Do you like bows? If yes, you may want to add them everywhere, even your clothes. And in clothing, sleeves are specially chosen for adding sleeves, because they are the most noticeable there. Bows can be added to a sleeve in different positions -near the hem, at the shoulder or mid sleeve. It is all your preference. Just stitch them, or pin them on top of your sleeve and there you have a very appealing and unique sleeve.
Statement bows can get you all the attention you want. But small delicate bows can add a dainty feminine look. Lace bows can give off a vintage and romantic vibe.
You can make simple fabric bows by making simple fabric sashes and then folding it and tying it by the middle – simple. Here is how I made a layered bow.
Choose a lightweight fabric in order not to sag the sleeve.
Cut out fabric strips and sew two fabric sashes, one smaller in width than the other.
Press it so that the seam is visible only on the back
Keep the smaller sash (less wider one) by the middle of the wider sash.
Bring the edges to the back . Pinch by the center.
Keep another fabric strip
or a piece of ribbon by the middle and sew in place.
Find more ways to create simple fabric bows here.
There is another way to add fabric bows to a sleeve.
To add this detail to your sleeve, Cut out your regular sleeve pattern with 1/2 inch extra at the fold. This will give you 1 inch extra in the middle of the sleeve.
Cut out a 4 inch wide fabric piece , 12 plus inches long (Length of the fabric would depend on the length of your sleeve and how many bows you need to insert). Fold it by the middle and sew the long edges together (rightsides to the inside). Turn this tube rightsides outside.
You will have a fabric tube in your hands. Bring the seam to the back. Press the tube flat.
Cut it into 3.5 inch long pieces.
I have cut out 3 such pieces for adding 3 bows to my sleeve. You will have to make your calculations according to the width and length of your bow as well as your sleeve.
Place the flat pieces in the middle of your sleeve. Arrange them as per your preference.
Sew the fabric pieces to your sleeve by top stitching along the edge, on one side
Twist the middle of each fabric piece so that it looks like a bow.
Sew the other side of the fabric piece to the sleeve too.
After this cut through the middle of your sleeve.
Turn the fabric edges to the back.
Fold the sleeve fabric on top of the bow fabric edge – effectively covering the edges of the bow fabric. Top Stitch in place
