We’re thrilled to have Meagan back with us again! Her previous tutorials on faux chenille and marbled yoke techniques were a huge hit, and now she’s gracing us with yet another fabulous creation—this time, a ruffled sleeve tutorial! It seems like 2017 is truly the year of the sleeve, and it’s the perfect moment to experiment with unique designs and make a bold fashion statement. Ruffled sleeves aren’t just for kids—they look amazing on women too! Why not try them out on patterns like the Maritime Top or Bento Tee? If you decide to sew up a women’s version, we’d absolutely love to see it and share it with everyone. Let us know if you give it a shot!
Hi everyone, it's Meagan here! I'm super excited to be back on the blog today with a fun tutorial for adding ruffled sleeves to the ever-popular Lunch Box Tee. Lately, I've been seeing these trendy ruffled sleeves everywhere, and I couldn't resist making one for my daughter, Ava. As soon as the idea popped into my head, the Lunch Box Tee pattern immediately came to mind—it’s such a versatile base pattern that I’ve used countless times before. I even wrote about my love for it in an earlier post.
I decided to keep the original pattern intact for everything except the sleeves. This technique is something I’ve tried before, and it worked beautifully with crushed velvet fabric. You can check out that version here. Today, I’m excited to share my second attempt, but this time I went with a thicker floral scuba knit fabric. I also added more volume to the sleeves to create an even more dramatic effect.
To start, follow the Lunch Box Tee pattern instructions, but leave the sleeves off. Next, to create the gathered effect for the ruffles, I drafted a simple rectangular pattern. First, measure the sleeve opening on the front piece of the pattern and multiply that number by three. Divide that result by two to get the dimensions for a pattern piece that can be cut on the fold. For the height, measure where you want the sleeves to fall on the arm—in Ava’s case, it was around 6 inches. To maximize the volume, I doubled the length so I wouldn’t need to hem the bottom but could simply fold it in half instead. After drafting the pattern, cut four pieces on the fold.
Once you’ve cut your pieces, place them right sides together and sew along the sides to form a loop. Press and trim your seams to ensure a clean finish. Next, fold the loop so the wrong sides are facing each other. Sew two rows of basting stitches across the top to gather the fabric to fit the sleeve opening of the tee. Finally, attach the gathered sleeves to the tee, right sides together, and voilà —you're done!
While it might sound straightforward, working with thick fabrics like scuba knit can be challenging. Let’s just say sewing this project wasn’t without its drama—I may or may not have broken a needle that flew straight toward my cheek. Sewing can definitely be a hazardous hobby!
Despite the challenges, the end result was worth it. Once you get past the initial calculations, the project is surprisingly simple. A small change like adding ruffled sleeves can completely transform a basic pattern. I’m really happy with how this top turned out. The scuba knit version held the volume beautifully, creating a more exaggerated bell shape compared to the softer drape of the velvet version. The possibilities are endless, and the same technique can be adapted to countless other projects.
Thank you so much for letting me share this with all of you!
And now, here’s a sneak peek of the finished product:
[Insert Image]
Thanks again for having me!
Rubber Yarn,Import Rubber Yarn,Best Rubber Yarn,Rubber Covered Yarn
Jiangsu Boyue Chemical Fiber Co., LTD , https://www.jsbyhx.com