How to make a hizem

This is a real blast from the past. Way back in June 2013, I made a traditional Tunisian dance costume. Because the associated blog post was about the elements which fitted into a Squares, Rectangles and Triangles sewing challenge, the other parts, including the yarn belt or hizem, were only mentioned in passing.

Part of the costume

However, I was recently asked about the belt in the post comments. I always read comments, no matter how old the original post, and will always try to help with queries if possible. So here, finally, is a post on making the hizem.

The hizem laid out on the inches side of my cutting board, for scale

It was made from Aran weight wool, which I believe is Worsted weight in the U.S. The belt should be 1½ times your hip measurement, with a further 70 cm / 28" added on for the tassels. The wool needs to be wound into a hank the length of the finished belt, and should consist of around 150 lengths of wool - i.e. 75 loops. I made mine by winding the wool round two chair backs - if you do this, make sure that the chairs don't start to slip closer to each other as you are winding.

The red line shows the belt length

Once the hank is completed, tie off the wool 14" from each end to form the tassels. The ties are made by wrapping a length of wool tightly round the hank around five or six times, tying the ends in a knot, and then using a bodkin to 'lose' the ends of the wrapping wool in the hank.

Then make another tie at each end, 2½" up from the first one, to form the tassel head.

The knot is visible on the tie on the right

On one end only, make a further tie, 6½" up from the tassel head. This is to form the loop. Split the 6½" section into two halves, and tie each half into five or six sections. If preferred, all of these ties can be mde using one long length of wool, run from one tie to the next within the hank.

The completed loop

There are two further ties to add, A and B. Where they are placed depends on the length of the belt. To work out the position of tie A, hold the belt behind you, bring the tassels to the front, and pass one end through the loop on the other end. Make tie A where the belt will pass through the loop.

Bringing the belt through the loop, tie A is shown with an arrow

Another view of tie A

Make tie B midway between tie A and the end of the loop.

Showing the lengths of all the different sections

Finally, cut the ends of the hank to form the tassels, and trim any uneven strands of wool.

A hizem in action

Hopefully I have covered everything. As ever, if anything is unclear, please get in touch.