Learn how to add sleeves to a dress. This sewing tutorial works well with any sleeveless dress or a dress with straps.

Dress shopping is hard because in that location'southward then many options in so many stores. You might find the perfect wearing apparel except that it doesn't have sleeves.

Depending on the event you are attending, you might need to add sleeves to a dress and this is how to do it! I'm demonstrating this sewing tutorial on two different dresses with two different styles of sleeves.

The first is how to add together sleeves to a sleeveless clothes and the 2d is how to add sleeves to a dress with straps. If yous dear this blazon of altering, you lot'll honey these dress refashion tutorials.

how to add sleeves to a dress

The trickiest thing nigh adding sleeves to a dress is the fabric. You will never be able to exactly match the fabric from a RTW dress. Hither are some tips for fabric for the sleeves:

  • If you need to shorten the wearing apparel at all or are considering it, this is the all-time way to go matching fabric for the sleeves. Unfortunately, information technology's non always possible.
  • Take the wearing apparel to your nearest fabric store that has apparel fabric. Walk through the apparel fabrics and concord your dress up to all of them. Look for fabric that matches the color AND the weight.
    • Buy stretch fabric if your dress is stretchy. Purchase woven fabric if your dress is a non-stretch.
  • If your wearing apparel is lined you'll demand to also buy lining material.
  • If in that location'southward no textile that is the same color you lot can await for coordinating or contrasting fabric with the aforementioned weight for a more than unique expect.
How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Do you lot love to alter and refashion? Attempt ane of these sewing projects:

  • How to add sleeves to a strapless wearing apparel
  • Refashion clothes ideas
  • How to make a dress longer
  • How to add sleeves to a apparel
  • How to add together back darts to a apparel
  • How to line a lace dress

How to Add Sleeves to a Sleeveless Wearing apparel

how to add sleeves to a dress

With your closely matching fabric cut out two opposing sleeves. If your dress is woven so you lot'll need to use a pattern made for wovens. I used my woven tee sleeve pattern that I've used in the past. I besides needed lining to match my dress so I cut two lining sleeve pieces.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Sew together the sleeve together at the hem and understitch the seam allowance towards the lining.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Sew the sleeve seam together.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Press the hem to go a overnice crisp edge. Make sure to roll the lining inside then that it doesn't show at the hem. Pin the two edges together.

The raw edges of the sleeve volition not line up because of the understitching and turn of material.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Zigzag or baste the two edges of fabric together. Trim the excess lining off.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Sew it into the armscye. My wearing apparel had a finished armscye with bias binding. I still sewed the sleeve in but I made sure to not stitch through the bias binding to avert a bulky seam.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

How to Add together Sleeves to a Dress with Spaghetti Straps

how to add sleeves to a sleeveless dress

For this dress I decided to add flounce sleeves (acquire how to sew a flounce). I constitute fabric that matched in colour but was slightly heavier than the cloth of the dress. I cut iv donuts out of fabric then cut through 1 side.

The width of i side is the length of the sleeve. The diameter if the inner circle should mensurate the length of the strap.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

With correct sides together pin two flounces together. Stitch around the whole affair but exit a small gap for turning. Trim corners and clip the inner circle. Notch the outer circumvolve. Printing the sleeves flat.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Carefully pin the flounce on top of the strap. The straight edges tin can exist pinned downwardly along the armhole.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Edgestitch the flounce onto the strap and along each armhole.

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

Materials

  • Sleeveless or strapless clothes
  • Matching or analogous cloth
  • Lining material

Tools

  • Sewing tools
  • Sewing machine

Instructions

How to Add together Sleeves to a Sleeveless Wearing apparel

  1. With your closely matching fabric cut out ii opposing sleeves. If your dress is woven then you'll demand to use a design made for wovens. I used my woven tee sleeve blueprint that I've used in the past. I also needed lining to match my dress so I cut 2 lining sleeve pieces.
  2. Sew the sleeve together at the hem and understitch the seam allowance towards the lining.
  3. Sew the sleeve seam together.
  4. Press the hem to get a nice well-baked edge. Brand sure to ringlet the lining inside so that it doesn't show at the hem. Pivot the two edges together.
  5. The raw edges of the sleeve will not line upwardly because of the understitching and plough of cloth.
  6. Zigzag or drip the 2 edges of textile together. Trim the excess lining off.
  7. Stitch it into the armscye. My dress had a finished armscye with bias binding. I even so sewed the sleeve in but I made sure to not sew through the bias binding to avoid a bulky seam.

How to Add Sleeves to a Wearing apparel with Spaghetti Straps

  1. For this clothes I decided to add together flounce sleeves (learn how to sew a flounce). I establish cloth that matched in color but was slightly heavier than the fabric of the apparel. I cut four donuts out of textile so cutting through one side.
  2. The width of one side is the length of the sleeve. The diameter if the inner circle should measure the length of the strap.
  3. With right sides together pin two flounces together. Sew together effectually the whole thing but leave a small gap for turning. Trim corners and clip the inner circle. Notch the outer circumvolve. Press the sleeves flat.
  4. Carefully pin the flounce on elevation of the strap. The straight edges can be pinned downwardly along the armhole.
  5. Edgestitch the flounce onto the strap and along each armhole.

If y'all make something using this sewing project, I'd love to see! Please share information technology on social media with the hashtag#heatherhandmade and tag me!

How to Add Sleeves to a Dress // heatherhandmade.com

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