pleating sarees

I enjoy wearing sarees frequently though i am an anglo indian. I would like some one to help me with this. When i pleat my saree, the pleats either stay too much on the right or to the left. It does not drop down straight from the center, below my navel. I have tried this umpteen number of times but it its either right or left. my friends have suggested that it looks neater when it drops down straight from the navel but sometimes it becomes clumsy when i try it out. my second question is is there any way saree pins can be avoided when tucking into the inskirt? thanks all

hello jessica when u r pleating sarees, just make sure your saree is wrapped tightly first and adjust the pleats in such a way that u start pleating them from your naval. once the saree is tightening from the right of your hip, you can start making pleats as much as u want to before u wrap the saree around your body and bring it across your blouse to make the pallu. make sure you tighten it so that the pleat is done with tightened saree and once you tuck it into the waist band of your petticoat falling from your naval straight it will be perfect and never move to make u feel awkard. i hope this helps as i know this is a old post. with regards, amudha