Monday 16 July 2018

Create pleated bell sleeves

To add bell sleeves at the bottom of your sleeves gives them a very pretty shape and isn't difficult to do. Here's a way to achieve them:

- Measure the circumference of the bottom of your sleeve.
- Decide how many pleats to have. I used nine on my version and think it works really well.
- Now divide the circumference of the sleeve by the number of pleats to get the pleat width A.
- To get beautiful even pleats, you need two strips of fabric equal to 3xA + seam allowances in length, and about 12-15cm + seam allowance to sew into the sleeve + hem allowance in width.



- Fold each strip right sides in so that the short sides meet and sew them together to create rings. Finish the seam allowances and press them open.


- Hem the two pieces.


- Now mark lines parallel to the "side seam" Acm away from the seam and Acm away from each other. You'll notice here that my lines don't look Acm apart everywhere. That is because I didn't have enough fabric to achieve this, so my folds are only A/2 😇, try to ignore my photos a bit here 😉.


- And begin to fold and pin: With the right side up, start at one side of the side seam and bring the first line you marked on top of the seam, with the fold created under pointing away from the seam.


- Now bring the second line on top of the third with the fold pointing towards the seam. Then bring the 4th line back to the 3rd with the fold pointing away from the seam again.


- Repeat until you're all the way around and back at the seam.
- Press your folds and baste your folds in place.


- put the pleated bit to your sleeve right sides together and sew. Et voila! 😊



Mention me if you use my method to make something and share it on instagram (@hayek.m83). I'd love to see what you make 😊

2 comments:

  1. Adds some unique zest to the sleeves. And especially well it matches this kind of sleeve in this blouse.

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    1. It does, doesn't it? Thank you so much Oksana :)

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