Tools and materials:
- Elastic
- Sleeveless dress
- Scissors
- Pattern
- Rotary cutter
- Clips
- Sewing machine
Who doesn’t love a good upcycle? This puffy sleeves tutorial proves that nothing should ever be wasted. This year, take your closet to the next level by adding some fun puffy sleeves to your favorite tops.
The first thing we want to do is cut our dress. One, for the material that we will use to make our sleeves. And second, because our dress is going to become a gorgeous shirt. To leave a peplum, make sure you cut the dress about an inch and a half (or more) below the bodice.
Take the bottom of the dress (that was just cut off) and side rim the seams. This should leave you with two separate pieces of fabric.
Take a bell sleeve pattern and turn it upside down - this will give the sleeves their puff. (If you don’t have a pattern, check out the video for the measurements you’ll need to make your own!) Place the fabric on the pattern and use a rotary cutter to cut the fabric.
Wrap your elastic around your arm to measure how much you need. Keep in mind that the goal is to have the sleeves fit both on and off the shoulder - so don’t make it too tight. Next, check the length of the fabric on your arm and then measure the spot on your arm where the fabric hits with more elastic. You should finish with four pieces of elastic.
Fold a hem on both edges of both pieces of fabric that is wide enough for the elastic to fit through. Pin to secure. Then, sew the hem closed and weave the elastic through using a safety pin.
Remember to keep hold of the elastic as you weave it through to make sure it doesn’t accidentally get pulled in. Once the elastic comes out the other side, pin the two halves together and even out the gathering. 129
Make sure the sleeve is inside out and sew the sleeve together. Next, take the two halves of our elastic and sew them together with a straight stitch. Seal with a zigzag stitch. To cover the elastic, fold a piece of fabric over the elastic and seal it closed.
To finish the sleeves, repeat the steps from the top elastic for the bottom elastic.
Match the side sleeve of the bodice with the sleeve seam. Use clips to secure. To attach the sleeves sew about half an inch on either side of the middle.
I might be a little obsessed with this transformation. This top is so cool, super versatile, and looks amazing. So, before you throw that old dress away, let me teach you how to make puffy sleeves!
Comfy and cozy loungewear is my favorite type of outfit! In this tutorial I show you how I like to...
Ever wondered how you could recycle your old accessories? Well, today I am going to walk you through...
When Portia Lawrie of Makery announced that this years challenge was denim, I couldn’t not...
Blazers have made a pretty big fashion comeback! In this lookbook, I will show you some great ways...
I have noticed that vinyl bags are so in right now! I was desperate to have one and so I decided to...
Today I am sharing with you this great coffee sleeve upcycle. With the amount of coffee I drink, the...
What can I say, I LOVE my Lou Box Dress! I was actually not at all in the market to test any...
I'm not a huge fan of faux denim but I can't deny how comfortable it is. These skinny jeans in...
Today, I’m going to give you guys ten tips on how to make your outfit go from drab to fab. Stick...
Instead of spending $75 on a lace-up jacket from ZARA, I decided to make my own DIY lace-up denim...
In this tutorial, I sew the Sagebrush top from Friday Pattern Company. This pattern has been in my...
So, I read somewhere that January was denim month, I don't know if it's true or not but I playing...
Recently, I did a huge closet cleanout and found this boxy, oversized blazer. Instead of throwing it...
I haven’t had my hands on clay for way too long. The new Silkscreen Kit from Premo Clay was the...
I’ve been wanting to make a diy knotted headband for ages! This week I finally sat down with some of...
I am loving the oversized vest trend. So many cute chic ways to style! I knew I had to add one to...
Join me in making this DIY oversized turtleneck sweater. It is so fun, super simple, and totally...
I love turning something old into something new and improved. In other words, nothing is more...
Two-piece sets are so on-trend this year! I had an old dress that was very pretty but I knew it had...
Everybody loves pockets! Learn how to add inseam pockets to your skirts and dresses! This small...
I have prepared a new pattern for women’s dress and two articles with related sewing instructions....
As part of my FallWardrobeChallenge, I’m featuring a new look each week with different styles that...
The Queen’s Gambit is one of the most-watched series of the year! I must admit, I only watched it...
The facemask fog struggle is real! Here is a DIY facemask with no gap and no more fog. Learn how to...
This was a mini skirt I found at a thrift store. It was the embroidered cotton that caught my...
I have three things to talk about in this post because it's packed with DIY goodness! First let me...
In today’s short article, I’d like to show you how to simply sew a zipper with underlap to the...
Before I show you this tutorial, let me talk about myself and clothing a little bit.As I mentioned...
In this tutorial, I will be showing you, cozy, comfy, and casual looks for this winter. Whether you...
The beauty about upcycling projects is seeing a random item and envisioning what it could be! When I...
Nothing is a better feeling than finding something on the high street that looks ultra-expensive and...
This tutorial is so exciting because it features a DIY I have wanted to do for ages! I took men’s...
It’s been hard to get creative in quarantine, especially with fashion. But this simple scarf...
I've heard many women say that they love the look of blazers, but don't get to wear them as often as...
So. You've read ALL about the velvet Wavy Cardigan, and you love love love it, right? Or maybe...
Are you nervous about stepping into the wonderful world of overalls? Scared they’re going to look...
Join the conversation
Wow this small change makes all the difference!!
I wish the photo showed the sleeves and how it really looks. I think this would be cute to make but I can’t tell by the photo.