Normal Sleeves to Puffed-Top Sleeves, How?

[Tigerzeyes]

Is there an easy way to take a normal topped sleeve
Example: Pattern 5041
http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?cat=4&type=19&sec=0&id=60&startrow=1

And turn the top of it into a puffed top sleeve
Example:
http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/butterick/shop.cgi?s.item.B3836=x&TI=10013&page=7
Like the top of that sleeve.

I'm essentially looking for a way to combine the bottom of sleeve 1 with the top of sleeve 2... my dress is EGL style and I don't have a reference picture yet, but I will have one soon.

Can anyone recommend a way to do this, or even a pattern that combines the puff at the top and the larger part at the bottom?

RAWR!! lol

Thanks everyone,

~ Tiger


OK, here's a picture of the sleeve I am trying to make:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j170/tigerzeyes/dinahsleeve.jpg

[Michi]

@_@ Wouldn't you just need to gather it at both ends? ^_^;

[Hanyaan]

Aww man, if my volumes of Gosu Rori weren't in a box along with my scanner I'd scan them right now to show how you do that. As it is, I'll try and use text explanations.

Cut off the sleeve at the bottom of where you want the puff to be. Cut it in half vertically through the sleeve cap, so now you have (| and |) pieces. Pull these two pieces apart so the inner line edges are parallel like this | | a few inches, and then tilt them slightly so that they're like this: / \ Gather the top and bottom to fit the original sleeve parts. Note, you need to add seam allowance on the bottom of the new cutoff piece and the top of the existing sleeve piece you attach the sleeve poof to.

[Tigerzeyes]

Thanks HanyaanFaery, but I'm still confused :(
I'm such a visual learner...
If you find a buddy with a scanner to show me that stuff from Gosu Rori, you'd be my hero, lol :)
Actually, even if you drew it roughly on paper... oh but that still needs a scanner buddy... -_-;;; lol, need more sleep.

Gracias,

- Tiger

[Tia]

It seems like if you use a light enough fabric all you have to do is add a flounce and elastic to the end of the jacket sleeve. A flounce is basically a doughnut of fabric you make by cutting out two concentric circles, making the length you want the flounce the different between the two radii. Have you looked at the directions and seen which pattern pieces correspond to the two sleeves? That might help a bit. However, if you want the bottom of the sleeve before the elastic on your wrist to be like the first sleeve you might need to add a few extra inches to the width of the sleeve. You also might need to lengthen it.

[Tigerzeyes]

I hope everyone knows what I'm talking about, lol, I'm so bad at explaining myself... and my link was kind of hidden at the bottom.
Just for reinforcement, I mean this sleeve:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j170/tigerzeyes/dinahsleeve.jpg

And if everyone already knew, then I'm just so noob I don't understand your awesome instructions, lol.
I have a lot to learn about sewing -_-;;

Thanks again folks,

Tiger

[AllStarAlice]

I'm not going to be super detailed here~ But Michi is right, just make some gathers at the top of the sleeve before you attach it. As for the bottom, if you want it to flare out like that, then just, cut the fabric that way. There don't seem to be any gathers/poofs there.

[Tigerzeyes]

Will I need to add any extra fabric to allow for the gathers?
A little? A lot?

[Chibeli]

Yes you will need extra fabric. I would start with a good-sized amount of extra, pin it, try it on, and see if you like it. If not, start taking away the extra. Also, if you do gather it like other cosplayers have suggested, if your fabric is thin, I suggest using interfacing to reinforce it. This way, the gathers won't flop as much and will be more likely to stay up.

[Tigerzeyes]

Thanks Chibeli!
Thanks for the great advice everyone!

~Tiger

[Meiki]

http://crafty-dame.livejournal.com/7449.html
This might help! I used it on one of my dresses once.

[Tia]

Okay, I thought you were going for something like that pic, but I wasn't sure because some aristocrat/lolita outfits have tops or jackets that are like the one you showed in the pattern (it's the more english-influenced victorian style).

For those sleeves, there are basically two ways you can make them. Both of them involve making the sleeve larger than you need at the top and gathering it. The difference would be if you care whether or not there is a seam where the sleeve changes from poofed to normal. If you are ok with a seam you basically will make a rectangle attached to a giant trapezoid (or two giant trapezoids if you are ok with the sleeve having two seams in it). Then you sew the two long sides of the trapezoid together and sew the short top side to the bottom of the poofed part of the sleeve.

To not have a seam where the sleeve changes there, it's more complex and you would probably need to have two seams on the sides of the sleeve. Start out with some newspaper or some cheap fabric and draw half of the poofy part. Then, from there draw the trapezoid that goes down a little longer than you think you need it and about the width you'd like at your wrists. Then you cut out four of them and sew two of each together. From the look of that picture, though, a seam at the end of the poofy part would probably be fine.

[insomniel]

http://community.livejournal.com/t_shirt_surgery/4066549.html
I wrote a tutorial here and on craftster.org on how to make puffy sleeve EGL cutsew shirts, maybe that helps?

[Ang]

Ooo, great t-shirt idea! :) There are seriously endless possibilities for colors and options for all-out customization. I like!