Crochet for Belly Dancers

By Stacy Vaka

This book combines the art of crochet with the art of belly dancing with 10 wearable crochet patterns, plus one amigurumi feline belly dancer pattern. There is something for everyone, including patterns for children and adult sizes up to 5X. The patterns range from beginner to advanced, so you can gain in skill as a crocheter as you gain in skill as a belly dancer!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crochet Kitten
• Release date: Jun 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781736955154

Book preview

Crochet for Belly Dancers

By Stacy Vaka

Crochet Kitten

Manassas, Virginia

A cat wearing a garment Description automatically generated with low confidence

Copyright © 2022 Stacy Vaka

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN 978-1-7369551-5-4

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Crochet stitch symbols by StitchinCrochet Pro™.

Printed in the United States of America.

Published by Crochet Kitten: PO Box 4289, Manassas, VA 20108

Every effort has been made to ensure that the instructions in this book are complete and accurate. However, responsibility cannot be taken for human error, typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work. Please contact [e-mail] if pattern support is needed.

www.CrochetKitten.com

This book is for my sisters in dance who stand with me at that intersection between wholesome and exotic.

…You shall again be adorned with your tambourines,

And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.

— Jeremiah 31:4

Table of Contents

Introduction

Dance Shrug

Cassie Leg Warmers

Dancer’s Sling Bag

Gypsy Rose Halter

Mother-Daughter Silk Shrug and Coin Belt

Josephine Tribal Set

Layla Amigurumi

Rose Garden Zills Pouch and Trainers

Valkyrie Bra

Bird of Paradise Halter and Skirt

Bohemian Opulence Scarf

Size Charts

Abbreviations and Stitch Glossary

Introduction

My greatest joy as a dancer comes from the opportunity to create art—not just the physical kind that transforms emotions and music into a visual display, but also the constructive kind that results in a unique costume that describes who I am as a dancer.

I learned how to crochet 8 years before I ventured into the world of belly dancing, so it was only natural that as soon as I needed a belly dance costume, I began to consider how I might crochet one for myself. These are my original designs, some from my days as a baby belly dancer, and some inspired and commissioned by my first belly dance troupe, the Suburban Gypsies. The collection is particularly special to me because they show my evolution both as a designer and as a belly dancer.

I hope they help you to find your own uniqueness as a dancer, both in choreography and in costume.

Stacy Vaka

Dance Shrug

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This shrug is incredibly simple to make, despite being made from a thinner yarn, and it will keep you warm during chilly winter dance practices. If you find the mohair difficult to work with, you may choose to work with the silk by itself.

Pattern Level

Finished Sizes

Women’s XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Girls’ 2T (4T, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16)

Materials

Women’s Shrug

2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3)skeins Cascade Heritage Silk

2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls Cascade Kid Seta

Size H-8 (5.0mm) crochet hook or size to obtain gauge

Girls’ Shrug

1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2) skeins Cascade Heritage Silk

1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) balls Cascade Kid Seta

Size H-8 (5.0mm) crochet hook or size to obtain gauge

Gauge Square

Row 1. Ch 23. Dc in 4th ch from hook and ea rem ch across (20 dc).

Rows 2-9. Ch 3; turn. Dc in flo ea dc across. Finish off.

20 dc and 9 rows = 4 inches

Note

Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses.  To avoid confusion, it may be helpful to circle the numbers corresponding to your size before beginning this project.  When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Women’s Shrug

Worked sideways from cuff to cuff.

With both yarns held together, ch 28 (32, 37, 41, 41, 41, 48, 49, 54).

Rnd 1. Dc in fourth ch from hook and ea rem ch across. Join with sl st in top of beg ch. 25 (29, 34, 38, 38, 38, 45, 46, 51) dc.

Rnd 2. Ch 3; turn. 2 dc in flo of first dc, dc in flo of ea rem dc around. Join with sl st in t-ch. 26 (30, 35, 39, 39, 39, 46, 47, 52) dc.

Rnds 3-21 (3-17, 3-17, 3-17, 3-24, 3-33, 3-33, 3-38, 3-38). Rep rnd 2. 45 (45, 50, 54, 61, 70, 77, 83, 88) dc.

Rnds 22-41 (18-42, 18-43, 18-44, 25-45, 34-46, 34-47, 39-48, 39-49). Ch 3; turn. Dc in flo of ea dc around. Join with sl st in t-ch.

The next section is worked in rows without joining.

Rows 42-84 (43-87, 44-92, 45-97, 46-98, 47-102, 48-103, 49-107, 40-109). Ch 3; turn. Dc in flo of ea dc across. Do not join between rows.

The next section is worked in rnds again.

Rnds 85-104 (88-112, 93-117, 98-124, 99-119, 103-115, 104-117, 108-117, 110-120). Ch 3; turn. Dc in flo of ea dc around. Join with sl st in t-ch.

Rnds 105-124 (113-128, 118-133, 125-140, 120-142, 116-147, 118-149, 118-154, 121-157). Ch 3; turn. Dc2tog in flo of first 2 dc; dc in flo of ea rem dc around. Join with sl st in t-ch. 25 (29, 34, 38, 38, 38, 45, 46, 51) dc.

Rnd 125 (129, 134, 141, 143, 148, 150, 155, 158). Ch 3; turn. Dc in flo of ea dc around. Join with sl st in t-ch. Finish off.

Edging

With both yarns held together, join yarn with sl st in center of back. Ch 1; sc evenly around chest opening. Join with sl st in first sc. Finish off.

Girls’ Shrug

Worked sideways from cuff to cuff.

With both yarns held together, ch 22 (23, 26, 26, 28, 28, 28, 28).

Rnd 1. Dc in fourth ch from hook and ea rem ch across. Join with sl st in top of beg ch.