How to Alter a Cap-Sleeve Dress

Dress forms can be helpful when sewing cap sleeves.

Cap sleeves are those lovely scallops of fabric that hang over the shoulder, but just barely. The bell shape is more pronounced at the shoulder and usually ends with a taper at the underarm. Sewn correctly, cap sleeves look graceful and feminine on formal and informal dresses. Employ the technique that better suits your sewing style to alter a cap-sleeve dress.

Things You'll Need

• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Scissors

Instructions

Simple Cap Sleeve

1. Lay the dress bodice flat, right side up.

2. Pin the cap sleeve to the armhole area, matching the side seam and notches, with the right sides together.

3. Sew the sleeve and armhole seams together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

4. Sew the side seams together for the simpler way to alter a cap-sleeve dress.

Intermediate Cap Sleeve

1. Sew the sleeve together at the side seam, right sides together, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

2. Sew two rows of long basting stitches from notch to notch on the cap sleeve. Leave at least 3 inches of thread at the end.

3. Pull the threads to gather the sleeve cap so that the notches fit inside the armhole.

4. Pin the sleeve to the dress and sew together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

References

• Threads: On Fitting Sleeves
• BurdaStyle: Adding Cap Sleeves to a Sleeveless Dress