Beginners guide to sewing and inserting sleeves - Laurens Top Tips Series - Part 9

If you are making your own clothes at home then I’m sure you are going to come across the need to insert a sleeve before too long!
In this video I want to help you understand the basic types of sleeve and share my top tips for sewing them into your garments properly.
This is a great guide if you are totally new to sleeves or looking for a refresher.
For video notes and pictures you can view the same tips and advice on my blog by following this link
guthrie-ghani.co.uk/blog/begi...

[@slaveNo-4028]

LET ME TELL YOU. Firstly, this video is awesome and very well explained! But secondly, this is insane! The first time I tried to sew something I felt my brain melting, it's so illogical. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE that the same circle around my arm on the bodice is 3cms shorter than the exact same circle on the sleeve. HOW are two different lengths of fabrics SUPPOSED TO FIT TOGETHER while sewing without puckering. And you've got to have a really good 3d-imagination and maths skills to figure out and make all those crazy pattern shapes. I can only imagine how talented all the women just a couple of decades ago were, and still today sewing is kind of looked down upon, every man should be forced to sew on a sleeve in their lifetime so they get to appreciate what "women's" work is and how fiddly and hard it is and HOW MUCH MATHS Is hidden in there. This "fiddling around" is exactly what stresses me out, I can't relax until I've worked through it, so sewing is kind of stressful when it should be relaxing to me at least. I guess this will get better with practice, hopefully.

[@nauxsi]

I don't see it as womens work. It's a SKILL, a skill that can be used for recreation as well as earning an income should one desire.

[@seasonallyproductive]

Great thorough video. I especially like the explanation about ease! And yes, sewing INSIDE the "tube" of the arm hole is much easier!

[@patriciagabrielides3146]

So helpful to all us new garment sewists. Thank you!

[@pamdarbonne3753]

Thank you. I'm new to the sewing machine. You've explained sleeves perfectly. Just what I needed.

[@maureencullen1008]

This was brilliant.when I first set in sleeves it confused me how I was going to place the sleeve head and the main body together.It would be good to show how you actually got the pieces together. I love these tutorials because it doesn't matter how long you've been sewing you can still have brain fog moments.

[@somebodyelse138]

Excellent guide to inserting set in sleeves. I'm really new at this sewing lark and having struggled with my first couple of sleeves, thought I'd check out a video or two to see where I was going wrong. It turns out I'm not really that far off what I should be doing, and your explanation has given me lots of confidence that my next couple of pairs of pyjamas will be even better than my first couple. Thank you for takng the time to record this - it's been really helpful. Now, off to insert my second sleeve.

[@melabee63]

Sewed my first ever sleeves today with your help - thank you!!

[@ashleighovland20]

Brilliant video, such a lovely clear presenting style with no waffle!

[@PitBullmom420]

Thank you for giving great instruction on ease stitching. I'm making my husband a leather coat and I've been so frustrated trying to get the sleeves in without creases or ruffle on top of the shoulder. You've made this a bit easier for me to work with. I'm almost don't with his coat and now I'm confident I can get the sleeves in correctly. Thank you thank you😊

[@sewingconfidential]

You must have been reading my mind. Thank you, this is justice what I was looking for at the moment. Already made a fitting toile for the TATB Agnes top and the sleeves are indeed a little bit fiddly.

[@mysteepulcine2510]

I'm all self-taught and haven't used a pattern since 8th grade home-ecc. Seeing the pattern of the sleeve was a light bulb for me. I needed that. I never couls have pictured that for myself even with all my experience. Thanks so much for your detailed explanation!. Working on the long-sleeve shrug for my wedding dress!

[@maplelassuk]

A super tutorial Lauren! My mother taught me and you have brought her words right back to me! Notches are so important!! I learned the hard way for that😂. I found this very helpful x and your tips on easing are excellent too, so clear to learn from. I'm glad of refreshing as I've been quilting and small project sewing a long time and you lose confidence about dressmaking! Your knowledge of fabrics is just wonderful xx

[@papalseamstress]

What a wonderful teacher. 😇

[@allison5363]

fantastic video with excellent teaching and explanations, keep up your great work 😊

[@Lucy_Honeychurch]

Thank you. So well and thoroughly explained.

[@marygraham492]

Thanks Lauren, very clear instructions. I was struggling as a beginner .

[@carolclaibornemumey8919]

Thanks for this!! So very helpful.

[@audreyspann7231]

Beautifully explained. Will use more of your videos.

[@teresagibson2974]

Thank you Lauren that was very helpful ☺

[@bethbrooks8123]

Great video, really clear, thanks!

[@arielmyers4028]

great great video thank you so much so much great info perfectly explained!

[@ellfx]

this is such a brill video thank you!

[@nataliadowner3896]

You saved my project!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@merindymorgenson3184]

This is such a clear and helpful video. I’ve been making some outfits for my kids lately and have been having trouble getting my sleeves to set in without puckering of the bodice fabric. There has been a lot of ripping out of seams and resewing. Sometimes with no improvement in the puckering. It doesn’t help any that one of the patterns is self drafted based on an existing shirt of my sons and I have little to no experience drafting patterns. Im pretty sure I wasn’t doing a long enough basting line and too much gathering within the shorter line. I’m looking forward to incorporating some of these tips and seeing if my sleeve insetting improves. Thanks! And I really like hearing your accent (of course, you’d probably think I’m the one with the accent 😃).

[@manileo5274]

You looks great and your explanation too❤️

[@kangel1561]

Wow! I finally understand! Thank you so much! :)

[@brianm1897]

Thank you for your video. It was very helpfull.

[@gabrielkarleywood8665]

Thanks! Very helpful

[@india1422]

I always put sleeves in before side seams are sewn. It’s so much easier I find to not get tucks and gathers when I’m sewing the ease. I just don’t understand what the advantage is of trying to sew two tubes together

[@gaynormainwaring1853]

Me too, I always sew the sleeves in first, then sew sleeve seam and side seam - it goes in so much easier, easier to sew and easier to overlock.

[@MarjorieJCat]

Oh thank you! How I was going to get the, to my beginners eye, that odd looking piece of fabric into my bodice...it was doing my head in. Cheers.

[@Melendon44]

Excellent video for a beginner .Thank you so much.

[@janebrettell1737]

Hi, thanks for the video, I’m always looking for tips on inserting sleeves with no gathers and I think I can finally see where I’ve been going wrong all these years, because I pull the threads far too much! 🙄. Thanks again 😍

[@NannyZ3]

Thank you! 😊🧵

[@amapola9202]

This is extremely helpful I'm having trouble with sleeves and your way of explaining is so clear. Also, not related at all, but I love your accent!

[@india1422]

I’m Scottish too and it’s lovely to hear a positive comment. I’m on a bit of a high horse at the moment - 90% of the time a Scottish character is in a drama they are a criminal or in some other way undesirable

[@amapola9202]

@@india1422 I’m glad! I get you completely, I’m mexican and I relate to what you said about representation in media so much. It seems like every single time a Mexican is on screen it’s a drug lord or a criminal 😞 it’s gross tbh! And by the way, I’ve seen many Scottish characters or characters with scottish accents that I absolutely love, a pair that comes to mind is Stoick the Vast and Gobber from How to train your dragon played by Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson respectively. I love both characters and they are both ultimately good in the end :)

[@courtneyspeer3759]

@@amapola9202 sadly the media has many cruel tropes for each type of representation & it’s so disheartening 😓 I believe accents really tell a story about who you are as an individual & that should never be shown in a negative light, so both of you keeping being fantastic! I’m from the South, so mine always is that I’m a backwoods hillbilly who’s highly uneducated…yet I’m currently working on my Doctorate 🤷🏼‍♀️ Trying to break that false narrative a day at a time. Keep shining 💕

[@hopefulinchrist4368]

your accent is precious. & thanks for the tutorial. :)

[@qunitis1501]

Thank you.

[@nancyjarrell5509]

excellent

[@elaine58100]

Thank you for a great video and lots of very useful tips. Have you heard of crimping the sleeve head? Just wondered what your thoughts are on this technique :)

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

ah I've not heard of that but it sounds interesting, sounds like another alternative way to ease it in instead of using the long stitches :)

[@ntsikitseka3825]

Hello Lauren I'm a beginner I'm struggling with sleeve please take us through from cutting and inserting sleeve

[@vickinewman8924]

Hi, Lauren the video was great. I was wondering if it was possible for you to show us how to cut and sew a dress with Rayon, as I am new to sewing, thanks Vic

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

Hi Vicki, Rayon is very similar in how it behaves etc to viscose and I have several videos that are about making different dresses with viscose fabric available on the Sewing Society section of the website, I'll pop links below to the relevant ones guthrie-ghani.co.uk/sewing-society/videos/lyra-dress guthrie-ghani.co.uk/sewing-society/videos/fringe-dress guthrie-ghani.co.uk/sewing-society/videos/sudley-dress guthrie-ghani.co.uk/sewing-society/videos/magnolia-dress guthrie-ghani.co.uk/sewing-society/videos/wilder-gown

[@sewnsewing]

I'm going after subscribing. Let's see a lot of pretty things

[@valclements7092]

❤️

[@gaynormainwaring1853]

My shoulders are narrow, so I always have to shorten the shoulder seam - how far down the sleeve head should I trim?

[@hopesheppard477]

Can you do a video on French sleeves ?

[@gumgirl14]

What kind of seam do you recommend for sleeves? (I dint have a surger)

[@gordonrussell7165]

I have a shirt pattern that I am just learning on but after several tries cannot get the sleeves to fit right. Dont know what i am doing wrong

[@Stef.with.an.F]

With the attached side of the sleeves, do you need to overlock/hem it to stop it from flaring? If yes, how do you prevent it from being too bulky under the armpit? (Sorry I’m new to dress making and I don’t have the foggiest idea about anything.)

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

It depends on the fabric as if its stretch fabric it's unlikely to fray in which can there is no need to finish the seam allowances. Other woven fabrics typically do need 'treated' in some way to stop them fraying and this is very common/normal and won't add excess bulk. Using an overlocker/serger is the quickest way. If you don't have one then you can use a zig zag or overlock stitch on your sewing machine :)

[@Stef.with.an.F]

@@LaurenGuthrieGhani Thank you!

[@elaine58100]

Hi, Lauren just wondering if you could help me? I have a dress pattern that I like and unfortunately it has puff sleeves which I don't like. So is it possible to alter a puff sleeve pattern to a set in sleeve on the paper pattern piece? Thank you :)

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

Hi Elaine, It is possible to do that but what might be easier is to get a sleeve from another pattern that is the style you would like and then try to see if it fits into your other pattern

[@elaine58100]

Many Thanks! That makes sense. Will take a look through my patterns. Have a lovely Easter holiday :)

[@stephaniekeirratenorio5788]

Does it include the allowances?

[@kelleyking]

When do you remove the basting stitches?

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

Once you have sewn the sleeve in with the sewing machine and you are happy with how it is sitting. You should be able to just pull them straight out pretty easily :)

[@sallydingle321]

👌💝💝💝😁😘

[@barakoniner1644]

Hi Lauren. What a cutie pie. Great vid love your eyes youre so beautiful 😊

[@lavira1152]

i like yoursewinv machine

[@irelandsbay]

What your jumpsuit called please XX

[@LaurenGuthrieGhani]

irelandsbay it’s the Sallie jumpsuit by closet case patterns 😊

[@CajunPride777]

You have a strong accent. Where are you from?

[@Tomi-wz8fk]

Im tired of sewing sleevs. 😥

[@setphaser]

oh god no. no no no no no..... i made a pattern off a dress i like... i’m not easing, i’m not! no way to chinese factory workers ease.... and they manage it!

[@evelynr7069]

Whatever...

[@tricedavis6709]

I know that I am 2 years late everyone excuse me if you just happen to think that i am wrong i just think that you talk more than you do a show me if you show and talk at the same time that would be awesome

[@le2584]

sorry too much talking n assuming without showing diagramms etc for us beginners.bailed 2/3 thru

[@carolinenorman9997]

I need someone the show me not talk about it

[@meilye2633]

Yikes... too long winded...instead should demonstrate more on the sewing technique.

[@victoriasmith4208]

Blahblahbla

[@kayalskettle4063]

So much blah blah ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, just show us already

[@florencecathcart9588]

Oh my gosh, I wish she would slow down, she talks soooooo fast and with the accent it makes it difficult to understand stometimes.

[@emmoldacct]

Try to watch the videos at .75x speed :)

[@bikergirl7823]

REALLY, I thought it was absolutely fine

[@allison5363]

fantastic video with excellent teaching and explanations, keep up your great work 😊