Comments on: Fashion advice: Can you shorten sweater sleeves?

By: Rae

Rae — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:05:00 +0000

In reply to mama knows. I have used this method a number of times. On heavier sweaters a light faux suede works very well.

By: Tod Greene

Tod Greene — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 20:50:00 +0000

if the tailor at the drycleaners cant do it what type of tailor do i need

By: Bev

Bev — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:01:48 +0000

Thanks for the comments. But I did see on TV a bit ago about a women teaching you how to take up sleves on a hand knit sweater. The program was on during the day time , she was a Japanese lady or Chinese lady and she was teaching different stuff on knitting. Does anyone know the program that I am talking about ?????? Would love to know it and then I could write to the station/program, whatever.

By: Marge.

Marge. — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:54:24 +0000

Thanks, that sounds like a good solution.

By: julie

julie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:23:49 +0000

simple and sensible…thanks SO much!

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 02:43:35 +0000

excellent directions

By: mama knows

mama knows — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:32:09 +0000

My grandmother would shorten the sleeves on everyday sweaters by taking a length of matching ribbon, the silky kind, and gently hand stitching the ribbon all the way around the sleeve on both edges. Then, she would go around her hand stitching with the sewing maching. Only then, she would gently cut the sweater sleeve off. Now, she would go back to her machine and zig zag the outside edge . (remember, she already sewed it down. this just cleans up the raw edges)

Now, she folds under the ribbon and hand hems the edge. I have never had the guts to do it myself, but I have worn many sweaters she fixed for me.

By: Kirsti

Kirsti — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:50:19 +0000

I successfully shortened the sleeves on a cardigan that my brother purchased in Norway. He intended it for my sister, but it was too small for her, but a little too long in the sleeves for me. Since it was a drop shoulder, I turned it inside out and created a new seam that was about 1/2” , more into the body and the sleeve. I checked the fit by pinning first and then sewed using the overlock stitch on my machine. I haven’t had the guts to cut away the excess fabric but it doesn’t bother me when I’m wearing it since it is a little roomy as a cardigan.
I couldn’t consider changing the length at the wrist because of a decorative stitch at the end of the sleeve.
It worked great for me.

By: charisse

charisse — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 10:14:45 +0000

$40? why does it cost that much to shorten sleeves? seriously? i can get jeans hemmed for $10. is it the fabric or the labor?

By: TBF

TBF — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:43:44 +0000

Both labor and the skill needed to alter knits raises the price.. Remember sweater knits tend to have a looser weave than say tighter knit fabrics like jersey knits, therefore you can’t just simply cut off the access and hem it with a traditional needle and thread. If you do, you run the risk of the entire sweater unraveling.

The person doing the alternations would have to actually rib (create a finish to the sleeve or waist) to hem the garment and one would need to know how to sew or have access to a knitting machine to do this.

To be perfectly honest, most of your standard dry cleaning tailors will not be able to perform this type of alteration