easy sleeves – photo tutorial
November 3, 2009 by Lex
Filed under 2 pin (Moderately Easy) Tutorials, Clothing, Sewing, Tutorials + How Tos, WhatTheCraft.com Tutorials
Attaching set-in sleeves (the easy, cheater way).
Okay, so it’s not really cheating. It’s a perfectly legitimate way of attaching a sleeve, and it is way easier.
However, a set-in sleeve is a set-in sleeve because you’re supposed to be setting it in, and with this method, you don’t.
hoodie by SmarmyClothes.com
Anyway, I’m splitting hairs.
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Keep in mind, though, that this will only work if you haven’t already sewn up your side seams. If your side seams are sewn, you’ll either have to cut them open, or use the other method.
And if your garment doesn’t have side seams that line up with the sleeve seams, you’ll also have to use the other method.
Difficulty:
Step 1
Sew the shoulder seams of the front and back pieces together.
You’ll notice that my front piece is cut in half- that’s because this is going to be a hoodie with a zipper in front. But this method will work for any top with side seams, so don’t worry.
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Step 1
Step 2
I already have my sleeve piece cut out, all nice and stripey-like.
If you don’t have a pattern for sleeves, I strongly suggest you either BUY a pattern with sleeves, or cut apart an old shirt to make a sleeve pattern yourself, because they are tricky, goofy-shaped little dudes, and I can not instruct you on how to make one other than the advice above.
- Step 2
Looking for striped knit fabrics?
Try: Ebay – Fabric.com
Or take a look at our Craft Supplies Directory for a huge list of great online fabric stores.
Step 3
Mark the center of the curvy edge of the sleeve with a pin, the part that’ll be at the top of your shoulder when the shirt is on. Also mark the center of the armhole (called the scythe).
Line Mr. Sleeve and Mr. Scythe up where you’ve marked, right sides together, of course, and pin them together.
Step 3
Step 4
I like to start from the center, and pin the rest of the sleeve to the front, working outwards.
Then go back to the center and pin the other side the same way, working outwards.
Step 4
Step 5
Here it is all pinned together, from the inside.
Step 5
Step 6
Now, we sew. Or serge, if you have an overlock machine.
Step 6
Step 7
Thar she blows!
But… we’re only half-way done.
Don’t worry,though… that was the hardest part!
Step 7
Step 8
Put all the right sides back together again with the sleeve folded in half on top.
Step 8
Step 9
And again, we sew.
And bam! There it is!
Step 9
Step 10
Rejoice!
Surprised at how easy that was? I bet you didn’t even say any dirty words this time!
Step 10
Looking for embellishments and corset trims like stretch lace, grommet tape and eyelet tape?
Try Ebay!
Or take a look at our Craft Supplies Directory for a huge list of great online trim suppliers.
Robyn on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 2:30 pm
That peekaboo cracked me up! This is an easier way to do sleeves, and it’s how a recent pattern had me do it, but I wasn’t sure if I could just substitute it on any pattern or if there was a reason for doing it the “hard” way.
Lex on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 12:31 am
I just read somewhere that the “easy” way should only be used for stretch/knit fabrics, but I really don’t know why it would be any different with woven fabrics. I generally ignore such rules until I figure out whether it has any right to be a rule.
Aeon on Thu, 29th Jul 2010 4:26 am
Hey, I must say this is the best tutorial I’ve seen so far but I still don’t understand something.
I’m teaching myself to sew.
I can’t seem to see what happened between step 3 and step 4,
the sleeve seems to be on the other side all of a sudden and the yellow marking are so far apart.
If you could explain that to me it would be very helpfull and I would finaly know how to sew a sleeve ^^ yay
Thank you
Lex on Wed, 18th Aug 2010 7:06 pm
Hi there-
In Step 4, the sleeve has been flipped over, so that the Right sides of the body and sleeve are together.
The photo in Step 3 is just meant to show how the pieces will line up after they’re sewn together.
Also, in Step 4, the reason the yellow dots are so far apart is because I only have half of the sleeve pinned to the body of the shirt.
Val on Thu, 11th Nov 2010 12:07 pm
Sweet! Thanks for this, just what I was looking for! Just like raglan’s only not all raglanish
Thanks again!
Gigi on Thu, 28th Apr 2011 11:34 am
OK so I took fashion design for 4 years(that was years ago) and i’m getting back into it. This IS the way you’re supposed to sew a sleeve. The other(harder way) is done when your sewing it on a finished garment and don’t want to open up the seams.
Great tutorial, inspiring & fun. Thank you for sharing so others can learn and/or be encouraged to try!
Lex on Fri, 29th Apr 2011 7:59 pm
What’s baffling to me is that I’ve never seen a store bought pattern use this method! Why?! It’s so much easier.
sherril rendon on Thu, 11th Aug 2011 10:42 am
Set-in sleeves have a deeper sleeve cap depth so that they will hang nicer when the arm is in a downward position. This is usually used for more formal wear. Using this easier method is for “sports” sleeves which have a shorter sleeve cap depth and allow more freedom of up and down arm movement. But, they are not quite as attractive when arm is in a downward position.
Enjoyed this video.
Lex on Thu, 11th Aug 2011 10:49 pm
Thanks for that info, Sherril! Though I’m curious, what would prohibit you from attaching a deeper cap sleeve using the same technique? My long sleeve shirt pattern has a sleeve cap much deeper than a standard t-shirt, and I always use the “drop in” method versus set-in.
Michele on Fri, 21st Oct 2011 11:51 am
This finally made everything process properly in my brain so it makes sense, and my head no longer wants to explode at the thought of having to do sleeves. You are my hero. <3
sheila on Fri, 18th Nov 2011 1:04 am
I found an awesome sweatshirt on sale but it was waaay too big. I’m a novice sewer and your tutorial helped me tailor it perfectly! thanks!
Kegan on Sat, 17th Mar 2012 11:54 pm
Thank you so much for this tutorial! The pics really helped. I was definitely at wit’s end trying to figure out how to get the sleeves to “go” right. After much ripping and cussing, I stumbled upon this. Bookmarked for later use! Thanks again!