Putting sleeves on a shirt involves carefully aligning and sewing the sleeve cap into the garment's armhole, followed by closing the side and sleeve seams.
Attaching sleeves is a key step in garment construction. While there are various methods, a common approach involves joining the sleeve to the armhole while the garment body is still "flat" (before the side seams are sewn), and then closing the side seams and sleeve seams together.
Here are the fundamental steps for sewing a sleeve onto a shirt based on a standard technique:
Essential Steps for Attaching Sleeves
Follow these steps to join the sleeve to the shirt body and complete the seam:
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Attach the Sleeve to the Armhole:
- Align the sleeve and the garment body with their right sides together. This means the finished or outer sides of the fabric should be facing each other.
- Carefully pin the sleeve into the armhole, distributing any fullness evenly.
- Match the notches or other pattern markings on both the sleeve cap and the armhole as you pin. These marks are crucial for correct alignment.
- Sew the seam, typically with the sleeve side facing upwards. This orientation helps manage the fabric layers and ensures smooth sewing, especially if the sleeve cap has slight ease (extra fabric that needs to be eased in).
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Press the Armhole Seam:
- Press the seam open first. This means using an iron to flatten the seam allowances on either side of the stitched line.
- Next, press the seam towards the sleeve, away from the garment body. This sets the seam allowances neatly against the sleeve fabric. Proper pressing is vital for a professional finish and helps the sleeve hang correctly.
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Sew the Side and Sleeve Seams:
- Match up the underarm seams precisely. This is the point where the body's side seam and the sleeve's underarm seam meet. Accurate matching here ensures a smooth line down the side of the finished garment.
- Beginning from the hem of the shirt body, pin and sew the side seam all the way up through the underarm point and continue down to the hem of the sleeve, sewing the sleeve seam in one continuous line.
Following these steps helps create a well-set sleeve that fits smoothly into the armhole and provides a clean finish down the side of the garment.
