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Assiut/Assuit Belly Dance Costuming DIY Design

Three Day Assiut Challenge – Day 4

Well.. I didn’t quite get that bra done in 48 hours, but all hope is not lost.  Today was the Saturday of Bedouin Bazaar and I had a bit of time between watching performances, catching up with old friends, and selling books, to do a bit of work.  While the bra was mostly done, I had a few things that needed to be addressed.  First, it needed something – anything – done to the center front to give it a bit of swing and flash. After I had laid out all of my jewelry, I found one of my jewelry pieces, a Jean Jingler, would work admirably for a decoration on this bra.  If not permanently, than perhaps just for this weekend.

Jean Jingler I selected for my embellishment. This is one of my last fiew, and I believe it didn’t get selected because the contrast between the brassy triangle and the bright silver of the chain.

However, when I laid the piece out I noticed that there were not enough coins to reach all the way to the clasps.  So, I had a bit of work to do.  So while I was hanging out at the show, I cannibalized s bracelet and applied them to the selected Jean Jingler to fill in the gap.

This gap is too big for my tastes, so I need to add a few coins.
Gap filled, time to apply to the bra.
The center piece needs to be firmly stitched at the center front. I stich it to the bottom edge using a double strand of upholstery thread.
For the outer edges, I stitch on a tailor’s loop to serve as an anchor point for the clasp.

Lather, rinse, repeat.  I made a tailor’s loop on the other side as well and hooked the clasp.  At that point, I started doing some cleaning up of the stitching, making the front angles a bit neater, cleaning up some of the loose edges.  When I was “done enough” because, you know, this kind of finishing work can go on forever, I paused and held the bra up to me.   The appearance of this bra caused a but of a fuss as the vendors around me oohed and ahhhed over the progress.  Thanks to Jackson for snapping this picture of me.

And here I am, holding up the bra for a peek. I think this will work!
David of Scandinavia preparing for performance Bedouin Bazaar

Although I think it’s good enough for now, I’m interested in finishing up the edges around the center a bit better.  I think some trim or another piece of assiut as an applique to cover the plain black triangle. This Jean Jingler looks pretty good.  I think I’m going to leave it as is for tomorrow’s performance.

I was especially excited to see that I wasn’t the only person with assiut at the event.  David of Scandinavia performed in a fantastic robe.  He was in the middle of preparing for his piece and posing for pictures with some fans.  I really love the diamond grid pattern with snow-flake like pattern down the back of his robe and the row of heart-enhanced camels in a band near the hem.

I hunted through the dealer’s offerings and found another assiut gem.  But I’ll have photos of that later.  For now, I’m going to hit the hay… Tomorrow, a live performance with John Bilezikjian!

Happy Costuming!  Dawn Devine ~ Davina

ps – Oh yes, I know, my three day challenge turned into a four day event.  But I really like the way this bra is turning out.  I’ll follow up with finishing details when I get home and back to the studio. ~ D

 

 

By Davina

Davina ~ Dawn Devine is a belly dance costume designer, dance instructor and author of more than a dozen publications on Middle Eastern dance.