3 tips for draping an organza saree!

1: Start the drape in the middle of your body for more pleats AND so that both sides of your drape are equal layers. This is especially important if your saree is sheer.

2: Take extra wide pleats when draping an organza saree as narrow pleats will open up/won’t hold.

3: Micro pleat your pallu for a more structured look.

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The KEY is to make sure that once you’re done stacking your pleats, you bring together the top and pin it so that the pleats are still flared and more open at the bottom - this still gives you the illusion of flared pleats even though it’s all neat and pressed down.

Ironing down your front pleats allows you to get away with narrower pleats than usual! Narrow pleats = more pleats!

Quick and easy pallu pleats: ensure the outside edge is facing outwards with the inside of the saree facing you. Pleat the saree back and forth until you reach the other end. The last pleat should have the other outside edge facing inwards with the outside of the saree facing you.

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Tuck as flat as possible from the very first tuck to guarantee a drape that looks neat and structured. This lesson is especially important when draping wider sarees like Kanchipuram.

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How to secure your front pleats + hip pleats: Pin your front pleats together and to your Saree Silhouette. Reach through the space behind your front pleats, grab the extra fabric from your left hip, pull it through, twist, pin and tuck it in. It’s never been easier. 

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Grab the extra fabric between your front pleats and pallu. Gather the fabric to create pleats along your hip. Pin the pleats to the first layer of the saree and your underskirt or Saree Silhouette. Simple!

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Saree School Lesson 29 - How to hang a prepped Saree

Once you’ve pleated and prepped your saree, hang it on a hanger to minimize the ironing you’ll have to do on the day of the event ❤️ You could also do it this way for travel (and fold in half with the hanger) so you can hang in the hotel closet as soon as you get to your destination.

Step #1:

With pallu and chest pleats already prepped, lay the saree down flat with the inside of the saree facing up.

Step #2:

For the unpleated portion of the saree, do accordion pleats to create a straight edge.

Step #3: Line up the pallu with the accordion pleats you just created. 

Step #4: With the outside of the saree facing up, carefully fold and tuck the chest pleats in so that nothing sticks out on the sides. 

Step #5: Feed the saree onto a hanger and there you have it!

Saree School Lesson 28 - How to pack a prepped saree for Travel

Traveling with your pleated saree? This folding method lets it fit into a carry on. This is also how you would fold a saree to look pretty on the koorai tray!

Step #1:

With pallu and chest pleats already prepped, lay the saree down flat with the inside of the saree facing up.

Step #2:

For the unpleated portion of the saree, do accordion pleats to create a straight edge.

Step #3:

Fold the chest pleats over the accordion pleats with the inside facing up.

Step #4:

Fold the fabric in, ensuring nothing sticks out on the sides.

Step #5:

Wrap the chest pleats and pallu around the folded saree until it's neatly folded.

Step #6:

And there you have it - a perfectly folded, prepped saree!

Check out a full length tutorial on Youtube!

Saree School Lesson 27 - Perfect Chest Pleats

When it comes to those regal pleats, I’m a firm believer in ironing Kanchipuram silks for that structured look.

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Saree School Lesson 26 - Perfect Pallu Pleats.

A few things:

1. I recommend this method for kanchipuram/silk sarees only (for most others ie satin/net etc. refer to Saree School Lesson 24.
2. My iron brand of choice is Rowenta - steam irons are the best for silk sarees.
3. I don’t recommend storing your precious silk sarees this way - iron/prep as close to the event as possible and then store with regular folds.

Step #1: Iron the entire saree

Step #2: Determine the how wide you want your pleats, create the first pleat and iron it down

Step #3: Bring the other end of the saree to line up with the edge of your first pleat and iron it down

Step #4: Unfold the saree, keeping the first pleat in place. Fold the side of the saree with the first pleat over to the middle fold line and iron it down

Step #5: Unfold the saree, keeping the first pleat in place. Fold the side of the saree with the first pleat over to the fold line you just created and iron it down

Step #6:  Fold the saree forward along the line you just ironed, and then fold it over one more time to meet the middle line. Iron it down

Step #7: Bring the other end of the saree over to the middle line and iron it down

Step #8: Unfold the saree and fold it over to the fold line you just created. Iron it down

Step #9: Fold the saree forward along the line you just ironed, and then fold it over one more time to meet the middle line. Iron it down

Step #10: Unfold the entire saree. Starting with the side of the saree opposite the side with the first pleat, fold the saree edge forward onto the next fold line, and then fold it back to meet the edge creating a pleat within a pleat. Once aligned, iron the pleat down.

Step #11: Repeat to the other end of the saree ironing as you go. Your last pleat will be the pleat you created in the beginning.

Step #12: And there you have it - perfect pallu pleats!

Check out the full tutorial on Youtube!