Earlier this week I was asked if I would demonstrate how to do a sleeve that has shirring down the center and is pulled up with drawstrings. She said that she wanted a sleeve that is elbow length. No problem. Below is the sleeve.
Believe it or not, this sleeve is drafted almost exactly in the same manor as the Psychedelic Circle Sleeve that we did here,
http://rhondabuss.blogspot.jp/2013/02/sleeves-on-saturdays_23.html, with a few minor changes.
Begin with your straight sleeve pattern
and determine the length that you would like your sleeve to be.
Divide the sleeve equally from the top of the cap to the bottom of the sleeve. Be sure to number the sections.
Cut to the edges of the sleeve being careful not to cut through and spread the sections. I spread mine 1 1/2" between each section.
The final pattern. Remember to add seam allowances and a hem for the sleeve. The Psychedelic Circle Sleeve was 1 large pattern piece. This sleeve will have 2 pattern pieces for the sleeve.
This is my sleeve once it was been sewn together. The cap is at the top of the picture.
Before the sleeve can be attached to the garment, we need to sew in the casings and add the drawstrings.
The gray thread is not the best match for my fabric, but I wanted it to show up in the picture. Before I sew the center seam, I sew the underarm seam and hem the sleeve. Then I sew the center seam of the sleeve. To form the casings for the drawstrings, simply press the seam allowances open and stitch down.
In the above picture you can see the stitched lines on either side of the seam line.
I cut my strips for the drawstrings 1" wide and sewed them with a 1/4" seam allowance.
If you would like to see a demonstration I did on making drawstrings, I have included this video from the Sew It All competition that was held at the sewing expo in Puyallup, Washington. My demonstration is from approximately the 8 minute to the 13 minute time frame.
The sleeve is really quite easy to do and it adds a very nice look to the overall appearance of the garment.
Thanks Ann for asking me to do this sleeve! I really like my new top :)
Great post! I LOVE this top. How did you get that twisted look around the waist?
ReplyDeleteYou really make it look easy, Rhonda - very nice demo!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have thought about doing this sleeve many a time, now all the guesswork is removed :-)
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I love the shirring effect. :)
ReplyDeleteRhonda,
ReplyDeleteIt's even better than I imagined! I love it. I had spent a good bit of time looking over your blog earlier in the week and saw the one you had done with the striped fabric and really loved it and determined that I needed one like it, though I'm really size challenged for horizontal stripes - but what they hey - I'm on the lookout for some stripes! I love the shirred sleeve - now I can get this top made that I've been wanting to do. Tops can be changed up so much just by doing something different or interesting with the sleeves. Thanks so much for the design. I never would have thought that the design would start out much the same as the striped one!
I'm usually not into gathered sleeves but yours is perfect, especially with this polka dot jersey! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you won this competition, Rhonda. No one else was even close IMO. Great, very professional and fun demo. Lot of substance.
ReplyDeleteThis tip is fabulous with it's diagonal twist.
Hey Rhonda - oh I like this one and I loved seeing you in action on the video. I will have to watch the rest!
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with these sleeves. Thank you for this.I'm bookmarking this page! Loved the video. I watched it before and voted for you,
ReplyDeleteThis is really cute and wearable. Gonna pin this :) Thanks
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! First time posting, Rhonda, I simply have to say this is fabulous! I'll be making these garments, and had a pair of drawstring shorts as a teen I want to recreate now. And thanks to your awesome video demo-HOPE you won-I can! Man Bodkin, Who knew? Definitely picking one up next trip to JoAnn's! Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rhonda! (Just had a comment lost somehow so forgive me if this posts a similar comment, just delete one) First time poster here, and WOW am I impressed with this technique! It's fantastic!! Thank you for making it look so easy, I'll definitely be making some drawstring garments with this fantastic technique! Bodkin? Who knew?? DEFINITELY picking on e up next trip to JoAnn's! I loved your demo and I hope your garment won the competition! Thanks again, I will recreate some killer shorts I had in my youth with your technique and I truly appreciate you sharing it with us! ♥
ReplyDeleteI love these sleeves. Must try them. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteElaine.
Hi Elaine,
DeleteBe sure to send a picture if you do give the sleeve a try. I love seeing everyone's creations.
Hi rhonda is there a link where i can view all your sleeve tutorials in one look ? They are great thanks..
ReplyDeleteHi Diya, you can find all of my sleeve posts here, https://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/p/sleeves-on-saturdays_8.html
DeleteThere's a tab at the top of the blog entitled Sleeve On Saturdays. Just click there and you will find links to all of the sleeves.