Belly Dance Costume Patterns

Although mainstream pattern companies do sell "harem girl" patterns, usually in the back of their catalog under "Halloween Costumes", their patterns are rarely suitable for use as belly dancing costumes. They start with the assumption that the person buying the pattern will probably use it to make an outfit that will be worn only once, on Halloween, and then discarded. Consequently, clothes made from such patterns are usually ill-fitting and not well suited to moving vigorously while wearing them. They bear little or no resemblance to what "real" belly dancers actually wear.

There are several vendors who make clothing patterns particularly well suited to the needs of belly dancers. The manufacturers I'm aware of who make costume patterns that work well for belly dancing are:

Atira's Fashions
Sula
Folkwear
Madame X
B.D. Patterns
Timeless Patterns
FatChanceBellyDance

If you know of additional manufacturers of costume patterns that are suitable for belly dancing, please e-mail me information about the pattern company and how to contact vendors who sell them.

Atira's Fashions

This pattern company offers a wide variety of costume patterns. There are a total of 36 patterns available, for garments ranging from historical-style ethnic clothing to modern-day glittery costume items for nightclub shows. Patterns include blouses, vests, skirts, veils, pantaloons, accessories, panels, dresses, caftans, and more. The vast majority of them include cutting lines for Small, Medium, and Large sizes. If you're larger than a size 14, these patterns are probably not suitable for you unless you're very good at alterations. The patterns are printed on strong, heavy paper, which makes them quite durable.

Atira's Fashions patterns were originally known as Jehlor Patterns. They were created by Lorie Graff and Jean Wood to fill the need for dancers, musicians, and other people who wanted to dress in clothing inspired by the Middle East. In 1987, the pattern business was sold to Atira (Rita Hatton). Unfortunately, Atira has not expanded the product line to include any additional patterns after buying the company.

Pictured at right is an example of one of the patterns available from Atira's Fashions. It is called "Saadia's Vest", and it provides instructions for making a fitted midriff-baring blouse with various necklines and sleeve treatments.Unfortunately, Atira's patterns tend to run small--someone I know who normally wears size 10 or 12 needed to go with size Large on this pattern in order to have it be big enough to fit around her rib cage.
Picture From Atira's Saadia's Vest Pattern

Picture From Atira's Pantaloons Pattern
To the left is another pattern from Atira's Fashions called "Hathaya's Harem Pants."

If you decide to try Atira's patterns, you should first make a prototype out of very inexpensive fabric such as muslin or broadcloth to test the fit. This admittedly can be a real nuisance. Still, as long as you have access to someone with sewing experience who can help you alter the patterns, they're a wonderful tool for making your own costumes.

If you are new to Atira's Fashions, a good place to start is to purchase a copy of the pattern catalog. The catalogs are often available from the same vendors who sell the patterns themselves. These are printed on sturdy paper, and lavishly illustrated. Even if you don't decide to purchase any of the patterns, you'll probably enjoy paging through the catalog to get costume ideas.

To contact Atira's Fashions:

Atira's Fashions
3935 South 113th
Seattle, WA 98168
Phone: (+1) (206) 767-3357

Sula

There aren't very many patterns under the Sula title, but the ones that do exist are good quality. The diagram shows the picture from the pattern envelope of a one-shoulder midriff blouse and pantaloons. There is also a pattern that includes both circle skirt and pantaloons, and another with instructions on making a dance bra and belt set. The patterns are printed on lightweight tissue paper.

The only vendor I know of who sells Sula's patterns is Belly Dance!, which is owned by Leea. Ask for her catalog so you can see the full range of dance costume patterns that she has available. I have personally had favorable experience in buying products from her in the past. To contact her:

Belly Dance!
1235 Boulevard Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
U.S.A.
Phone: (+1) (925) 937-7852

Folkwear

Picture From Folkwear Syrian Dress Pattern The Folkwear line of patterns has been around since the early 1980's. It is currently owned by Lark Books. I have many Folkwear patterns in my collection, and I highly recommend them to people who enjoy in-depth information about the historical garments represented by the patterns. Picture From Folkwear Saroulles Pattern

The Folkwear line of patterns includes ethnic patterns from many regions: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. It also covers a number of historical U.S. clothing designs. The patterns are printed on strong, heavy paper, which makes them quite durable, and they have cutting lines for three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large.

The primary thing that distinguishes Folkwear patterns from all the others is the depth of information they offer. Folkwear doesn't offer just patterns with cutting lines and construction information. Many of the patterns, including the Syrian dress pictured here, come with detailed instructions and patterns for embellishing them with embroidery, quilting, ruching, or other techniques appropriate to the locale and historical era of the garment. Most of them also include suggestions for color and fabric choices for people who would like to make a garment that closely resembles actual historical clothing. Folkwear patterns also employ historical clothing construction techniques--for example, using gussets instead of set-in sleeves or curved openings.

Folkwear patterns are usually found in alternative fabric stores--not the large chains, but the small, independent stores. You can order a catalog directly from Lark Books, but I haven't done so myself. To contact Lark Books, the publisher of Folkwear patterns:

Lark Books
67 Broadway
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 1-800-284-3388 (U.S. only)
Web Site: http://www.folkwear.com/

Madame X

Madame X is based in the Silicon Valley in California. She has only a small number of pattern designs so far, but she's working on some additional ones. The sizing makes them friendly even for full-figured dancers. I haven't actually tried using one of her patterns, so I can't give you any information about what they're like.

To contact Madame X:

Madame X
PMB 226
1040 Grant Road, Suite 155
Mountain View, CA 94040

E-Mail: xenia@madameXcostumes.com
Web Site: http://www.MadameXcostumes.com

B.D. Patterns

B.D. Patterns is based in the San Diego, California area. Available sizes make them suitable even for larger dancers -- they run up to 58-60 inch hips and bust. They offer a number of very creative costume designs. I have never actually tried one of these patterns, so I can't comment intelligently on their quality.

To contact B. D. Patterns:

B.D. Patterns
735 East Washington Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020

E-Mail: bdpat@aol.com

Timeless Patterns

Timeless Patterns offers about 10 patterns, including skirts, cholis, pantaloons, and hip scarves. Ranging in sizes from small to 4X, they should be friendly even to full-figured dancers. Also Medieval, Renaissance, and fantasy patterns. I have never actually tried one of these patterns, so I can't comment intelligently on their quality.

To contact Timeless Patterns:

Nuada Succellus
P.O. Box 1341
Kent, WA 98035-2341

FatChanceBelly Dance

FatChanceBellyDance sells a pattern for a choli, the midriff-baring blouse that Indian women wear under their saris. I have never actually tried this pattern, so I can't comment intelligently on its quality.

To contact FatChanceBellyDance:

FCBD-Web
P.O. Box 460594
San Francisco, CA 94146

Phone: (+1) (415) 431-4322