Or, gota-patti? Let me explain. In a nutshell, gota is a surface embellishment, indigenous to the Pakistan and Indian subcontinent. It is very, very old and traditional. At the granular level, “gota” is just metal ribbon, beaten down to it’s thinnest and softest form, (or as one source relayed, it is molten metal applied to… Read More What’s gota??
I bet, dear reader, you’re sick and tired of this particular kurta; so am I, but it’s finished. I just want to wear the darn thing, warts and all—- and I did wear it for a recent event. Yes, there are warts; mainly, the uneven border for which I will be finding solutions. Until I… Read More The completed bandini kurta. Finally. (Eye roll)….
I began making this piece, fully expecting to use the expected placket neckline treatment and other usual kurta details; but no, a tied neckline (which is not untraditional) danced in my head, at which point I stopped sewing to consider that option, and the staring began. After two days’ of looking at the half-done kurta,… Read More Stop (Sewing) and Stare (at Your Sewing Project)…
…. long after the rest of the kameez/shalwar or kurta/shalwar outfit has gone to clothing heaven, the coordinating dupatta lives on, sometimes in eternity, especially if it’s a relatively ornate piece. Let’s face it. If parts of attire do not touch the body, they’re rarely in need of frequent cleaning (notwithstanding food stains) and do… Read More Long Lives of Dupattas (Scarves)
This is in the “angarkha” (say that fast three times) style of a South Asian Kurta. All it means is that the front closure is asymmetrical and overlapped in the front. This style of neck closure was common in ye olde days of the Mughal kings of India, and it is still commonly worn today,… Read More New Kurta: Persian Border Print and Overlapped Neck
Micro post #2. 300 words. I’ve sewn many traditional shirt-sleeve plackets, neck plackets that neatly (or messily) end in a pointed end or a square end with diagonal stitching lines sewn in an X. A placket is still my least favorite thing to sew. This one (below) was not a miss, but not a hit… Read More Sewing Plackets Can be so Hit or Miss
Hey kids, you’ve been doing it all wrong! How do you face a neckline? The tailor is Sajid of Sajid Designs, and you may not understand the language because he is Indian, but the videos are visually clear and understandable. He, like tailors from that part of the world, works a little differently than us… Read More Faced Neckline: Lesson Learned From a South Asian Tailor
Recently, I made something for a miniature human – a grandniece. She comes with two sisters (all three are 5 and under), so whoever fits this kurta, gets to wear it until it is handed down. Given the small piece of fabric, this one’s going to fit the middle child, a two year old cutie.… Read More Kurta in Miniature
Hi friends! Samina here with yet another pocket-intensive post. This here is a sherwani. A sherwani is just a long knee length or longer tailored jacket, a traditional wardrobe item for South Asian men. I also want you to know that this particular sherwani belonged to my husband who wore it to our wedding back… Read More Deep Sherwani Pocket
It’s time to divulge more sewing secrets from the mysterious east, and from last week’s Guessing Games post. Congratulations to Myra of the Simple Inspirations blog, for winning the game. You nailed it, Myra! To the “baggy pants” crowd, also well done. The bottom garment here is a shalwar (pronounced shull-waar). It’s worn with a… Read More Making a Shalwar
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