Beadwork questions

[tennessean]

Hey everyone. How wide should the headband and H-Harness be? I know it all depends on the dancer's body, but I want to make sure I don't make them too small (or too big!).

Also what is the best way to wear the beaded belt? Using ties on the back or velcro or some other method?

[Toolbox]

It does all depend on the how big the person you are making it for. I'll have to measure mine when I get home as I forget the exact sizes. The headband is going to be thinner that the harness, it would look silly otherwise.

As for the belt, are you beading one and if so what are you backing it on, OR are you doing some sort of fabric applique? That will best determine the method that you will use to wear it.

[Toolbox]

My headband is 2 inches wide and my belt and harness are 3 inches wide. The length of each piece is going to be the big variable as its going to heavily depend on the size and build of the person that you are making it for.

[tennessean]

Thanks! I'm looking at loom beading the belt. So I can end up backing with anything. What would you suggest?

[Toolbox]

All of my stuff is loomed. I think it looks the cleanest.

As for backing the belt we back ours by backing the ends with felt. We then take a leather belt strip and wrap it in fabric, stitching it together like a sleeve (not physically attached to the leather) and then sew the beaded strip onto that. We do that because sewing the beadwork onto the leather strip is really tough. As for fastening the belt we just use shoelace threaded through holes on eithee side.

[tennessean]

All of my stuff is loomed. I think it looks the cleanest.

As for backing the belt we back ours by backing the ends with felt. We then take a leather belt strip and wrap it in fabric, stitching it together like a sleeve (not physically attached to the leather) and then sew the beaded strip onto that. We do that because sewing the beadwork onto the leather strip is really tough. As for fastening the belt we just use shoelace threaded through holes on eithee side.

Sorry to bring this thread back up. I did a couple smaller projects first to make sure I had my technique down before starting on my actual set. I just finished my headband (well, I still gotta bead the center rosette..)! What would you suggest backing it with? Also any tips on keeping it in place on my head? The last time I borrowed a headband it started to slip down when I got real into the dance.

[Toolbox]

Sorry to bring this thread back up. I did a couple smaller projects first to make sure I had my technique down before starting on my actual set. I just finished my headband (well, I still gotta bead the center rosette..)! What would you suggest backing it with? Also any tips on keeping it in place on my head? The last time I borrowed a headband it started to slip down when I got real into the dance.

It's perfectly fine to dig up older threads, especially if you need help.

If you are talking about the headband portion and not the rosette, then for mine we tacked* down only the ends with high quality felt and then tacked buckskin on top of that with the tie material sandwiched between. As for keeping it in place use elastic band. If you use leather thong or string and the knot slips it can come loose as you are dancing. Elastic allows you to get an exact fit as it will sort of clamp around your head. Another note on leather strips for tie pieces in place is that sweat will deteriorate the leather causing it to turn brittle over time.

*By tacking down what my wife does is she leave a bit of the string from the loom at the end and then glues them together and then folds it under the beaded piece and then glues those ends to the felt. Once it dries she cuts the the edges of the felt, careful not to cut any of the bead strings) and then sews all of the edges (one row or column in) to the felt. Then you can back it further to buckskin or other material.

I am no expert on this.