Two weeks ago, I attended one of my favorite local events, Bay Area Belly hosted by Sudeep. My co-authors and I set up our “Portable Book Stall.” Sara Shrapnell and I manned the booth with the help of Poppy Maya and our favorite photographer Alisha Westerfeld. It was the first time that both of our 2017 releases, Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage, and Zills: Music on Your Finger Tips are completely finished and on our rack! While I was at this show, I had a few more things to stitch down on the assiut costume on the dress form. This ensemble, titled “Assiut & Black Loops,” needed to have the lining of the bra cups installed.
Finishing Costumes At Events
As I worked on these finishing touches, quite a few people showed an interest in my sewing kit. I frequently take sewing projects with me to events and have been carrying around the same basic tools in an old kid’s pencil box for many years. At this event, however, I had so many people inquire about the contents of my box, I thought I would take a moment to share it with everyone. Aren’t we all sort of curious about what other people carry around in their bags and purses? So without further ado, to my event sewing kit!
It’s a Pink Pencil Case
I’ve been hauling this plastic kid’s pencil box around for many years now and hit has held up great. What I like about this particular container is the clamshell design, so when it’s opened, both sides are quite deep. When I’m working on a particular project, I can throw in all the special things that I need to get the project done. It is deep enough to hold a cone of serger thread or a couple of bags of rhinestones.
The Items I Always Carry
When you open my box, you can see that there is plenty of room if I need to hold more, but it’s not as big as carrying around a tackle box. When I am called to work in theatrical environments or at bridal stores, I bring a much bigger and more complete kit. For belly dance events, I’m only going to be working with my hands, so the basics are all related to hand sewing and fitting.
Pins and Pins
The one thing that gets pulled out at virtually every belly dance event is my tin of safety pins. I try to keep an assortment of sizes, but I always make sure to have a lot of sturdy large safety pins for any last minute costuming needs. A bar pops loose, or a dancer wants the added security of pinning their belt to their skirt or as insurance against a bra popping open, I’m ready! For sewing purposes, I also carry long quilting pins to hold things together as I sew.
Hand Sewing Essentials
Because I’m never sure what type of needle I will need at any given moment, I always carry a variety set of needles. I also carry along beeswax to condition the thread I’m working with. I am often called in to do on-the-spot costume adjustments, so I keep a measuring tape in the box as well.
Tools for the Job
I also have a set of hand sewing tools that live in the box. A pair of thread snips and embroidery scissors make quick work of cutting threads. The green item is a seam ripper which is great for unpicking a lining to get inside a costume to make alterations. I carry a seam gauge around with me everywhere and use it on practically every costume project. Two thimbles for options and different uses and the round tan object is a thread puller which is especially handy when going through the tough multiple layers of a bedlah set.
What’s not shown in these photos is a small baggy of hooks and eyes and three spools of thread in white, mid-grey, and black (which I haven’t refilled yet.) I learned long ago working in theater, that it’s more important to match the tone of the thread than the color, and, realistically speaking, I can’t bring every thread color along. If I’m working on a particular assignment, I will pack those items into the box as well. And that is a tour of my event sewing kit!
Happy Costuming and Delightful Dance,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
May 17, 2017