Adding Strips of Feathers to a Top

Info about the This method gives a great tribal look. So, if you are looking for something with a little bit of different and interesting texture, this may be the look for you.

Supplies:
1. Dance top
2. Feather Strips (you can find them on line)
3. Thread to match feather strips
4. Needles
5. Safety Pins
6. Scissors
7. A bar of soap or wax

Directions:
Choosing the Materials
You can use any dance top you wish. You can use a regular dance bra or you can use a dance sports bra. It is up to you and your dancer. You then need to pick color of the feather strips. The feather strips can be obtained on line. You can choose feathers that match the base piece or contrast with it – whatever suits your fancy.Pinning the Feathers Strips

At this point, you need to decide if you want the feathers to cover the shoulders or do you want the strips to just cover the neckline. One thing to remember is that the feather strip does not stretch so you want to take that into consideration. The best solution would be to have the dancer wear the top while you are pinning the feather strips in place.The first step in the pinning process is to fold the strip in half. On our sample, the bra has a “v� at the center of the bra. So, in this case, you need to give the strip a little “pinch� in the center of the strip to create a matching “v� in the strip. Then place that pinched “v� in the center of the bra and pin the strip in place. At this point, run the feather strip from that center point one direction along the neckline and pin it in place. If you want the strip to go over the shoulder, just continue this process over the shoulder. Then do the same thing starting at the center and go along the neckline in the other direction.

Sewing the Feather Strips in Place
We want to point out that the feathers are glued to the strip so there is glue all along the edge of the feather strips. Consequently, it is important to pull the needle and the thread through a bar of soap or wax so that they do not get hung up on the gluey edge.When you actually start sewing, you need to think about where you want to start. We would suggest you start at the center. Feed the thread through and tie it off on the inside. We are using gold thread so you can see how it is done, but you want to use matching thread so that it will be hard to see but you want to use thread that matches the feather strips. You then want to continue up one side of the neckline with the same small tacks. Then do the same going up the other side of the neckline.If you wish, you could repeat this process with a second feather strip to create multiple layers. An alternate look would be to completely cover the top by creating multiple layers of feather strips using the same technique. Just play with it, have fun and create the look you love best.