Sari Fabrics source?

go to eshakti.com

they sell silk to cotton saris plus the fabric to make a three piece salwar kameez ( folkwear sells a pattern) and I recently made one out of black crepe with a beaded trim. it's a knock out.

I have three saris sitt "I have offered to make a traditional outfit for my daughters friend "from Pakistan. Her mother said it would be o.k. if I just get the "material from JoAnns, but I want it to be really special. Does anyone "know off hand where to get sari fabrics (inexpensive if possible) on "internet)? Joy

Diane _______________________________________________________________________________ "It is easier to fight for one's beliefs than to live up to them." Alfred Adler

Hi There are lots of sites selling saris, fabric, and outfits online. I haven't ordered from any of them, though. If you do a google with the spelling 'saree' you'll get more results than with 'sari'.

For starters, you might like to try:

(does cotton saris, which are hard to find)

Best of luck.

:) Trish

Try eBay. You can find lots of them at very reasonable prices. If what you want is fabric to make a salwar kameez, then try ebay also..there are unstitched salwar kameez there. Heck, just look up salwar kameez on eBay..you'll get lots of hits. Remember with the traditional salwar kameez, there comes a dupatta, or the scarf, and its usually hard to match, if you cut up a sari. Also, if you are making it for someone larger than a size 16-18 and buy an unstitched salwar kameez, ask about the amount of fabric provided. Sometimes it may not be quite enough. I had that happen to me with my size 14. 5'0" tall mother.

Stefanie

Stefanie

Yikes! You guys just started talking a foreign language and I feel way out on a limb. Reel me back in! Please. Now, my daughters friend is quite small, age 14 but only about a size

1. She is from Pakistan and showed me the type outfit she wears...something like baggy, odd cut pants with what she called a shirt but looked like a mid calf length dress with slits up the side. Then, they have a matching scarf (usually sheer) that she drapes around her shoulers in no particular fashion. I don't know what this outfit is called but I do know that it is usually made of silk. Now, can anyone tell me if this is any of the things you wrote about so I can get seaching. Tell me it isn't too terribly hard to make even though it sounds hard to pronounce.! Joy

That is a salwaar kameez, and the scarf is called dupatta. They are lovely!

Kirsten Sollie

salwar kameez

Salwar = pants...odd cut is right.

Kameez = long tunic type top.

Dupatta = long (about 2.25 yards) scarf.

If you want an authentic pattern, see if you can find the old Folkwear pattern of "Jewels of India" and the "Sarouelles" pattern for the pants. There is someone on eBay who sells a pattern, but beware, it isnt authentic at all. I just saw the Jewels of India pattern on eBay today...the top is fairly easy..any blouse or tunic top pattern, lengthened will do. The pants are the tricky bit, at least for me. THey are a yoke, and several trapezoid shape panels along with one rectangular one. I've also seen them with a gusset in the crotch, and many other configurations. THe cuff of the pants is heavily interfaced and then usually a design is stitched into it.

more than you want to know, I'm sure...

Stefanie

what you are describing is a three piece set called salwar kameez. the pants you are describing is churidor style, tight at the ankles. you dont want a sari for that you -- a sari is about 5-6 yards of fabric, you want coordinating fabric specifically made for the outfit. and of course you need a pattern.

or you can buy them "Yikes! You guys just started talking a foreign language and I feel "way out on a limb. Reel me back in! Please. "Now, my daughters friend is quite small, age 14 but only about a size "6. She is from Pakistan and showed me the type outfit she "wears...something like baggy, odd cut pants with what she called a "shirt but looked like a mid calf length dress with slits up the side. "Then, they have a matching scarf (usually sheer) that she drapes "around her shoulers in no particular fashion. I don't know what this "outfit is called but I do know that it is usually made of silk. "Now, can anyone tell me if this is any of the things you wrote about "so I can get seaching. Tell me it isn't too terribly hard to make "even though it sounds hard to pronounce.! "Joy

Diane _______________________________________________________________________________ "It is easier to fight for one's beliefs than to live up to them." Alfred Adler

The trousers are called shalwar and the shirt is a kameez. Spelling differs according to who tried to write the word in English phonetics. A popular style for the kameez is a princess line from the shoulder. It can be mid-thigh to knee length. It is always (around here, anyway) long-sleeved and has a modest neckline. It's quite fitted at the top and doesn't flare, hence the need for side slits. You can use a dress pattern from one of the regular pattern books.

The style of the trousers varies but they are usually tight around the ankle.

In Bradford, which has a large population of Pakistani origin, the fabric stores sell "shalwar kameez sets" that consist of 2 - 3 yds of plain fabric for the shalwar, 2 - 3 yds of a matching patterned fabric (usually the plain one with embroidery or printing) for the kameez and a couple of yards of an even fancier matching fabric for the shawl - I think it's called a dupatta but I may be wrong.

They are certainly not usually made of silk! - the cheaper ones are made of polyester. I had bought some beautiful sets for £16 (US$24-ish).

OTOH, you can buy the most fabulous ready-made silk wedding sets with emboidery and beading at a cost of several hundered pounds.

Hello, everyone, my computer is feeling much better and I'm back in e-communication again.

Sally Holmes Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Sally, do you ever hit Bombay Stores for this sort of stuff? I try to get there during the sales, and I have found magnificent bargains! They do occasionally have silk sets, but they are very pricey. Sometimes you get sets where the scarf is a specially printed matching panel. I have a couple of sets of fabric from my last raid, just waiting for me to lose a bit more weight...

Hi Stephani, I just tried ebay "unstitched sawlar kameez" and there was nothing. If I am just looking for the material, is there any other key words I can search under? Joy

You seem to know so much and I sure appreciate it. I am in luck. I didn't win the pattern on e-bay, but I did get ahold of one of the girls old outfits so I do have a sample. It does look like the top is a simple shift and the pants are really strange and look REALLY comfortable. Wouldn't mind sizing some up for myslelf if I get a chance. She is such a cute girl and has been my daughters very best friend for 8 years and will be moving in one year. The girls have their first year of high school together before she moves a state away. I have just LOVED having such a conservative sweet friend for my daughter. I really want to make something special for her. It will need to turn out nice enough that her family in Pakistan won't "laugh" at it when she return for visits and wears it here to "church" on Sundays. I know her mother usually gets them made by a tailor in Pakistan and the one I make can not probably have so much detailed hand labour.....but it will have sentimental value and I need to do it When they returned from Pakistan on their last visit they brought a small silk hand tied rug for my sewing room. I simply must find something really special for this very special firend. Joy

Both of the Folkwear patterns mentioned (_Jewels of India_ (#135) and _Sarouelles_(#119)) are still in print. Harper House

Earthguild( and Grannd Garb all have them in stock. You could also order direct from There is a pants pattern in Jewels of India, so you don't really need to get Sarouelles.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Glad to see your 'puter has recovered and you are here again. Emily

HI joy...maybe I misspelled it..oh dear, I', sorry.

try 'made to order salwar kameez'. or just 'salwar kameez' and read the titles.

Here is a link to a vendor who has some very nice merchandise, and the price includes them making it.

Could drop them an email and see what else they have. They were very nice and efficient.

Stefanie

Yes, there is a pants pattern in the Jewels of India, but it is for the churidar pant and not the salwar pant. They are very different. The churidar pant leg is cut on the bias so you get the wrinkled kinda elephant skin leg look. Lots of women wear that, and if it is what you want, then no, another pattern is not needed. The Sarouelles pattern has the pattern for the salwar pant. That one is cut on the straight of grain and it has a baggy look to it where the churidar is quite fitted, particularly at and below the knee area...they put hooks and eyes in the bottom so you can get your foot through in the churidar pant..otherwise it would never happen...

Glad to know both those patterns are still in print...I like the Sarouelles a lot for my daughter..wont fit me as I am a very plus size person, but I did take apart an old pair of salwar pants of mine and traced a pattern, making notes on proportions and all that as I was doing it.

Stefanie Stefanie

Jean, Unfortunately I am in Michigan and don't get a vacation through Georgia. You aren't one of those people that would have fun shopping vicariously for someone else,....are you? You know, spending someone elses money but getting to touch and google over all the textiles, say for something in the peachy/ cora/ gold range?.....just wondering. Joy

I got one from Ebay.

Charlie.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the outfit turned out wonderful! Better than I could have hoped. My husband even asked why I hadn't made one for myself. I made the pattern myself from one of the girls old outfits that still fit. WOW was it constructed primitively by our standards.....but it was lovely on the outside. Thanks again to all of you. Joy

Thanks for letting us know, Joy, and congratulations on a job well done!

Out of curiosity, where did you wind up getting the fabric(s)?

Stefanie