About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 45 mins

Sewing Set-In Sleeves While Sewing a Garment
A set-in sleeve is sewn into a garment after the shoulder seams and side seams have been sewn. You'll be fitting a curved sleeve into a flatter area, which allows the sleeve to curve over your shoulder and fall down your arm. This requires easing, a process of bringing the two edges of fabric together without any puckers or gathers.

Posted by Rosie_Wednesday from Austin, Texas, United States • Published 22nd May 2014 • See Rosie_Wednesday's 7 projects »

Print • Embed

kittybadass5 c. favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 10 Apr 07:21
Kat P. favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 13 Sep 15:56
Kat P. added How To Sew Set-In Sleeves to Sewing projects 13 Sep 15:56
pandanomz added How To Sew Set-In Sleeves to my list 07 Sep 01:55
Nyctophobia favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 23 Aug 17:18
Martha M. favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 24 Jul 13:31
jessica.boulanger.10 favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 09 Jul 05:10
x_niccadee added How To Sew Set-In Sleeves to make this 25 Jun 19:55
Elin H. favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 05 Jun 16:37
MissCindy favorited How To Sew Set-In Sleeves 27 May 07:48

Step 1
First up, stitch two rows of basting stitches between the notches on your sleeves, inside the seam allowance. This will help you when you're easing the sleeve into the armscye (armhole). You can already see it's folding up a bit, just laying on the table.
Step 2
Now pin, stitch, press, and finish the sleeve seam.
Step 3
Pin the sleeve into the armscye (armhole). You want to hit all the main points before you begin the easing process. So pin,
- The top of the sleeve cap to match the shoulder seam. Make sure to pin your shoulder seam flaps down so those stay open.
- The side seam to the sleeve seam, lining up the seams so you get a nice tidy line.
- The notches.

Then, pull on the bobbin threads of your basting stitches to ease the rest of the sleeve into the armscye. When you're done pinning, you'll see a bit of wobbliness on the sleeve side. That's good, as long as you don't have folds in your fabric that you'll be stitching over.
Step 4
Stitch the sleeve seam. Check to make sure that you didn't get any puckers or folds. If you do have some folds in your fabric, grab your trusty seam ripper and give it another go!

Once you've ensured there's no folds in your seam, press the seam allowance towards the bodice.
Step 5
Serge the sleeve seam. Repeat the whole process for your other sleeve, and then admire your handiwork!