Tutorial: How To Make Bunchy 3/4 Length Sleeves

Cute right?! And really easy so don't be scared.

You need:

1/8" wide elastic

Long sleeved shirt

Sewing Machine

Matching Thread

Rotary Mat & Cutter or Scissors

Chalk

The inspiration behind doing this is a shirt that I only got to wear once. The sleeves shrunk in the dryer the first time I washed it. This is what they looked like:

I tried my shirt on and marked to cut it right between my elbow and wrist.I then turned my shirt inside out and used art chalk to mark the crease opposite the sleeve's seam. This is where the elastic will go. Mark where you want it to end - mine stopped 3" from the cut edge.

Fold over about 5/8" and iron. I'll be honest; I didn't iron.

Fold over another 5/8" and pin.

Now, using your chalk mark, place your elastic (I used a 3 & 3/4" long strip on each sleeve) halfway under the fold and pin in place.

Turn shirt right side out and sew about 1/16" from the edge that you folded under (not the edge of your sleeve).

Your stitching should be about 1/2" from the edge of the sleeve like so:

Now stitch a parallel line 1/16" from the stitch line you just made.

Now it looks more professional with the two stitch lines. I know there's a twin needle stitch option but you have to have that specific needle and my machine doesn't have it.

Now to sew your elastic in, start at the two stitch lines and pull your elastic as you sew up the sleeve with a straight stitch. If you want it really bunchy then pull the elastic really tight, otherwise just pull it taught and it will look like mine.

Sew to your stop point that you marked earlier.

Trim any excess elastic and all the threads and you're done!

I can see myself doing this on my little girl's cotton pants when they start to become high-waters and making capris out of them. I love it!

~Star