How to Shape a Sleeve Head

Shaping a Sleeve Head for Regular Clothing

• 1

  Cut two 3-by-5-inch rectangles from the sleeve head material; fold down 1 inch along the long side of the material.

• 2

  Mark the middle or center point on the folded edge. Line this mark up with the shoulder seam on the inside of the sleeve, with the short edge of the folded material facing you.

• 3

  Pin in place to allow for more accurate sewing. Sew the sleeve head to the sleeve by-hand using an overcast stitch. Pulling the stitches too tight causes the material to draw or show on the other side. Repeat for the other sleeve.

• 4

  Turn the sleeve to the outside and examine how your sleeve looks. Adjust if necessary.

Shaping a Sleeve Head for Lightweight Clothing

• 5

  Place wax paper or tracing paper over the sleeve pattern and trace the sleeve cap about 3 inches from the center dot. Connect the lines across the paper and label the front, back and center dots of the sleeve head. Cut along the lines.

• 6

  Form an oval-shaped pattern for this type of sleeve head. Fold down the top, rounded, part of the pattern to the line drawn that connects the lines from step 1.

• 7

  Cut away the trace pattern on the sides to form the oval when the paper is open.

• 8

  Use the pattern to cut two ovals from the material for the sleeve heads.

• 9

  Fold one oval in half and sew the sleeve head to the inside of the sleeve, matching the center dot of the sleeve head to the sleeve seam. Sew just inside the seam line already in place. Repeat for the other sleeve.

• 10

  Turn the sleeve right-side out and examine your work. Adjust if necessary.