How to drape a saree: the nivi style, step by step
5 min read
Before you start
Wear the blouse, the petticoat and the footwear you plan to use, because heel height changes the length. Tie the petticoat firmly at your natural waist; it carries the whole weight of the saree. Keep five or six safety pins within reach.
The first tuck
Take the plain end of the saree and tuck it into the petticoat at your right hip, with the lower edge just touching the floor. Continue tucking from right to left, all the way around once, until you are back at the right hip. Check that the hem is level before you go on.
Set the pallu first
Many beginners make pleats first and run out of fabric. Instead, take the decorated end, bring it around your back, under the right arm and over the left shoulder. Let it fall to about the back of your knee. Pleat it lengthwise into five or six folds and pin it to the blouse at the shoulder.
Make the front pleats
You now have a loop of loose fabric in front. Gather it into pleats about a hand's width each, usually five to seven. Hold them together, make sure their lower edges are even, and tuck them into the petticoat slightly left of the navel, facing left. Pin them to the petticoat from the inside.
Finishing and common mistakes
Smooth the fabric across the hip and pull the drape snug at the left side. If the hem rises at the back, the first tuck was too high. If the pleats fan open, they are too wide or not pinned. A cotton saree holds pleats more easily than georgette or satin, so practise with cotton first.
More guides
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- Choosing a blouse for your saree: neckline, sleeves and fitWhat to decide before you give the blouse piece to a tailor, and how to check the fit.
- Handloom or powerloom: how to tell the differenceSimple checks you can do yourself, and why handloom costs more.
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