How to Sew in Sleeves Right the First Time - Sleeve TUTORIAL

[@tonnenleger]

Thank you very much for not pretending to present a quick and easy solution, and instead taking me by the hand and showing me each fiddly step. I am also relieved to see I'm not the only one using two pins instead of one to keep fabric in place.

[@MaryDeanDotCom]

When my daughters were young, I told them, “I can sew anything, as long as it doesn’t have sleeves.“ After watching this Master Class, and taking 4 pages of notes, I feel like I will now be a Sleeve Goddess.

[@dawnrising22]

Wow! This has to be the best tutorial I've ever seen. Love your attention to detail, your no rush techniques in this world where everything is too quick. You are so calm, so clear and just perfect. You are now my go to for all sewing projects. Thank you for being amazing. Sending love x

[@RetroClaude]

Thank you for your lovely comment 💚

[@sisterkerry]

I am so pleased I found your channel. This video really shows how perfect you are for someone like me who is just beginning, but wants to work towards producing pieces of a professional standard. Some channels are professional, but are impossible to follow unless you are also professional. This can be disconcerting because they don't admit this, but any attempt to actually do any of their projects can end in a tangle of threads and tears! Then there are those who continually say how easy things are or they take shortcuts that will make the garment look cheap. This is a folly of our age. People want quick and easy rather than accept the truth that producing something of quality takes hard work and application. Thank you for your video. I am so glad I subscribed to your channel.

[@Jessica_Jones]

So well said! I'm just starting out as well and am pleased to know there's still quite a few of us who feel this way and want to take the time to make beautiful garments. So happy to have found this channel ☺️

[@EngineeringKnits]

I watched this before re-setting my sleeves in my jacket mock-up and it has proven so helpful. Especially your technique on how to evenly pin fabric that is being eased together, thank you for such a well-explained video!

[@RetroClaude]

I am so glad this made a difference for you! Thanks for your kind words.

[@stevezytveld6585]

This is the clearest explanation of sleeves I've come across. Thank you. - Cathy (&, accidentally, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

[@RetroClaude]

Thank you very much!

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Agreed! This is THE best and clearest explanation. Thank you! You have made sleeves Ease-y-er...

[@Jessica_Jones]

Absolutely beautiful 😍 You hit it right on the nose there at the end, "Sleeves can be such a pain that I'd rather take my time doing it this way and feel confident that I'm saving myself all the frustration of endless failed attempts and constant unpicking." ...I recently completed my first garment mock-up and had never done sleeves before so I totally suffered through that once and never want to endure it again!! Your technique for breaking down the bubbled puckers section by section is perfect and I cannot wait to implement it for my next project! Thank you very much for this lovely tutorial; I will certainly be revisiting it from time to time. Take care! 😘

[@okirp3613]

I am reteaching myself to sew after a 15-year break. Your tutorial is amazing. Thank you.

[@pensacolian211]

This video was exactly what I was looking for. I cannot tell you how many times I've had to trash sewing projects due to not knowing how to attach sleeves correctly. Most of the sewing tutorials I've found on YT are practically useless as they almost always fail to provide true step by step instructions, which are necessary for beginners. In fact, I just left a video where the guy was already in the middle of the sewing process at the start of the video! Not only that, but he had positioned his camera in such a way that you couldn't even see what he was doing due to his sewing machine obstructing the view. This vdeo on the other hand provided a much more thorough explanation of the process, so after commenting I will be sure to leave a like as well as subscribe. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@kathrynrogers4079]

A natural teacher. I’ve never ever learned so much about sleeve construction. thank you.

[@heidiklotz3495]

Brilliant. Your voice and pace were so soothing and encouraging. Thank you.

[@consolw]

Best demo of an accurate sleeve insertion ever! Wish I’d found you ages ago. And yes, I will happily tack because I’m fussy about my sewing, the more professional it looks, the happier I am 😊 bless you !

[@dancetoday542]

Brilliant tutorial. I don't think anyone will be scared of setting in sleeves after this. Thank you!

[@deannaparker9900]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I was on the verge of tears not knowing why the sleeve wouldn't sew in, or how to fix it. You are amazing thank you thank you

[@lovepuppy2242]

I've been going through your catalogue of videos and Oh Dear do I wish I had seen this 2 months ago. I've exclusively been making things that did NOT include sleeves since, because I was so frustrated by a pattern with non gathered sleeves. Honestly thought it was my lack of experience with patterns as I grew up drafting things myself and have only recently (by recently I mean 6 months) started using patterns. And knowing you have an "energy issue" just like me really gives me the confidence that I can actually do it.

[@JackieAdkins-f5o]

Thank you. I have just set my first sleeves in a jacket and they worked, first time! On my own I think there would have been a lot of unpicking involved. I’ve learned the value of taking time to do things properly, from this video.

[@katiemaywarriner5479]

I’ve been looking for a good tutorial that doesn’t time lapse so I could actually watch what youre doing and this has been super helpful.

[@hannahbaucad7361]

Huge thank you to you. I literally watch your video every single time I have to set in sleeves. This is so so helpful! Thanks for explaining this process so wonderfully! ❤️

[@mmgranlund1057]

Brilliant!. thank you. Just used this method on my toil. Perfect! Will now go on to make the real thing 🙂

[@traceysimpson5434]

wow have been sewing for 50+ years and have always struggled with set in sleeves avoid them like the plague ...this is going to help me so much thank-you 😊

[@chrisa1656]

My first attempt at sleeves is in my next project and after watching your tutorial I feel so much more relaxed about trying it. Thanks for the detailed and easy to understand video!

[@dixiebisquits]

We're sewing a blouse as our dressmaking class assignment this spring, and I'm pretty sure your tutorial just saved me from a complete meltdown... :D thank you! I'd rather spend some extra time with this step, since nothing good ever seems to come from sewing things in a rush.

[@roxannlegg750]

ive been sewing for 35 years and costuming for 20, and that ease trick was probably the most accuate way - the staged pinning was awesome idea. will do that from now on too...! Just LOVE it (not0 when patterns say "Set in sleeve and proceed to collar..." urgh. As if sleeves are easy. Its also where many of my beginner sewing friends give up sewing - SLEEVES, and collars. So well done.

[@RetroClaude]

Thank you! I am very much of the opinion that sleeves need a slow and steady wins the race approach. Whenever I try and take a short cut I end up with a mess and I think I should have just done it properly the first time!

[@saracyclesandsews]

I admit to being a little skeptical about all these steps, but I tried this method tonight and I must say, the effort is WELL WORTH IT! (And once I got the steps down for one sleeve, the second went much quicker!) My sleeves set in perfectly--no puckers, and I didn't adjust the sleeve cap at all. I've seen some tutorials that recommend removing excess sleeve cap ease, but I'd prefer to not mess with that. Thank you, Claude, thank you, thank you!!

[@Ashtarot77]

You've probably just saved me loads of frustration in figuring out how to add the sleeves to a coat I'm making for my son. TY!!! 😃

[@valeriecarr1166]

This tutorial is a lifesaver. I always thought I was sewing sleeves incorrectly and many times a garment has been ruined by the terrible job I did of the sleeves. Now I know why! Thank you.

[@w100pxy]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I had part of the process, but I did not even think about hand tacking the piece! Knowing the sleeve ease all has to fit across the top makes a huge difference. I have sewn many sleeves, and was never happy with any of them. I think that is about to change!

[@ArwynArising]

Oh my gosh, how thrilled was I to see Retro Claude pop up when I searched for setting in sleeves? Anyone else and I might just go nah, too much, but it's you, so, off I go to pull out another box of pins and see if I can make this work...

[@loisprice1805]

This was my first time doing sleeves and, thanks to your tutorial, they turned out perfectly! You have saved my garment! Thank you, thank you!!

[@RetroClaude]

Yay!!! I'm so pleased for you 💚

[@XatxiFly]

Expertly presented, thank you! I don’t even have any plans to make anything with sleeves but as a sewing novice (who especially struggles with pinning) I can already tell I will be making use of these techniques regardless!

[@alimazayane1757]

Super tutoriel ! beaucoup de vidéos ne parlent jamais de "l'embu" cette partie en haut de la tête de manche que l'on fronce légèrement pour l'arrondi de l'épaule. Merci beaucoup !

[@ZacharyDBrooks]

THANK YOU for explaining how to "ease" fabric!

[@bernadmanny]

So good, I'm going to have to watch this at least a half-a-dozen times before I try the sleeves on my overcoat.

[@deborahroberts9508]

Yes the best tutorial I have ever seen! Thank you so so much !

[@sherrillsturm7240]

A lot of fussy work, but the result speaks for itself. I began set-in sleeves sometime around age 15, and sicty years later, I learned how to do them without taking them out and re-attaching over and over.

[@willbe3043]

This is such a beautiful calming and informative video, thank you for taking the time to help us do sleeves the right way ❤

[@funkypunkypine]

This is the most helpful sleeve method I've ever seen and I've watched a lot. Yeah, it might be time consuming but so is removing a sleeve several times because it just never turns out just right. Thank you!!

[@libbyheeren]

Why have I never thought to tack down a sleeve head before?!? This is insanely helpful! Thank you! Sleeves will deter me from choosing a woven pattern over a knit one, and I resent them for it to no end 😂

[@RetroClaude]

Oh no!! You are braver than me to tackle knit fabric! I'd rather have take on a sleeve any day 😂 I hope you've now got the courage to give it a go 😊

[@lornefenna9824]

Wow, that's an amazing method, I'm really going to do this on my next shirt. I'd usually just squish it flat, hope for the best, and unpick two or three times. This is the difference between pro and home learned, thank you for showing

[@betsymach2435]

This is a wonderful, easy to understand video. I'm going to look for a video on adjusting the shoulder width so the sleeve head hits my shoulder where it should. That's always a problem for me.

[@danis5216]

This is such a useful video 😮 I’m excited to go and sew in some sleeves! Really trying to slow down with my sewing, perfect sleeves feels like a really good motivator for that

[@GiselleBel]

This is by far the best, and I mean the very best, tutorial for setting in sleeves, and I saw a heck of a lot of them over the years because none were that helpful - some skipped over the 'and then you gather the sleevehead and ease in the excess' but didn't give this excellent level of explanation Thank you so much! I particularly liked the way you explained the pinched up bump and pinning its middle to the middle between the last two pins. This is so useful and I'm glad to know this, it will make a big difference. I think this method will work extremely well and I'll apply it next time. Thank you again!

[@kylecook7992]

I’m working on a vintage shirt without instructions and I could not understand why the sleeve head was so much bigger than the hole. I thought I had something horribly wrong or misinterpreted a marking but this make more sense thank you for the knowledge and techniques!!!!

[@gillianwhaites5974]

I love the detail you showed. The precision pinning reminds me of some of my quilt making techniques where we need to perfectly match points. I love the old fashioned tacking too. Saves being pricked too.

[@balduvinaarmas8571]

This is the best video that I have been able to watch.

[@rosaliesilliman1473]

Wow, this is a great method, but takes a lot of patience! I like how you did the pinning though, and basting is ALWAYS a good idea. Fantastic video!

[@RetroClaude]

Yes patience is definitely needed with sleeves but it always pays off in the end!

[@yosefinase1759]

Best sleeve tutorial ive ever seen. Thank you so much for sharing

[@skirtedgalleons]

Great demo. Will def try this. Although it does remind me why I end up hand sewing most sleeves.

[@classyZ7]

Thank you!!!!!! This makes my sewing heart very happy. It’s refreshing to see someone using sound construction techniques.

[@ElanorKella]

Awesome! this is definitely a thing to spend time on and not rush it. I feel more confident easing the sleeve head as I always winged it.

[@lillahorvath7385]

Wow! I will try it on my next project. Just a suggestion, perhaps use a solid colored fabric for the demonstrations. The printed polka dots make it challenging to see.

[@leahbrigido6658]

The best and most helpful video about sleeves. Thank you!!!!

[@niamhdempsey8016]

wow, excellent methodThank you so much. I am converted to tacking! I just eased in 4 cm without a problem :)

[@JWe472]

thanks to watching this video at least 3 times, I was finally!!! successfull!!! at sewing in sleeves!!!! they look so great, wenn they're done correctly. thank you so so so much! the always dreaded sleeve has become slighlty less terrible. being able to do it correctly was so enjoyable that I didn't mind at all how long it took. sometimes one just needs to take the time to do things the right way. THANK YOUUU!!!

[@RetroClaude]

Yay!!! I'm so happy for you!! Sleeves are always tricky and there's nothing for it but to go slowly 💚

[@laurenking5080]

What an amazing tutorial! I am new to sewing garments, and I haven't tackled anything with sleeves yet after listening to so many sewists talk about "sleevil hell." Maybe using this method I can avoid falling into that trap. Thank you!

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

This will be the method for me! I'm working on learning techniques this year and sleeves have proved problematic. Happily, I believe this tutorial will be the answer! Thank you so much!

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

I tried this today on my muslin - struggled with the first sleeve, but it turned out fine. The second took 25 minutes and is as near perfection as I can manage. Thank you so much!

[@RetroClaude]

I'm so glad to hear it worked for you! It's always worth the time invested to avoid unpicking in my opinion ☺️

[@HoverArt]

Thank you so much for this! I put sleeve on for the FIRST time ever and they turned out perfect! I truly think there was no way in hell I could do that without this

[@cherpiddock5118]

Fantastic explanation and demo. Will y pick my current puckered sleeve and give it a go! Wished I’d seen it sooner 🎉

[@seltinge]

Thank you. You've convinced me to slow down (even though tacking tries my patience) and it was worth it. Wondering if you have a tutorial on finishing zipper tops on jackets?

[@joannaflorencemakes]

Thank you SO MUCH. This video has saved me so much aggravation!

[@abaker5875]

I was nervous about sewing in sleeves for the first time but this video really helped. Thanks!!

[@nerrylwilliams]

I feel so silly as you make it look so easy. I will try to see how I go. Thank you for your tutorial

[@hennesey5928]

Wow this is phenomenal work. The precision is inspiring and amazing.

[@ritaekers3306]

Wonderful tutorial. I am subscribed and can't wait to watch more of your tutorials. Love your measured and thoughtful approach and that you take no step for granted. Thank you, thank you!

[@jimbrittain402]

Every time I do sleeves, I come back to this (I don't do 'em often enough to remember the techniques).

[@mmcgrath737]

I love watching your videos! I learn so much and so enjoy your focus on vintage clothing.

[@marlykurtzernarvaez3514]

I’m making my first vintage blouse and you bet I’m going to try this technique. I already did a muslin and now I’m doing a 2nd muslin. I will report back. Thank you for your methodical instructions.

[@RetroClaude]

I can't wait to hear how it goes! Good luck 🍀

[@marlykurtzernarvaez3514]

@@RetroClaude This was a very fiddly technique indeed, but I have to say that it worked very well. I had a hard time at the shoulder area because the pattern marking indicated made for a larger seam allowance in that particular area, which didn't make sense to me. (Later on I discovered that some markings in punched patterns would be off if they happened to be at the bottom of the stack for the punching machine. Or maybe they added more fullness to the sleevehead in 40s patterns in order to accommodate the shoulder pads?) So I did have to unpick my stitches at the sleevehead and use steam to get rid of puckers. I did not make any shoulder pads for the shirt, because I already have wide shoulders. Anyway, I've been meaning to give you my feedback. Thank you for uploading this video.

[@merindymorgenson3184]

Given that I’ve had a lot of trouble getting sleeves in without tucks, I’m going to try this on my next shirt with sleeves. Might be a while, as my son wants a sleeveless for his next shirt and the girls chose strappy shirts, but I’m going to save this to come back to.

[@oxford_phd]

Just what I needed!! Finally understand sleeves, thank you!

[@asilverfoxintasmania9940]

I tend to avoid sleeves where I can, having watched this I now know why sleeves in the past hadn't really worked, I had a tendency to just put the leftover fabric in to the underarm section. Which explains why they were tight and uncomfortable! Thank you for sharing this.

[@NimbleSteward]

You’ve explained this very well. My only question is why you don’t insert your sleeves before sewing underarm & side seams? Over the years I’ve found that a much easier way to manage the insertion.

[@mereadswiki6175]

wow your sewing skills are insane

[@mariefink3024]

This is wonderful! I am looking forward to using this technique on my next garment!

[@MsGorobin]

This video is so helpful. Just what I needed. Thanks for sharing!

[@cocobeebunnied7371]

I hate sewing sleeves :( full on has ended/destroyed multiple of my projects. Maybe I’ll get it one day, this didn’t really help but it makes me feel like it makes it feel more possible some day

[@RachelFilmsThings]

This was wonderful! Needed to have found your video a few weeks ago! 😭😆

[@beth12svist]

I do that careful perpendicular pinning. The tacking and sewing in halves is new. But yes, it does make sense and I think I'll happily use this in the future! I sew slowly anyway, so a couple more steps won't make that big a difference.

[@ellieisbusy]

Fantastic explanation and tutorial! Thanks for making my sleeve setting much easier 😄 A little fun fact: sleeves don’t really need the extra ease, but it does indeed help. Leather workers, for example, don’t use any ease when making jackets, some even take a bit away! I read a super interesting article on this not very long ago by a published expert, if you’re interested let me know and I can try to find it to share.

[@arwenmirafuentes5718]

ooh! im interested! can u please share the article with me? i would really appreciate it. im a beginner and im really determined about upgrading my skills in sewing.

[@ellieisbusy]

@@arwenmirafuentes5718 hi! Goodness, this was a while ago, I can't find the online article anymore... sorry!

[@arwenmirafuentes5718]

@@ellieisbusy aww that sucks. well it's okay, thanks for replying tho 😀

[@ellieisbusy]

@@arwenmirafuentes5718 if I happen to chance upon it again I'll pop by and leave a link ;)

[@arwenmirafuentes5718]

@@ellieisbusy omg that's amazing! thank u so much. greatly appreciate it 😀

[@sunnydoom2726]

This looks fiddly but it also seems that it would work well for me. I sometimes get burried with small details but that is the whole point of this process! Also the precision pinning method you use is awesome.

[@raraavis7782]

Interesting. I learned to set in sleeves by doing a gathering stitch just to the left and right of the stitching line. Eases the fabric in perfectly and the gathering stitches can still easily be removed afterwards. I never tried to just pin out ease. I'm impressed, it works so well - something to keep in mind for delicate fabrics, where you may not want gathering stitches on the visible part of the garment. Did you loosen the upper tension for the gathering stitches,btw? You didn't explicitly mention it, but if you didn't...it doesn't just make gathering the fabric easier, but also the removal afterwards. You can basically just tug on the upper thread and slide it out...hardly any snipping necessary.

[@SebiSzabi]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this. My first one didn’t go so well, but Ill try your method with the next Im doing now.

[@seestellysew8472]

I will try this the next time I set in sleeves.

[@RetroClaude]

Please let me know how it goes 😊

[@mariareina1423]

Thank you so much - really really helpful video, so glad I found you. Happy Christmas. xx

[@LS-vq2or]

I don't know if it's because I watched it at 0.75 speed but this was incredibly relaxing to watch. And so satisfying too! I've been sewing them the wrong way forever because I didn't know the excess in the sleeve was there for something, but ever since I decided to stop winging everything (after 4 years of doing so) and learn professional neat techniques, a whole other world has opened its doors to me and it's so soothing to watch videos from creators who take their time and are interested in perfectioning their method and making every detail of their sewing process count! Your video made me want to go try this for myself but I have no project in the making haha I should fix that and make it my next goal :-) My only "??" is the gathering part, doesn't it show a little on the finished dress ? I would be afraid of doing all of this and ending up with a small gather on the top of my sleeve! I'm not sure I got that part. Anyway I'm saving this and will be using it next time I sew sleeves :-)

[@RetroClaude]

The gathers shouldn't show on the finished dress but might show on the seam allowance on the inside. Because of the curve of the shoulder you need the seam allowance to be a little smaller than the area that you are actually sewing. I hope that helps! Thanks for your lovely comment ☺️💚

[@barefacedquestions]

Thanks for this gem of a tutorial. I will need to rewatch it a few more times, but how do you finish the seem on those sleeves?

[@julietierney2516]

This works so well! THANK YOU! It makes sense!!

[@merolynkerowa9614]

Thank you. I'm reminded again that the sleeve is 3cm.bigger than the armhole and how to.attach it. I'll try this for the second time

[@Nneka-nn]

Thanks. It really worked out perfectly 😊

[@AnnaAnanasova]

What a life saver! Thank you!!!

[@qhudsia]

This is beautiful, thank you!!

[@annaandrea1731]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for this detailed tutorial!!!

[@RetroClaude]

You're so welcome! I'm glad I could help 😊

[@suelongview9925]

Thank you for the great tutorial 🙂

[@gumgirl14]

this was so helpful!! thank you! How do you finish your seams? Obviously it's not a French seam 😂

[@demink]

Nicely explained!

[@thebe1azi500]

Is this the same technique you would use to set in really full sleeve heads, 1890s style, or are there additional steps? Thank you for the explanation though, yours is the first tutorial I've seen that actually makes sense

[@RetroClaude]

For a very full sleeve head, I would pin in the underarm and match all the balance marks as in the video, THEN gather up the sleeve head making sure to stroke and distribute the gathers evenly. Everything else would be the same but I would use smaller basting stitches to make sure the gathers lie smoothly.

[@thebe1azi500]

Retro Claude thank you, that’s very helpful!

[@djstumpy7399]

So far ive done something wrong as my jacket sleeves are not looking right. But hey Ho Pip and Dandy , prctice makes perfect i guess. Just gotta figure out what is going wrong. Im using McCalls pattern M4745.

[@beatrizmedina_mabe]

Great technique. Thank you.

[@chrismckeague4269]

This was very well done & helpful, nice job! And thank you for posting your talents. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a heavier application, and if your approach would be any different? I was hoping to modify several carhartt canvas vest with leather sleeves & hoodies. (I love their vests, but dont want to get into a whole project etc) I have not chosen the leather yet as im still perusing options. But it will be pretty thick - 2-3 mm as I am an oilfield welder and will use them hard. I do have a Sailrite Industrial walking foot machine in case you were wondering about equipment requirements. :) Thank you for considering! Chris

[@RetroClaude]

Hello! I must confess I have never sewn with leather so I'm not the best person to ask. But my instincts tell me that gathering is a no go because it'll leave holes in the leather and all that pinning is also out of the question. I don't know how much leather can ease in either. There is a technique used in traditional shirt making where you put the sleeves in before doing up the side seam or sleeve seam. I've only done it with jersey but it might work out better with such bulky materials 😊

[@leticianovida250]

Wow i like your sewing machine..great tutorial also.