4 ways to add Elastic to your sleeve hem

I have this dress with very long sleeves – too long. I want to reduce its length and also make it more fitting on me, without cutting into it or anything equally complicated. An elastic cuff is the solution for this. I practised making different types and made a tutorial on it. Two, no three or four birds with one stone. Now I know which one I want. You have to tell me in the comments, which one is your favourite.

If you have a long sleeved dress and you want to secure the sleeves in place, (for example you are going to cook or gardening) an elastic cuff may be the thing you need. It gives you flexibility to grow up in size or go down and prevents the sleeves from sliding up and down. Have I convinced you to try an elasticised sleeve edge?

Here is how you can make a frilly elasticised cuff, with nothing other than the sleeve edge and some elastic.

For this you should have extra fabric at the hem edge, enough to fold under.

Measure your wrist for the elastic- for a snug fit, you can subtract about 1 inch or so from the wrist measurement to cut the elastic. Do not forget to add seam allowance.

Sew the side seams of the sleeve ( if you are sewing it from scratch). Press open the seam allowance.

Fold the hem edge to the inside 1/4 inch first and then fold another 2 inches

Stitch the hem in place.

Now, measure the width of the elastic, adding 1/8 inch to it, and mark that distance from the stitching line. Stitch along this mark, parallel to the first stitching line, to create a channel for the elastic.

Leave a small gap (about 1-2 inches) unstitched, or use a seam ripper to open the seam for threading the elastic

Thread the elastic through this channel.

Sew the edges of the elastic together.

Close the gap.

Method 2. – Simple elastic edge

To make this elastic hem edge, measure your wrist and decide on the length of the elastic. Add seam allowance.

Cut the elastic in the appropriate length.

Sew the edges of the elastic together, to form a circle.

Now insert the tube into the hem edge (folded twice to the inside) and sew in place.

You will have to pull the elastic as you sew to fit the casing.

Finish sewing the casing and distribute the ruffles evenly.

Method 3. Sleeve with with ruffled lace trim edge

Cut lace the same length as the sleeve hem edge. Keep the sleeve right side up in front of you. And place the lace right side down on it. Place the lace 1 inch up from the sleeve hem edge.

Fold the edge twice over the lace edge.

Stitch in place.

Insert the elastic through the chanel formed by your stitching.

Distribute the elastic so that it is evenly spaced.

There are other ways to add lace trim to sleeves. Check out the sleeve lacetrim tutorial here.

Method 4. Shirring

Shirring is basically sewing with elastic thread. This is a slightly thicker (than sewing thread) thread which you have to wind on your bobbin. The elastic thread appears on the back of the fabric. Regular thread is used on as top stitching thread.

To achieve this sleeve hem edge, sew several rows of shirring 2 or 3 inches up from the sleeve hem fold.