Before
Sometimes an alteration will dramatically change the look of an item. And sometimes it is more about making something more comfortable. Today’s post was more the later. I adored this dress as soon as I tried it on at Revolve, but while everything else fit just fine, the sleeves were painfully tight. As in, I really couldn’t move my arms tight. I decided to take my seam ripper to the task, and see if I could make them work. If I couldn’t, I was going to make the dress sleeveless.
This is the sleeve inside out. When I went to alter it, I noticed that the sleeve is gathered at the hem. I decided to take apart this section, using my trusty seam ripper.
Turns out that the sleeves had what I will call hem tape, because I’m not sure if that’s the right term. Because of the bias of the fabric of the hem tape (maybe this is bias tape?) it made the sleeves have less give. It also revealed the gathering stitching. Gathering can be a lot of fun in some areas, but here, it is making the sleeves fit tighter.
I took out the gathering stitches, and pressed the sleeve with my iron. You can already see a noticeable difference between the altered and unaltered sleeves.
The hem tape wasn’t long enough to cover the newly altered sleeve, so I folded over the hem twice, pressed the heck out of it, and stitched it down with black thread.
And now, the finished results. The sleeves don’t look extremely different, but they fit SO much more comfortably.
Really cute dress! I hate when sleeves come all tiny and tight…You have inspired me!
Well done, what a different this minor alteration makes, huh?
The before pic sleeve is suffocating your arm, and the after pic looks comfortable and so flattering!
I have the same problem with sleeves like that, i may alter my own dresses the same way.
Thanks, nice job!
.-= Branka´s last blog ..BWOF 2-2010-104 skirt =-.
You’re my idol — you do magic with clothes.
I have this same problem with most dresses: my upper-body is too big and the sleeves are too tight. Maybe I’ll muster the courage to attempt this type of alteration. Thanks for the inspiration!
I often have this problem because I have largish, muscular arms and shoulders. I really do need to pick up sewing!
The dress looks fantastic!
I really love how you show the step by step process! I love this, and you do work magic with clothes. I wish I had more time with you because let me tell you, I need so many clothes altered. Awesome pictures, and awesome job lady!
.-= alechia´s last blog ..Moo with Me =-.
oh HELL to the YEAH! I so often run into this problem with the cutest cap sleeve or short sleeve on blouses/dresses… no one loves feeling like you have a hair tie wrapped around your bicep. the dress hardly looks different, which is a good thing because it’s so freaking snazzy!
everytime you blog about sewing or knitting you make me that much closer to making my dream of learning to do it reality. not that I’ve done anything yet, but I’m thinking about it!
.-= Chelsea S.´s last blog ..Outfit log: My Hips Don’t Lie =-.
Wow! I love the after sleeve – it makes the dress look more sophisticated too.
.-= Bianca´s last blog ..OOTD – Pretty Boring in Pink =-.
This is one of the best tutorials ever – I have this problem all the time. Up until recently, I thought it was because my shoulders were hideously, grossly disfigured. Then I realized the problem was with the dresses and tops, not with me
Now I know how to fix it! 
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Daily Outfit – Kate – 5/10/10 =-.
Awesome work! Wish I had your tailoring skills!
Good work. Nice skills
Man, you are good.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Daily Outfit – Kate – 5/10/10 =-.
Such a difference! WHY do they put binding tape on cap sleeves? I mean, seriously.
.-= Sally´s last blog ..Try, Try Again =-.