Caberet Belts - Caberet Belts are best used in a night club setting and for most 
private parties.
Belt 1
Materials Needed:
1 Pattern or paper to make your own pattern
Not so nice fabric (optional)
Fabric to be used as lining
Sturdy fabric (denim or other heavier fabrics)
Buckram
2 heavy duty hooks and eyes
Sequins
Beads
Appliques (optional)
Shisha Mirrors (optional)
Palietes (optional)
Jewels (optional)
Strings of Faux Pearls (optional)
Sewing Machine (your gonna need it for this one)
Beading Needle and Waxed Thread or dental floss.
Scissors
Instructions:
1. Measure the distance around your hips. When making or using a pattern make sure you have a seam allowence (I reccomend using a 1/2 inch) for the sides and the over lap were your hooks are going to go.
2. If your making your own pattern your going to need to experiment with paper and your not so nice fabric untill you find a pattern that fits you well. If your using a pre-made pattern you should still try to make sure it's going to fit the way you want it to, by making one out of the not so nice fabric first.
3. Now that you have your pattern made and you know it will fit well, you have to make the base of the belt. Take the buckram and sandwich it in between two layers of your sturdy fabric. When you've got it together you may want to pin it together in a few places to keep it from sliding around. Now, zig-zag, the hell out of that fabric. Zig-zag it in every direction you can until the whole fabric is covered in zigs and zags. This will now be treated as one big piece of fabric. This will take a long time to make so prepare to be sitting at your sewing machine for a couple hours at least.
4. Now you cut your pattern out of the buckram and then two out of your lining adding a 1/2 inch seam allowance to the top and bottom of the pattern if you don't have a seam allowance.
5. Once you've gotten your pieces cut out you can either baste the lining over the sturdy buckram mix or you can just iron the edge over and let that keep it in place for now.
6. Sew the side seam(s).
7. Decorate the front of the belt however you want to, or see some ideas for decorating your belt.
8. Now your lining should be sewed on quite well under the decorations, so remove the basting stitch if you used one.
10. Sew the lining on with larger stitching (this will make it easier to open it back up if you should ever need to).
11. Attach the hooks and eyes to the ends of the base and it's ready to wear.
Tribal Belts - Tribal Belts are best used in outdoor settings in places such as rennassance fairs.
Coin Belt 1
Materials Needed:
Coins and/or Charms/Crystals
Chain
Jump Rings
Needle-Nosed Pliers
1 Hook and Eye
Instructions:
1. Measure the distance around your hips.
2. If your making your own pattern your going to need to experiment on paper with some ideas before you start. If your using a pre-made pattern just copy it as best you can.
3. Now that you have your pattern you have to make the base of the belt. Cut one measure of chain long enough to fit around your hips.
4. Now cut the neccessary amount of drapes, fringe, etc. and attach them to the base by either using jump rings or opening an end link of the chain to be attached and closing it around the desired area. If you can I reccomend the latter choice because jump rings often pull apart easily.
5. Once you have all your chains attached you can put your coins/charms/crystals on using the jump rings.
6. Attach the hook and eye to the ends of the base and it's ready to wear.
Coin Belt 2
Materials Needed:
Coins
A Not So Nice Fabric(Optional)
A Fabric to be used as Lining
A Sturdy Fabric
Buckram
Thread (you may wish to use waxed thread or dental floss)
2 Hooks and Eyes
Sewing Machine (your gonna need it for this one)
Scissors
Instructions:
1. Measure the distance around your hips. When making or using a pattern make sure you have a seam allowence (I reccomend using a 1/2 inch) for the sides and the over lap were your hooks are going to go.
2. If your making your own pattern your going to need to experiment with paper and your not so nice fabric untill you find a pattern that fits you well. If your using a pre-made pattern you sould still try to make sure it's going to fit the way you want it to, by making one out of the not so nice fabric first.
3. Now that you have your pattern made and you know it will fit well, you have to make the base of the belt. Take the buckram and sandwich it in between two layers of your sturdy fabric. When you've got it together you may want to pin it together in a few places to keep it from sliding around. Now, zig-zag, the hell out of that fabric. Zig-zag it in every direction you can untill the whole fabric is covered in zigs and zags. This will now be treated as one big piece of fabric. This will take a long time to make so prepare to be sitting at your sewing machine for a couple hours at least.
4. Now you cut your pattern out of the buckram and then two out of your lining adding another 1/2 inch seam allowance to the top and bottom of the pattern.
5. Once you've gotten your pieces cut out you can either baste the lining over the sturdy buckram mix or you can just iron the edges over and let that keep it in place for now.
6. Sew the side seam(s).
7. Decorate the front of the belt however you want, allowing the coins to overlap each other a bit or see ideas for decorating your belt.
8. Now your lining should be sewed on quite well under the coins, so remove the basting stitch if you used one.
10. Sew the lining on with larger stitching (this will make it easier to open it back up if you should ever need to).
11. Attach the hook and eye to the ends of the base and it's ready to wear.
Coin Belt 3
Materials Needed:
Coins (it will be easier if they already have a hole in the middle)
Chain
A Not So Nice Fabric(Optional)
A Fabric to be used as Lining
A Sturdy Fabric
Buckram
Thread (you may wish to use waxed thread or dental floss)
2 Hooks and Eyes
Sewing Machine (your gonna need it for this one)
Scissors
Paper Fasteners ( they look kind of like tacks except they have two prongs that you fold open instead of a pin.)
Instructions:
1. Measure the distance around your hips. When making or using a pattern make sure you have a seam allowence (I reccomend using a 1/2 inch) for the sides and the over lap were your hooks are going to go.
2. If your making your own pattern your going to need to experiment with paper and your not so nice fabric untill you find a pattern that fits you well. If your using a pre-made pattern you sould still try to make sure it's going to fit the way you want it to, by making one out of the not so nice fabric first.
3. Now that you have your pattern made and you know it will fit well, you have to make the base of the belt. Take the buckram and sandwich it in between two layers of your sturdy fabric. When you've got it together you may want to pin it together in a few places to keep it from sliding around. Now, zig-zag, the hell out of that fabric. Zig-zag it in every direction you can untill the whole fabric is covered in zigs and zags. This will now be treated as one big piece of fabric. This will take a long time to make so prepare to be sitting at your sewing machine for a couple hours at least.
4. Now you cut your pattern out of the buckram and then two out of your lining adding another 1/2 inch seam allowance to the top and bottom of the pattern.
5. Once you've gotten your pieces cut out you can either baste the lining over the sturdy buckram mix.
6. Sew the side seam(s).
7. Decorate the front of the belt by pushing the fasteners through the coins and fabric and then open them up th keep the coins from coming off. You may need to make a hole in the middle of your coins first and you may need to make a small slit in the fabric to push the fastener through.
8. Add your fringe along the bottom of the belt.
9. Sew the lining on with larger stitching (this will make it easier to open it back up if you should ever need to).
10. Attach the hook and eye to the ends of the base and it's ready to wear.
Tassel Belt
Materials Needed:
Coins/Mirrors/Embroidery/Beads/Jewels/Charms(optional)
A Not So Nice Fabric(Optional)
A Fabric to be used as Lining
A Sturdy Fabric
Buckram
Thread
2 Hooks and Eyes
Sewing Machine (your gonna need it for this one)
Scissors
Instructions:
1. Measure the distance around your hips. When making or using a pattern make sure you have a seam allowence (I reccomend using a 1/2 inch) for the sides and the over lap were your hooks are going to go.
2. If your making your own pattern your going to need to experiment with paper and your not so nice fabric untill you find a pattern that fits you well. If your using a pre-made pattern you sould still try to make sure it's going to fit the way you want it to, by making one out of the not so nice fabric first.
3. Now that you have your pattern made and you know it will fit well, you have to make the base of the belt. Take the buckram and sandwich it in between two layers of your sturdy fabric. When you've got it together you may want to pin it together in a few places to keep it from sliding around. Now, zig-zag, the hell out of that fabric. Zig-zag it in every direction you can untill the whole fabric is covered in zigs and zags. This will now be treated as one big piece of fabric. This will take a long time to make so prepare to be sitting at your sewing machine for a couple hours at least.
4. Now you cut your pattern out of the buckram and then two out of your lining adding another 1/2 inch seam allowance to the top and bottom of the pattern.
5. Once you've gotten your pieces cut out you can either baste the lining over the sturdy buckram mix or you can just iron the edges over and let that keep it in place for now.
6. Sew the side seam(s).
7. Decorate the front of the belt however you want, attaching your tassels first and then any other findings you wish to add or see some ideas for belts.
8. Now your lining should be sewed on quite well under the coins, so remove the basting stitch if you used one.
10. Sew the lining on with larger stitching (this will make it easier to open it back up if you should ever need to).
11. Attach the hook and eye to the ends of the base and it's ready to wear.
Different ways to wear Tied Belts
Rectangular
Tied in Front 1
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Just wrap it around your hips and tie it in the front. You can see an example of his to your right.
Tied in Front 2
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Unlike option one you don't just wrap it around, first you should gather it up so all the rows of beads are squished together. Now wrap it around and tie it in the front. You can see an example to your left.
Tied at Side 1
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Just wrap it around you hips and tie it to the side. You can see an example of this to your right.
Tied at Side 2
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Unlike option one you don't just wrap it around first you should gather it up so all the rows of beads are squished together. Now wrap it around and tie it to the side. You can see an example to your left.
Tied at Side 3
This is done with a plain cloth scarf which should be longer then hip scarves usually are, although you can tie a plain clothscarf that's shorter if you want. Wrap the cloth around your hips. pull one side to be longer than the other and tie it if you need to wrap the longer side around the knot once so that it hangs over the top (this looks nicer in my opinion). An example can be found to your right.
Square
Triangle 1
This is done with a plain square cloth scarf. Fold your scarf in half at a diagonal. Then you can tie it in front or at the side. There is an example to your left.
Triangle 2
This is done with two matching plain cloth scarves. Fold each scarf in half on the diagonal. Now tie two of the ends together. Wrap it around your hips and tie the other two ends together. It may be difficult at first to get both ends to be even. An example of this is to your right.
Triangular
Tied in Front 1
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Just wrap it around you hips and tie it in the front. You can see an example of this to your left.
Tied in Front 2
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Unlike option one you don't just wrap it around first you should gather it up so all the rows of beads are squished together. Now wrap it around and tie it in the front. You can see an example to your right.
Tied in Front 3
This is done with a plain cloth hip scarf. Simply wrap it around your hips and tie it in front. An example is to your left.
Tied in Front 4
This is done with a plain cloth hip scarf. Simply wrap it around your hips and tie it in front. Then tuck part of the back in so that the tail isn't quite so long. An example can be found to your right.
Tied at Side 1
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Just wrap it around your hips and tie it to the side. You can see an example of this to your left.
Tied at Side 2
This is done with a beaded hip scarf. Unlike option one you don't just wrap it around first you should gather it up so all the rows of beads are squished together. Now wrap it around and tie it to the side. You can see an example to your right.
Tied at Side 3
This is done with a plain cloth hip scarf. Simply wrap it around your hips and tie it at your side or slightly at a diagonal. Look to your left for an example.
Tied at Side 4
This is done with a plain cloth hip scarf. Simply wrap it around your hips and tie it at your side or slightly at a diagonal. Now tuck part of the tail in at the side. Look to your right for an example.
Layering Belts
Sometimes it's nice to layer several belts on top of each other at varied lengths or different directions. It gives it a more layered effect which often compliments tribal, folkloric, tribaret, fusion, or Gypsy costumes quite well. Here's some examples that I commonly use but, feel free to get creative.
Two Triangles One Each Side, Tied in Front Tucked at Sides
I tie one triangle to the right, another one to the left and then I tie a rectangular beaded scarf (or coin belt) in the front and grab the ends of the triangles and tuck them at the sides. Picture on right.
Tied in Front, Tied at Side With a Tuck, Tied in front
I tie one triangle in front (actualy I tuck it into my skirt because it's smoother then) and then one at the side tucking the other side in and wearing a beaded or coin belt tied in front on top of that letting the tails from the scarf tied at the side hang out over the beaded or coin scarf. Picture on right.
