Why we use cotton muslin for babies
Muslin is open, soft and gets softer with every wash: here is why it suits a Kerala baby.
How to make a pattu pavadai last two Onams
A little extra hem, careful storage and one trick with the blouse give you a second year.
Children grow about five to seven centimetres a year, which is why most pavadai sets are worn once. With a little planning, a good set can be worn for two festivals.
Buy the size that fits now, but check the hem allowance. Ours carry five centimetres folded inside the skirt, which you can let down with a simple running stitch. The waist is elasticated and has a drawstring, so it adjusts as your child grows.
The blouse is usually what stops fitting first. Ask for a blouse with side seam allowance; we leave two centimetres on each side, which a local tailor can open in fifteen minutes.
After the festival, wash the set gently, dry it in the shade and store it folded in a cotton cloth, not plastic. Keep it away from naphthalene balls; use a few cloves or neem leaves instead. Refold it once in the middle of the year so the zari does not crack along the creases.
