HOW TO STITCH A BABY SALWAR

Kids like wearing salwar kameez as it is loose fitting, comfortable and gives them a chance to wear something similar to what their mothers are wearing. I stitched a salwar kameez for my one and half year old daughter recently and she simply loved it. I have already shared a post on how to stitch a baby kameez and in this post a tutorial on how to stitch a baby salwar is discussed. 

First take your baby body measurements and keep ready

Length of the salwar :( 17”)
waist: (18")
Hip: (19”)
Round ankle: (9”)

Measurements given in brackets are just for reference. Use your baby's body measurements for stitching the salwar.

Construction for stitching the legs

0 to 1 = salwar length – waist band width (i.e. 5”) + 1” (e.g. 17”-5”+1” = 13”) 

0 to 2 = 1/3 Hip + 1 ½” – waist band width (e.g. 3”)

2 to 3 = Half hip or full cloth width (e.g. 10” or full cloth width)
3 to 4 = 1 ½”
4 to 5 = straight line
1 to 6 = half round ankle (4 1/2")
Join 3 to 6 with a straight line and 3 to 5 with a curved line


Method:

First open the cloth fully, and then fold the cloth on the reverse into half as shown. Then fold again into half. Now you will have 4 layers of cloth one on top of the other.

Mark the measurements directly on the cloth using the construction given above. Then join all the lines and curves.

Once the measurements are marked, cut the cloth (all four layers together) leaving 1” allowance along 3 to 6 line, ½” along 3 to 5 and 0 to 5 lines and 1 1/2" along 1 to 6 line. Now the two leg parts are cut and ready. Use the remaining cloth for cutting the waist band.

Construction for the waist band

0 to 1 = 5" +2" = 7"
0 to 2 =hip + 4" = 23"

For stitching the waist band, refer Basics for stitching a salwar.

Once the waist band is stitched and ready, you can start stitching the two leg pieces.  First double fold the extra cloth near the ankle along 1 to 6 line and stitch on top. Then take one leg piece and stitch in the reverse along the 3 to 6 line. In the same way stitch another leg piece. Now turn the pieces to the correct side and stitch the two legs together in the reverse along the 3 to 5 line. Finally take the waist band and pleat the leg pieces neatly all around the waist.

Make sure that the joint in the centre of the waistband coincides with the joint between the two legs in front and the midpoint at the back of the waist band 'a' coincides with the joint of the leg pieces at the back. Once the pleats are done, finish the salwar by over locking the extra cloth on the reverse to prevent thread from coming out. Insert an elastic through the opening and stitch at the ends. A salwar for your baby is now ready.