How to Make Sleeves Tighter: 2 Simple Methods
Have you ever wanted to alter sleeves that are too big? In this post, I’ll walk you through two simple methods to make sleeves tighter and give your garments a more tailored look.
Why Make Sleeves Tighter?
Ever bought a top only to realize the sleeves are too loose, feeling the fit is just off? You’re not alone. Ill-fitting sleeves can completely throw off the look of an otherwise great piece of clothing, giving it a boxy, oversized appearance instead of a more polished look.
Luckily, you can easily alter sleeves at home. With a few simple steps, you can make your sleeves tighter and achieve a more flattering fit.
In this post, I’ll walk you through two easy methods to tighten sleeves with my real-life examples using two tops from my wardrobe. The first method involves removing excess fabric along the seam to reduce bulk, and the second is creating a box pleat at the hem for a puff sleeve effect, which you can do by hand without a sewing machine.
Let’s get started!
Method 1: Removing Excess Fabric Along the Seam
Sometimes, the simplest way to fix overly loose sleeves is to take in the excess fabric along the seam. This method works best if you’re looking for a straightforward way to reduce bulk without altering the design of the sleeve too much.
For this example, I’ll be loving this wrap top I purchased from Madewell. However, the sleeves were too boxy for my taste, making the top look too casual.
Here’s the before and after of the sleeve alteration:
Step-by-Step Sleeve Alteration:
I also made a video of the entire process. So if you are a visual learner, check it out below:
1.Identify how much fabric to remove
Put on the garment and pin the sleeve along the seam until you’re happy with how snug it feels. Remove the garment, flip it inside out, and fold the garment flat so the sleeves are folded in half. Mark the new seam line with pins or water-soluble fabric markers.
Make sure to leave enough room for comfortable movement. I recommend leaving at least 1-2 inches for ease.
2.Resew the seam
Sew the sleeve on the new seamline that you’ve marked. By removing that extra fabric, try it on to ensure it’s the fit you want, and your arms can move freely. Now the sleeves should instantly become more fitted, and the top feels much more flattering!
3. Finish the new seam
Once you are satisfied with the fit, cut away the excess fabric, leaving 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then finish the seam to your liking, e.g. zigzag, serge, etc.
Optional step:
If you prefer a professional hem finish like me, this optional step is for you.
Before resewing the side seam, I like to cut away the old hem, then re-hem the sleeves after finishing the new side seam. This way, the seam allowance won’t peek out at the sleeve opening from certain angles.
Note: If your sleeves have a wider hem, I recommend unpicking it with a seam ripper before sewing the new side seam. This will help preserve more fabric and not lose any length of the sleeves.
In my case, the sleeves had very narrow hem, so cutting it away was quicker than unpicking.
Method 2: Creating a Box Pleat at the Hem for a Puff Sleeve Effect
If you want to add a touch of feminine while reducing the sleeve width, creating a box pleat is a fantastic option. This method tightens the sleeve at the lower portion, while adding a subtle puff effect that’s very cute.
I used this technique on a Mexican-style top that was gifted to me by my mother-in-law. The sleeves were big and boxy, and I wanted to give them a little more shape.
Here’s the before and after of sleeve alteration:
Step-by-Step Sleeve Alteration:
1.Identify how much fabric to remove
Just like the other method, put on the garment first to assess the fit. Pinch the fabric and determine how much you want to remove at the hem. Mark the folds with pins or a water soluble pen.
Make sure to leave enough room for comfortable movement, e.g. 1 – 2 inches for a more fitted sleeve opening.
2.Create box pleats
Create a box pleat by bringing the folds towards each other to create a symmetrical pleat, and pin the pleat in place. This will give a more structured look (compared to gathers) while taking away some of the bulk.
There are two types of box pleat folds: box pleat and inverted box pleat. I’ve found inverted box pleats work better for garments, which is what I’m using here for this top.
3.Sew the pleat
Once you’ve pinned your pleat, sew it down, ensuring it stays secure. I like to sew on the hem line with the same thread color, so the new stitch line is hidden. This will create a puffed effect at the sleeve hem, which will tighten the lower portion of the sleeves and add some fun too!
After adding the box pleat, the sleeves of my top look far less loose, plus the new altered sleeves give the garment a more polished look.
Because this top’s sleeves are real boxy, I also tightened up the sleeve side seam a little bit following method 1.
Which Method Should You Choose?
Both methods work well for making sleeves tighter, but which one you choose depends on the overall look you’re going for.
If you want a clean, subtle alteration without changing the design too much, method 1 of removing excess fabric along the seam is the way to go. It’s straightforward and leaves the sleeve shape intact.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to add a design element while reducing bulk, the box pleat method is great. It works especially well with lighter fabrics and can give a more playful or feminine look to the garment.
If you are scared of making permanent change to your beloved garment, method 2 is ideal as it doesn’t remove any fabric. It is also easier to hand sew if you don’t own a sewing machine. Method 1 is possible without a sewing machine, but will requires more hand sewing.
Conclusion
I hope you found these two sleeve alteration methods helpful! Whether you decide to do the side seam adjustment or add the box pleats, making your sleeves tighter is a quick and easy way to improve the fit and style of your garment.
What other clothing alteration are you interested in learning? Let me know in the comment.
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