Cuff and placket alterations are some of the most common alterations I see. These can be one of the most difficult, but they can be highly satisfying if you learn and know how to do sleeve shortening correctly. You won’t have to roll up your sleeves all the time, and wearing the fitting length sleeves helps your body’s sense of proportion while also making your clothes seem incredible! Following the guide helps you to do sleeve shortening easily. These all steps are prepared by expert tailoring alterations near me.
Steps To Sleeve Shortening Easily:
- First, you should collect the necessary tools for this alteration. You’ll need a see-through ruler. The Dritz pen is also essential: you need to draw a straight line, which is the best way to mark the cloth’s measurement properly. You should also have some little trimmers on hand. The small stork scissors can help you cut stray threads and neaten up your alteration.
- Prime Laundry – tailoring alterations near me in London, used a very sharp seam ripper to do all of the seams tearing ahead of time. Because you must be careful not to rip the fabric, it might take some time. Remove the cuff and placket one at a time.
- After you’ve taken them off, pin the placket and cuff to the right or left sleeve. If you mix them up, you don’t want to wind up with the right side placket and cuff on the left sleeve.
- Pin where the top of the cuff will be sewn when I safely pin a sleeve shortening alteration. That way, I’ll know exactly how much of the sleeve I need to remove. This alteration requires a 3/8-inch seam allowance.
- So, all the way around, measure from the bottom of the sleeve to 3/8 below the pin. Make sure you estimate the length of the placket and cut where the placket is sewn to the sleeve when you get there. Mark the placket line by measuring up from your sleeve cutting line. Cut round as well as the placket line.
- Because it’s black, it’s a little more challenging to see. But first, attach the inside placket to the sleeve. It’s pretty simple because it’s already pressed and can be put back on. Carefully pin and sew it right up against the placket’s bottom.
- The exterior placket will then be attached to the sleeve. It’s the same process as the inner plate. However, the top square must be stretched over the interior plate this time. Just like I did above, pin it.
- You’re going to sew it now. Sew the bottom of the sleeve in the same manner as the internal placket. Sew the square as you work your way up, rotating at the corners. You’ll want to finish by sewing over the interior placket that connects the two plackets. Trim and backstitch.
- Then double-check the back to ensure that everything is tucked safely in and pinned.
- Sew the cuff right up against the top edge of the cuff, removing the pins as you go. Trim and backstitch. Test your new sleeve by buttoning it up and putting it flat.
Last Words:
I hope you found this helpful example by Prime Laundry. It isn’t easy to make, but it is highly beneficial once you figure it out. I recommend practising on an old shirt or going out and buying a thrift store button-down to try out this alteration on. This activity will significantly improve your sewing precision and patience.