Quick Salwar

by Arabella

Supplies 2 1/2 yards of 45-inch wide fabric Drawstring or elasic long enough to go around hips Thread Construction Measure and cut 2 pieces of fabric, each as shown in the top diagram to the left. Sew the two pieces of fabric together at the crotch seam, 16 inches, as shown in the middle diagram to the left. Sew the inner leg seam as a continuous seam, up one leg and down the other, leaving 9 inches at the bottom open for the ankle. Fold over 1/4 inch at the top edge, then fold again an additional one inch to make a casing and stitch. Leave a 1 inch opening unsewn for inserting the elastic or drawstring. Cut elastic to 2 inches shorter than hip measurement at point where top edge of pants will be worn, or cut drawstring to hip measurement plus 18 inches. Attach either a bodkin or a safety pin to one end of the elastic or drawstring and thread it through the casing. If using elastic, sew ends of the elastic together, then sew shut the opening of the casing. If using drawstring, leave the opening open. Hem bottom edges.

Acknowledgements

Arabella, the author of this article, has contributed many informative pieces to this web site on a variety of topics, including: Analysis of technique for doing certain dance moves Costume ideas Essays and opinion pieces Understanding Middle Eastern music Helpful how-to's, such as remembering choreography Click here to explore these other insightful articles. Arabella began her dance studies with Russian Ballet classes. Frustrated by ballet's impossible ideals, and curious about more ethnic dance disciplines, she moved on to study various other dance forms. Moving further east each time, these included Spanish flamenco, Escuela Bolera, Middle Eastern, and East Indian Odissi. Arabella, based in Toronto, Canada, is also a certified Mastercraftsman in crewel embroidery, with a special passion for metal thread and ethnic embroidery. Currently she particularly focuses on Palestinian and East Indian embroidery.