Step 14
Now back to the pallu.
Take it off your shoulder and observe how it runs down your front,
then in back of you and finally tucking in where the pleats are.
This is important for later. Make sure it's not twisted.
Make sure that the edge of the pallu that
goes against the chest
is the top edge all the way around the back.
See the illustation in Step 8 for details.
Step 15
Now, fold the pallu so that there is one
straight edge resting on the chest,
and three upward-folded edges, with the top fold ending in a straight edge.
You may have to refold this a few times to get it
right.
To keep the folds in place until you finish wearing the sari,
put a safety pin through them near the end of the pallu.
(Be sure to remove it after you are finished putting the sari on.)
As you develop your own style you can adjust the folds diferently,
but this is the basic style.
Step 16
Put your fingers in the folds and trace them
down the length of the pallu as far as possible.
As you trace the folds, pull the pallu over your shoulder
until the slack in back it taken up.
If you need to make it more secure after the pallu
is in place,
you can trace the bottom edge of the sari (the part that rests againt your chest)
around your back, to the place where the front pleats tuck into the petticoat.
See Step 8 for details. Pull the slack and tuck near the pleats.
At this point a full-length mirror is handy as you adjust the fabric in the front to
spread
gracefully across your chest (not showing any part of the bust)
and around your back. The top edge of the pallu should fall
gracefully off the left shoulder.
Do not tuck the edges of the sari in the into the
petticoat in back,
as the edge of the sari in back shows modesty.
The higher the edge, the more modesty is displayed.
You can safety pin the pallu to the shoulder for
added security
and to preserve the folds.
Step 17
This is the finished product!
Note that stiff silk such as the sari shown above
tend to "puff" to some extent.
Some puffing is normal, but not an excessive amount.
As you get better you can pull and tuck the sari until the puffiness is minimized.
It is best to start with rayon or softer silk saris for practice.
Many thanks to my good friend Melinda Merkel Iyer for taking and editing
the photos! Be sure to visit her webpage to see her dream Indian-American wedding,
among other things.
