Home >> Hobbies >> Sewing

How to Sew Salwar

Salwar are a traditional style of pants worn mostly in India and Pakistan, as well as by citizens from those countries who have moved abroad. Unlike other styles of pants, salwar give preference to the movement of your legs by having the bulk of the fabric on the inside of the pants. While other styles of pants taper on the outside of the leg, salwar taper on the inseam of the leg. The pants are custom fit to each individual using precise measurements. Once you have finished cutting your pattern, the pants are a cinch to sew together.

Things You'll Need

Pins
Sewing machine
Iron
Drawstring

Instructions

- 1
  Fold each leg piece so the right sides of the fabric, or the outsides, touch each other. Pin the pieces together to avoid any slipping of the fabric as you sew.
- 2
  Stitch along the inseam of each leg piece with a sewing machine. Start at the bottom of the leg, and sew until you reach the crotch. Back stitch at each end for stability. Remove the pins as you sew, before they come into contact with the needle. If the needle hits a pin, it could cause damage to the machine or the project and possible personal injury.
- 3
  Gather or pleat along the upper edge of the legs. To gather, sew a long running stitch across the top of the leg fabric. Do not back stitch at either end. Pull one string gently, and slide the fabric along the remaining string. Gather 2/3 of the front side of each leg.
  
  For pleated salwar pants, make 1/4- to 1-inch-wide pleats across the front, almost to the outer edges of the fronts of the legs. Begin pleating at the center front. The left leg pleats will point to the left, and the right leg pleats will point to the right.
- 4
  Pin the two ends of the waistband together, right sides facing each other, leaving the top 2 inches of the fabric unpinned. For the top 2 inches, fold the edges of the fabric toward the outside and pin each one individually, making a hemmed edge at the top 2 inches and a joined seam for the remainder of the waistband.
- 5
  Sew the pinned portion of the waistband, back stitching at each end for stability. Sew the hemmed edges individually. Again, remove any pins as you sew.
- 6
  Turn under 1 inch at the top edge, and press it into place with an iron. Turn under a second inch.
- 7
  Stitch the turned under edges into place, sewing through all three layers of the fabric. This component will form the casing for the drawstring.
- 8
  Turn the pants right side out.
- 9
  Pin the pants to the lower edge of the waistband, right sides facing each other. Line up the seam in the center waistband with the center front of the pants legs. If necessary, move some of the gathered stitches to enable both the crotch seam and waistband seam to line up perfectly.
- 10
  Sew the two pieces together, back stitching at the beginning and end for stability.
- 11
  Hem the bottom edges of the salwar by turning under 1/2 inch of fabric and then a second 1/2 inch of fabric. Stitch all the way around, and back stitch at the beginning and end for durability.
- 12
  Insert a drawstring into the waistband, and your pants ready to wear.

Sewing