Sarong hints?

Raakone · Post by **Raakone** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:21 pm

Hey there. I'm new here.

Well, I now wear sarongs sometimes. Any hints? I mean, how do you ENSURE it stays on properly? With a couple of them I cheat...I use a safety pin.

Also, I often wear TWO sarongs, one over another. That way, should things unravel on one, I'm not embarassed, although that has yet to happen, touch wood. And I tuck the outer one into the inner one, is that normal?

Just thought I'd ask...
The Raccoon

skirttron · Post by **skirttron** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:24 pm

Hi Raccoon,
I use a belt. After you but the belt on, you can fold the excess material back down over it, or, if your top covers that area, you don't need to do that. In my experience, only South Sea islanders can tie the things properly without a belt so they aren't liable to unravel suddenly.

WSmac · Post by **WSmac** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:25 am

I have a 36 waist(or so), and I have never been able to wrap a conventional sarong around myself.

I acquired a couple of large batiks from a friend who travels to Thailand and Bali for imports.
These are really large and I can get a good wrap around my waist.

There used to be a couple of places on the 'net with simple instructions, but I still imporvise.

I hold both ends together out in front of me, then fold them back towards my body in one direction (usually going to the left).

As I wrap around my body, I take my right hand and hold the 'fold' in place at my waist while I continue to wrap the loose ends around.

When I reach the end of the wrap, I suck in my abdomen and pull everything tight.

Then I roll the edges downward until they feel secure.
I have not had a problem with this method.

I do start the top edge of my sarong around my waist or slightly above - as opposed to starting at my hips.
This allows me plenty of material to roll down tight.

I also find that if I add a pleat to the front when folding, I get a bit more ease for walking, so I don't have to take baby steps

taosit · Post by **taosit** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:45 am

Sarongs are wonderful and I think one can wear them with less flak than skirts, although they will attract attention. My neighbors got to watch me tear down and rebuild a stockade fence while wearing a sarong (along w/hiking boots and a tool belt).

I do basicly what WS says, although I take the left end and wrap it around the right side to the back as far as my left arm will go. Then I bring the right end around to the left, pulling it up tight. I usually have a little extra, so I'll fold that back across my belly, then try my best to fold it down a couple of times. Folds tend to hold better than rolling it. Make the folds about 2.5-3 inches.

I once asked a Hawaiian missionary how he secured his sarong and he said he just tied it, that his dad could do it the right way.

Since1982 · Post by **Since1982** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:38 am

In Tonga, the same type garment is called a "Tupenu/Tupena" The only difference I can see is they are never patterned, but plain colored and the nice thing about them is they go around your body 1 and 1/2 times. A length of material about 2 inches wide is sewn to each end and when the garment is wrapped around the 2 lengths of material are tied together in the front like a "half belt", then tucked inside the front. Works really well for a sarong too. Just add 2 strips of cloth about a foot and a half long on each end and Viola! I have added them to my 3 sarongs and mine never fall off, no matter how active I am. Just a thought

I saw them and how they were worn in the movie "The Other Side of Heaven" about a Mormon missionary to the Tongan Islands in the 50's.

WSmac · Post by **WSmac** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:10 am

Here's a few sites I found...

http://www.sarongsontheweb.com/howto.html
http://www.mytiesarongs.com/howto.htm
http://www.tropicalhulahut.com/video.asp watch the video
http://www.kirbymountain.com/rosenlake/sarong.html

and also for a dhoti...
http://www.fashiontemptations.com/how_to_wear_a_dhoti.htm

The Satirist · Post by **The Satirist** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:23 pm

And this one... I made this a while back and it is somewhere in the Tom's Cafe Archives, so I'll post it here for you now. It shows how I wrap a sarong. I've never had one unwrap. I also made a sarong belt out of 1 inch wide no-roll elastic and a plastic buckle that works great just for times where a little extra security is wanted such as periods of activity or high winds.

Raakone · Post by **Raakone** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:25 pm

Thanks for all the tips on the different ways. I'll have to try them. I'll probably still cheat with a "second" one on underneath! *laughs*

~Raccoon