Indian Ethnic Dupatta

Instructions

1. Fold the dupatta into half width-wise. Leave about 2.5" extra on the side which would fall in the front. – Next fold the dupatta half length-wise. This mid-point would be our guide for the neckline.

2. Measure the circumference of your head (or the broadest part above the neckline) and subtract 1" from this. Then divide the new number by 4. We subtract the 1" because we will be folding a seam around the neckline thereby increasing the circumference measurement. – Using this measurement mark a point from the mid-point of the dupatta fabric

3. Cut all four folded layers. Place your scissors about 0.25" below the mid-point at the vertical fold- this provides with the needed curve around the neckline. – In case you want a more defined neckline shape use a paper pattern from an existing suit neckline and cut in shape. Remember to add 0.5" seam allowance around the neckline pattern.

4. Fold a 0.5" seam along the neckline and pin it. I prefer to first work one half and then move onto the next half. – Using slip stitch/ blind hem stitch sew around the neckline. – The two corners are a little tricky to work with, just make sure it looks neat from the front even if the hem folds become uneven. – The bottom right picture shows the front view of the neckline after hemming.

5. Once the neckline is complete put it on to place the embroidery. – The benefit of placing embroidery while wearing the dupatta cape is that it helps understand the contours of the shoulder and body making the embroidery sit well.

6. Similar to the embroidery attaching technique in the embroidered kurta post, use basic running stitches around the embroidery shape to sew it in place. – Depending on the choice of your embroidery’s thickness and intricacy, this step will be time consuming. – Once I took of the cape dupatta I clicked a picture of the embroidery and removed the additional bootas because it was difficult to work with the pins. This step is optional.