How to Make Ruffled Cap Sleeves Out of an Old T-Shirt

Remove the sleeve from the T-shirt by cutting it off close to the shoulder seam, giving you a tube of fabric. Cut the tube along the seam, then trim the edges to remove the seam. Repeat for the opposite sleeve.

Lay the sleeve flat on a table with the hemmed side down. Fold the sleeve in half so that raw edges are even and mark the center point with chalk. Begin just above the hem at the raw edges and trim to create a curved edge, cutting upwards so that the center of the sleeve is the highest point on the curve. Repeat for the other sleeve.

Sew long, gathering stitches along the curved edge of both sleeves. Sew one seam 1/4 inch from the edge and another seam 5/8 inch from the edge. Place a straight pin in the center at the chalk mark, inserting it into the fabric several times to secure the pin.

Gather each sleeve by pushing the fabric toward the center along the gathering stitches. Gather from the sides into the center, holding the two top threads in your hand and pushing the fabric gently toward the center pin. Repeat for the opposite sleeve.

Mark the clothing item to which you are adding sleeves by measuring from the shoulder seam to the point at which you would like the sleeve to begin. Mark the front and the back of the garment. Repeat for the opposite side of the garment.

With right sides together, pin the ruffled sleeve onto the clothing item to which you're adding sleeves. Match the straight pin on the sleeve to the center shoulder seam on the garment and pin. Match the narrow end of the sleeves to the marks on the garment. Pin into place, then distribute the ruffles evenly.

Stitch the sleeves to the garment with a 5/8 inch seam allowance, trimming threads. Turn and press seams toward the garment.