Crowns
This type of headpiece is generally used with a caberet
costume. They are usually heavily beaded and
sequined and may contain lots of fringe around the
face.
Crown with fringe
Materials needed:
Buchram
A stiff material (such as denim)
Beads (usually seed beeds and bugle beads)
Sequins
Jewels (Optional)
Thread (preferably waxed) or Dental Floss
Beading needle
Scissors
Non-roll elastic, 1 inch wide
Fabric for the Backing (cotton blend in a solid color)
Instructions:
1. Take 1 layer of your stiff material, 1 layer of
buchram, and 1 more layer of your stiff material and
zig-zag them together. Try to cover as much of it as
you can with zig-zags.
2. Cut out the patern of your crown from the buchram
mix. Also, cut one out of your backing with an extra
1/2 inch seam allowance all around.
3. Cut a piece of elastic so that when added to your
crown, the crown will fit snugly onto your head.
Then sew it on to your crown.
4. If your going to put big jewels on put them on first.
5. Now start with the sequin pattern. Sequin patern
should be as follows:up through the fabric; 1 sequin,
3 seed beeds, 1 sequin; down through the fabric.
6. After the sequins are in place, fill in the open area's
with strands of seed beeds.
7. If you are adding any small jewels sew the on now.
You might want to sew them on over the beads and
sequins.
8. Add the bugle bead finge. For patterns see fringe
9. Iron a fold at the 1/2 inch seam alowance on your
backing. Then sew it onto the crown.
Stand-up crown
Materials needed:
Buchram
A stiff material (such as denim)
Beads (usually seed beeds)
Sequins
Jewels (Optional)
Thread (preferably waxed) or Dental Floss
Beading needle
Scissors
Fabric for the Backing (cotton blend in a solid color)
14(?) gague wire
Wire cutters
Elastic
Instructions:
1. Take 1 layer of your stiff material, 1 layer of
buchram, and 1 more layer of your stiff material and
zig-zag them together. Try to cover as much of it as
you can with zig-zags.
2. Cut out the patern of your crown from the buchram
mix. Also, cut one out of your backing with an extra
1/2 inch seam allowance all around.
3. Shape the wire to the patern of the crown and cut off
any extras.
4. Thread your needle with your thread or floss and
make sure it's doubled then tie a knot at the end and
start with the sequin pattern. Sequin patern should
be as follows:up through the fabric; 1 sequin, 3 seed
beeds, 1 sequin; down through the fabric.
5. After the sequins are in place, fill in the open area's
with strands of seed beeds.
6. If you are adding any small jewels sew the on now.
You might want to sew them on over the beads and
sequins.
7. Attach elastic to the ends of you crown. Make sure
it will be long or short enough to hold the crown
snugly on your head.
8. Iron a fold at the 1/2 inch seam alowance on your
backing.
9. Sew the wire into the 1/2 inch seam on the backing
and then sew the backing onto the crown.
Egyptian Crowns
These crowns are very cute and are perfect for pieces
which portray ancient Egypt. I don't know if the make
them with anything other than a snake on the front or
if they make them in silver but I kind of doubt it. These
are most commonly used in "Pharonic Dances."
Pictured on the right.
Turbans
Turbans are generally used by tribal dancers. This is
most commonly seen with ATS and is rarely used with
other types of costumes and styles of bellydance.
Men will often where these with whatever style they are
dancing though.
Turban 1
To create this turban you will need a long rectangular
piece of fabric. Find the center of the fabric and place
it on your head now twist the ends so that it holds to
your head well. Once the ends are twisted bring them
around to the front, twist, bring around to the back,
twist, repeat untill you run out of fabric. Tuck the ends
in If you want you can drape neclaces through the
truban to "jazz" it up.
Turban 2
This turban is created with a triangular fringed scarf.
Roll the scarf up so that just a small tail is left. Place
the tail in back just bellow the hairline. Now take the
rolled ends and bring them around in front, twist,
around behind, twist, repeat till done. Take the tail and
tuck it in to the top so that it covers your hair.
Turban 3
This turban can be made from either long rectangular
scarves of triangular scarves (remember to roll them
first). Use one on each side of your head and twist
them togetjher in the front and back and then bring
them around and twist, and around and twist, etc.
When your done tuck the ends.
Headbands
Headband 1
Simply use any decorative headband as pictured to the
right.
Headband 2
These wide Elastic headbands like the one pictured to
the left are great for keeping your hair back and looking
good while dancing.
Headband 3
These Headbands are great for adding a little poof to
hair that normally falls flat. and they still look good
when dancing. This can also look really nice with curly
hair.
Headband 4
This is really cute for tribal/gypsy/fusion costumes.
Simply roll a triangular fringed scarf and tie it around
your head. You can also use a beaded or coin scarf. If
you want you can also do this with any long
rectangular piece of fabric although it will not be as big
if it's not rolled which may be a good thing.
Headband 5
Chainmail headpieces like this one can be made if you
know how to do it and have a lot of free time, or bought
at most rennaissance fairs. They are great for both
caberet and tribal costumes.
Headband 6
This is a cute little cloth headband which is nice for a
more folkloric style. It can be worn simply tied under
the hair or you can roll it first and then tie it as in the
picture to the right.
Hats And Other Head Coverings
Snoods
Snoods come in various colors and can be used for
caberet or tribal costumes. They are good for keeping
your hair of your neck and can look very elegant.
Fez's
A fez can be used by both men and women and can be
very cute. It's also a traditional hat from several
mediteranean countries like Morrocco.
Pilbox Hats
Another traditional head covering is a pillbox hat which
is often decorated with coins and/or embroidery and
then covered with a scarf that ties under the neck. It
can be very good for traditional pieces and
authentic/re-enactment costumes.
Tarhas (Islamic Head Covering, not appropriate for dancing in)
Although I can't say I've seen people dancing with
tarhas on and in most cases it would be disrespectful
to Arabs and Muslims. I still find that people who
dance often have at least a slight interest in middle
eastern culture and therefore are curious as to how you
would wrap a tarha. It would also be acceptable for
somone looking to portray an accurate Muslim woman
perhaps for a Ren Faire character or getting better
deals when shopping in the Middle East... when in
Rome (Or Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco, etc...)
Triangular 1
Place the middle of the longest side of the triangle
on the top, center of your head just before the
hairline. Now their should be a point hanging down
in the center of your back and two ends hanging in
front of your shoulders. Grab the two ends by your
shoulders and tie them snugly under your chin.
Triangular 2
Follow the same procedure listed above. Instead of
tying the ends together use a pin and pull the sides
snugly under your chin and pin them. Allow the
ends to hang down over your chest.
Triangular 3
Follow the same procedure as in those listed above
then take one of the ends in the front and pull it
around behind your head, keep it taught and pin it at
the back. If there is enough excess you can tuck it
into the side by your cheek. Now take the other
end, still hanging in the front, and pull it back and
underneath the other end so that it is hanging over
your shoulder.
Rectangular 1
Coming Soon!
Rectangular 2
Coming Soon!
*Square Tarhas are folded diagonally and then become
the triangular tarhas.
Cleopatra Headpiece
These are usually quite easy to find as they are sold in
many places. They are like a beaded cap with short
fringe in fron and long fringe around the sides and back.
They come in every color but are usually one size fits
all. They may also be made with a crocheted cap or
doily which has the beaded fring aorund the edges.
They can be used with many styles of costume but are
most comonly seen with caberet or rennaisance
costumes (More of a 'tribaret' style, not ATS or
historically corect re-enactment). Occassionally I've
seen them in pharonic styles as well.
Isis Headpiece
An Isis headpiece is one the is made to look like that
of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. It is a vulture on
the crown with it's wings etending down along the sides
of your face. It has the solar disc (sun) held between
golden cows horns. The horns and disc stand up on
the top of the crown or the vultures back. I have never
found one that I could buy although you could probably
have them custom made; I just made my own.
