About Sarah Expertise Pattern making, fitting, fabric choices, garment construction, design choices - all aspects of making a garment! I'm a professional in the fashion industry. I'm responsible for fitting garments on live models, making garment construction choices that make sense for the fabrics, approving wash care instructions, patternmaking and draping on the form. I work with wovens and knits. My garments have won numerous awards (both design and construction) throughout my college career.
Experience Graduated BFA in fashion design; Currently work as a technical designer/pattern make/fitter for a large contemporary fashion company for 2+ years.
Organizations Philadelphia Sewing Collective - www.phillysewing.org
Education/Credentials BFA in Fashion Design from Moore College of Art & Design; Summa Cum Laude
Question i am trying to change t-shirt sleeves into cap sleeves because they look nicer I think. The last time I tried, the armhole ended up too large, and I just ended up making it sleeveless, and sewing up the side seam. How do I make it so that the armhole isnt huge when I cut the fabric off the sleeve? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Answer Hi Michele,
In order to make the armhole small enough, you need to start with a shirt that is a little to big, width wise. You need to reduce @ the side seam at the armhole to make the armhole shorter. An armhole for a shirt with a regular sleeve tends to be larger than an armhole for a sleeveless shirt. And once that fabric is cut out, there's no way to add on, unless you sew in some extra fabric - that might look weird, but it can be done!
So my advice would be to start with a t-shirt that is a little too big. Take in at the side seams evenly @ both sides. This will shorten the armhole and give you some extra fabric to play with. The issue with this is that, after you reduce from the SS, you're going to need to reshape the armhole all around, so it has a nice smooth curve, and it isn't cutting into your arm in the front or the back. Leave enough seam allowance to clean finish the armhole and attach the sleeve, and you're good to go!
Unfortunately, if you start with a shirt that fits well, and the armhole is just cut out too much, there isn't a graceful way to make that armhole fit.
