I have been asked how you shorten the sleeves on a shirt. So I thought I'd show you.
This is a classic shirt with cuff and placket. It has been pinned for the length by pinching up the amount which needs to come off...in this instance you can see a 1 inch fold pinned around the elbow, so I need to take off 2 inches.
Most shirts have the button placket and I feel it looks much better if I raise it.
It's a much easier job without this if you are able to simply take the cuff off, cut off an inch or so and reattach the cuff, but you're not always so lucky.
Firstly, you need to unpick the cuff and the small button which sits on the placket....then unpick the placket strips. Do one sleeve at a time. You can always refer back to the other one to be sure you're getting it looking right.
Chalk up the amount to come off the sleeve bottom, and chalk up how much you need to raise the placket...in this case 2 inches.
You can see we have a little triangle shape where the top of the original placket sat...I chalk a line up 2 inches with a ruler...mark the top of the triangle with a pin...and draw a new triangle shape down from there.
Aaaand....cut....to the bottom tip of your new triangle...then outwards to make yourself a new triangle which is now exactly 2 inches up from the old one.
Now you can start putting it back together again.
Begin with the underneath facing strip...the one the small button was stitched on to. Tuck the cut edge into the strip getting as close as you can to the top corner point of your triangle. (Don't stress about it too much...it will be hidden beneath the top strip when that's re-attached, but it's nice to catch it in as best you can).
Now you can put the other strip back on....This facing strip piece has been squared off at the back, so you need to tuck this up as snug as you can to the top corner of your triangle. Fold your triangle upwards on the right side of the shirt...as it was originally. It will be neatly covered and hidden when it's all finished.
Pin the strip on, making sure it lines up neatly over the piece you've just stitched on. Make sure that little triangle is pointing upwards and is going to be hidden, so you won't see it on the inside of the shirt sleeve.
Stitch it on...I usually start at the top and work my way down.
And from the back it looks nice and tidy too.
I give it a press at this point.
Now you can put the cuff back on. You will have more sleeve than cuff because there will have been a pleat in the sleeve....you have shortened the sleeve, so now you will have a bit more fullness due to the sleeve widening. Some shirts have a single tuck of fabric...others have two. I don't think it matters...decide what looks best.
Ensure everything lines up neatly. Fasten the cuff button to make sure you have both sides of the placket the same length.
Stitch it on and all you have left to do it to restitch the little button back on.
Hope this all makes sense?
Sandra.
xxx