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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Sleeves On Saturdays

Today's sleeve is a flirty little sleeve that continues into a yoke. I really should have done my sample in contrasting fabrics so that you could see  the yoke a little better, but I think you'll be able to easily understand it once you take a look at the drafting instructions.
Look closely at the picture below and you can see the point where the yoke meets the underarm seam of the sleeve. There is no shoulder seam in this sleeve.
I decided to make a tie collar for my top and leave the back yoke open at center back. A peek of the back is always a good thing.
 A close up of the yoke.
Believe it or not, the drafting of this sleeve requires no sleeve. Woo Hoo!
The Yoking Butterflies Sleeve 
Begin with the front bodice. For all of the sleeve drafts, please begin with a sloper without seam allowances. Add seam allowances once you have finished drafting. It will be much easier and less confusing.
 Extend the shoulder 12".
Draw a vertical line that is parallel to center front and make sure that it rests exactly on the line of the armhole as you see above.
 Now, fold on that line.
 Take a tracing wheel and trace on the side seam of the bodice and the armpit.
 Open the paper and mark in where you traced.
 Draw a curved line from the extended shoulder line to the traced line as you see above. The line that was traced from the side seam of the bodice should be 6" long if you extended the shoulder 12". For a shorter sleeve, extend less on the shoulder and less on the side seam which is now the underarm seam of the sleeve.
 Draw in the yoke line. Be sure that the yoke line begins exactly at the point of the traced armpit line.
The above picture shows that the yoke line can be any style line that you choose, just be sure that it begins at the point of the traced armpit.
The final patterns. Be sure to add seam allowance! I'm only showing final patterns for the front as you would do exactly the same to the back. The grainlines will be the same as the original pattern.
When you sew the yoke to the bodice, match the armpit seams and sew them first. Then clip at the point where the armpit seam meets the yoke seam and sew the yoke to the bodice. If you are interested, I would be happy to do another post on this sleeve with a contrasting yoke and bodice and detailed pictures of how to sew the bodice to the yoke and sleeve. Just leave a comment and let me know.
This style is perfect for spring and summer, but the sleeve can also be made into a long sleeve version, perfect for winter.
Go yoke a butterfly!
Hope you are having a lovely start to your weekend. It's cold and rather rainy here in Chicago. Oh well, spring is coming!



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16 comments:

  1. Ooohh....I love this one! I've never seen sleeves like this. So cool! Could you use this with a knit, or should you stick with woven fabrics?

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    1. Hi Meigan, so glad you like it. I made mine out of a knit that only has stretch on the crosswise grain. So either way, a knit or a woven will be fine.

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  2. SO pretty! I have a rayon challis that might work for this . . . .

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  3. Love your drafting post, Rhonda.

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  4. It's a great tutorial.
    Thanks Rhonda

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  5. Yes to the tutorial please. Gorgeous top, you are a clever lady and make it all seem so simple. Thank you for sharing all your amazing knowledge :-)

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  6. Everything about this is just stunning. Thank you for the tutorial!

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  7. Great top and tute. Thanks, Rhonda.

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  8. I love your top, the sleeve is awesome of course but I ADORE the tie collar and back slit :)

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  9. Very nicely done!! If by any chance you’d also like to join a GIVEAWAY of two handmade cuddly Swucans (mixed breed of swan and tucan)or three soft silk/cotton scarfs, be sure to take a look at this blog before March 20th:
    http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be
    This blog belongs to my mother, who has only just started blogging and is really over the moon with every new follower!

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  10. Great top! The fabric print is so fabulous as well. Thank you for the tutorial -- I'll definitely give this a try.

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  11. I love learning about this kind of stuff - a post with contrasting fabric would be great! Thanks.

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  12. Great looking top. can you expand on the pattern work and sewing the pieces together.
    I have greatly enjoyed your blog. Thanks.
    , Carol

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