Let’s face it, Winter is raring and ready to go! Here in northern Utah, we went from temperatures in the high 80s to low 50’s (F), in a matter of days! Sadly, I just went school clothes shopping and stocked up on warmer weather clothing. To solve this, I’m taking the frugal route – all of those brand new short sleeve t-shirts are going to be magically transformed into long sleeved ones. Okay, not magically but it’s so easy to do, it might as well be magic!
All that is needed is knit fabric. The amount varies depending on size but for each of Ivy’s size 6 t-shirts, I used a piece of 20″ x 16.5″ knit for the sleeves and cuff.
Start by measuring the sleeve opening of the shirt. Ivy’s sleeve measured 5 inches so I knew I’d need to double that to go around the front and back of the sleeve. I measured Ivy’s arm from where her sleeve would start to her wrist and it was 12.5″.
I cut each sleeve 10″ wide x 12.5″ long plus I cut a long 4″ wide strip for the cuffs. Alternately, you could skip the cuff and just hem the bottom of the sleeve but I prefer finishing the bottom sleeve with a cuff. It’s easy to do and makes a nice finish.
Fold cuff in half long ways so that raw edges meet. Press in place.
Place the folded cuff onto the wrist edge of the sleeve so that all 3 of the raw edges meet and the folded edge of the cuff is pointed towards the shoulder of the sleeve. Serge or sew in place very lightly stretching only the cuff as you sew the cuff on the sleeve.
Open and press seam down towards shoulder of sleeve.
Using a straight long stitch, top stitch the cuff seam down close to edge.
If you would like to finish the raw edge that will be sewn into the shirt do so now. Knit does not fray so this step is not necessary if you’d like to skip it like I did! 😉 With right sides together, serge or sew along the length of the sleeve tapering in about 1 inch once you reach the cuff.
With both the sleeve extension and the tee shirt sleeves right side out, line up the seam in the armpit of the shirt to the long seam running along the the length of the sleeve.
Place the t-shirt’s hem over approximately 1/2″ of the unfinished sleeve and sew close to edge of the shirt’s hem.
It’s as easy as that! Now I only have about 8 more shirts to do! 😉
That is such a great idea, Carli, and yay for more choices in tops to
put together more outfits. Now if you could just make fleece socks to
wear inside their boots. Haha
Such a great idea! I am sharing this with my sister as she can sew and has 4 little ones. Great idea!
Brilliant!
Thank you soooo much for this Carli! This is exactly what I need to transform store short sleeve Tees into more modest long sleeve ones.
God bless.
All the way from Cape Town, South Africa.
Rugaya