Hi, it’s Nienke again, sending a post to you from my tiny Dutch island! I realised I love to work along a theme, so after my series of pocket tutorials, including how to add a patch pocket, how to add inseam pockets and how to add hip pockets to pants or skirts, I am now on a sleeve modification craze… So, after my tutorial on how to create gathered sleeves, today I made a tutorial on how to create flutter sleeves by modifying an existing basic sleeve pattern.
Just like in my previous sleeve modification tutorial, I used the Gloria Party Dress pattern. It’s a great basic pattern block for a knit bodice. Instead of making a dress with it, I used just the bodice this time around and added some extra length to it to create a top. My eldest girl is 8 years old now and though she loves to wear a dress every now and then, it’s jeans and shirts she grabs for on a day to day basis… So a shirt it is! To start the modification, trace the existing sleeve pattern piece onto a piece of paper. As you can see above, I picked a length between the short and the long sleeve, but you can choose whichever length you prefer.
The pattern has a 1/2″ seam allowance included. To make sure you work precise, I recommend removing this seam allowance from the piece. Just measure 1/2″ off the sleeve head and side seam by marking that distance on a few places and then smoothly connecting the dots. Thus the green line is the pattern piece without seam allowance.
Then, divide the pattern piece into four vertical pieces as pictured above.
Cut them all loose. 
Place the pieces on a new sheet of paper, keeping the top of the pieces neatly connected but spreading the bottom equally. Spreading the bottoms more will create more room and thus more flare in the bottom of the sleeve. Spreading the bottoms only slightly will create just a slight flare.
Trace along the outside of your new shape, the red line in the picture above.
Add seam allowance back to your new piece, 1/2″ to the sleeve head and side seam (the blue line in the picture above).
Now you have created a new and flared sleeve pattern piece, a lot bigger than the original piece as you can see in the photo above!
Continue sewing your pattern as usual.
And enjoy your girly flutter sleeves!
Latest posts by Nienke de Jong-de Vries (see all)
- How to Create a Flutter Sleeve - February 17, 2016
- How to Sew Gathered Sleeves - January 29, 2016
- How to add patch pockets to any pattern - December 9, 2015
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