How to shorten a pair of sleeves
Short answer: Measure with the arm bent, not straight. A sleeve that fits with a straight arm becomes too short as soon as you bend your elbow, and it feels too short for the whole life of the garment.
Why the arm must be bent
The distance from shoulder to wrist is several centimetres longer when the elbow is bent. If you measure with a straight arm, the sleeve rides up every time you use your hand, and it feels too short for the rest of the garment's life. The bent arm is therefore the only safe starting point.
Put the garment on
Put the garment on and stand relaxed. Let the shoulder seam sit on the shoulder, where it belongs, so the sleeve does not shift. If the garment is too big across the shoulders, shortening the sleeves will not help, because the problem then lies elsewhere in the fit.
Bend the elbow ninety degrees
Bend the elbow about ninety degrees, as when you hold a cup or type on a phone. That is the position the sleeve is most often in when you use it. Hold the arm still while you or someone else marks the length, so the measurement does not change as you work.
Mark with a pin
Mark with a pin where the edge should end. To the wrist bone with a bent arm is a common length, but you can choose a little longer or shorter to taste. Put a pin on each sleeve and check that they sit at the same distance from the seam.
Measure both arms
Arms are rarely the same length, so measure both and use the shorter one as the answer. If you use the shorter measurement on both sleeves, they look the same when you stand with your arms down. Do not take the average, because then one sleeve would turn out slightly different from what you wanted.
Add two centimetres and cut
Add two centimetres for the two folds in the hem and cut across the sleeve in a straight line. Lay the garment flat and measure down from the pin, mark the line with chalk and check that it runs straight around the sleeve. Only cut when both sleeves are marked the same.
Sleeves with a rib cuff
Unpick the rib cuff, shorten the sleeve itself and sew the cuff back on. That is easier than making a new edge that can stretch. Attach the cuff at the same height all the way round the sleeve and sew with a stitch that can give, so the edge does not split when you pull your hand through.
Long sleeves for everyday
If you want to see more with long sleeves for everyday, see bamboo long sleeve t-shirt for men, loungewear for men and long sleeved bamboo t-shirt for women. Try the garment on before you shorten it, so you know whether the sleeve or the fit is the problem.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a sleeve be?
To the wrist bone with a bent arm is a common length. You can choose a little longer or shorter to taste, but always measure with the arm bent.
Are both arms the same length?
Rarely. Measure both and use the shorter one as the answer, so the two sleeves look the same when you stand with your arms down.
Can you shorten a sleeve without cutting?
Yes, by folding the edge up on the inside. It becomes thicker at the bottom, but you can undo it and lengthen the sleeve again later without having cut the fabric.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
