Tube Stitching: Creating Different Sarong Shapes

Sarongs exist in two distinct varieties: flat and tube shaped. While flat sarongs are most commonly seen in the Western world, tube shaped sarongs are very common in the countries of Southeast Asia. In the country of Indonesia, these tube shaped garments are known as lungi. They are worn by everyone from children to adults and the methods used to produce them are quite unique.

In contrast to a basic, flat sarong, the tube shaped sarong involves additional production steps. To create the tube shape, the long edges of the fabric are brought together, pinned, and then sewn together inside out. Running stitch, whip stitch, and slip stitch are the most popular stitches used when hemming garments of any kind. The flexibility and durability provided by these stitches translates well to garments that are being tied continuously. While the type of stitching differs depending on whether hand stitching or machine stitching is employed, the finished result is a length of fabric in a tube shape. Workers then sew a border onto the top and bottom of the garment to reinforce it and prevent fraying. For many Indonesian communities, the lungi features a black and white stripe border.

Another main difference between tube shape lungi and their flat counterparts is the method of fastening. While flat sarongs may be tied in a variety of ways due to their shape, tube stitched lungi are more limited in the ways they can be worn. The double twist method is the most common way to tie a lungi for everyday wear. It involves taking the upper two points of the garment, twisting them together, and tucking them under into the garment. Men and women alike employ this method. The pretzel knot is another method to secure a lungi that is equally popular. Instead of twisting the two points, each point is knotted. The result is a more secure fit.

From Bangladesh to Ethiopia to Brunei, the tube-stitched lungi variation of sarong can be seen being worn by people of all walks of life. To learn more about these garments and how they differ across the globe, visit the extensive resources available at fairwindssarongs.com.