take any direct stress and hopefully won't take on as much sweat.

Sedonia

Yeah, this is pretty much where I am coming from. It's too beautiful to sit in a drawer and moulder. I would definitely back it with another fabric and put in a lining. Even the old assiut can be a bit scratchy when worn next to the skin.

I haven't decided what to do, I am still finishing up my latest costume, a red, black and gold fantasy Gypsy outfit which I hope to wear tomorrow night. Then I have a lavender bedlah with Egyptian fringe that I need to re-work.

I am also losing weight and will need all new costumes soon. I found out that I have sensitivities to processed carbs and when I eliminated them from my diet, the weight started melting off. I've been doing this for two months and I haven't weighed myself but my clothes are all getting loose. Yay!

I also don't have much of a budget to buy new costumes, that is why I am sewing and working on things myself. I dance in local shows and haflas and I want to look professional, but I don't need an $800 Bella, nor could I afford one.

Anyway, I would still look at new assiut if anyone has a link. This has been an interesting thread, thanks for all the posts.

acmcgraw · 07-24-2007, 11:51 AM

"http://stores.ebay.com/Egyptian-Bedo...ftid Z2QQtZkm

Regards
Priscilla"

Thanks for the link...I may try my hand at an assuit outfit too!

phillyraqs · 07-24-2007, 12:07 PM

One of my friends who went to Ahlan Wa Sahlan this year picked up 4 pieces of new red assuit for me. (Latifa, if you're reading, it was Lisa/Adalia on your tour.)

I'm planning on making a bra and belt set and panel skirt from the pieces, and I'm so excited to read this thread! The fabric is really scratchy, but I'm not too worried since I'll sew the fabric onto a lined belt and bra base, and will have a liner under the panel skirt.

Years ago, Pharonics made an assuit costume with silver fringe and coins on a bra, belt, and skirt. I was just starting to take lessons, and I fell in love with it on Dahlal. So now I'm going to try my hand at recreating the design - Dahlal no longer has the photo on the site, but I printed it out and have it at home. Maybe I'll scan it in and post here.

bintbeled · 07-24-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

One of my friends who went to Ahlan Wa Sahlan this year picked up 4 pieces of new red assuit for me. (Latifa, if you're reading, it was Lisa/Adalia on your tour.)

I'm planning on making a bra and belt set and panel skirt from the pieces, and I'm so excited to read this thread! The fabric is really scratchy, but I'm not too worried since I'll sew the fabric onto a lined belt and bra base, and will have a liner under the panel skirt.

Years ago, Pharonics made an assuit costume with silver fringe and coins on a bra, belt, and skirt. I was just starting to take lessons, and I fell in love with it on Dahlal. So now I'm going to try my hand at recreating the design - Dahlal no longer has the photo on the site, but I printed it out and have it at home. Maybe I'll scan it in and post here.

Lisa is such a sweetie! We made her an honorary member of "Latifa's posse" (my hubby and brother were on the trip with me).

Can wait to see pix of your red assuit costume!!