How to Make Gothic Arm Warmers

Make Gothic style arm warmers.

Arm warmers perform much the same function as legwarmers: keeping the arms warm just as legwarmers do for legs. Arm warmers are handless, fingerless gloves that stretch from the wrist to halfway or all the way to the elbow. Some wear them for function, but many also use them as fashion accessories especially among the Gothic styles. Arm warmers provide the perfect pallet for Gothic self-expression since many of them have plenty of room for decoration.
Making your own Gothic arm warmers is simple, even for those with little sewing experience. You need about an afternoon, some creativity and a few household items.

Things You'll Need

• Long-sleeved t-shirt
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Needle and thread
• Stick pins
• Decorations (neon ribbons, buttons, Gothic patches, lace, etc.)
• Liquid stitch

Instructions

1. Cut both sleeves from your long-sleeved t-shirt at the shoulder. Snip off the cuffs, too, if there are any. Slide one sleeve onto an arm and stretch your arm out. Make a chalk mark where you want your arm warmers to end, either at your elbow or anywhere between your elbow and wrist.

2. Lay the sleeve out flat and expand your chalk mark across the width of the sleeve. Cut it at the mark and discard the excess fabric. Repeat with the other sleeve, making sure they are even.

3. Slip one arm warmer onto an arm. Hold it in place while a friend pulls the sleeve snug around your arm and uses stick pins to secure the excess. Repeat with the other arm warmer. Stitch along the row of pins, trim away the excess. Turn down the ends of each warmer ½ an inch and hem them.

4. Turn the warmers inside-out so that all the seams are hidden. Decorate your warmers with liquid stitch and big, neon-colored plastic buttons, lace along the edge or criss-crossing ribbons. For the ribbons, snip two parallel rows of holes along the top of each warmer and weave the ribbons in and out to achieve a "corset" look.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't limit yourself to a black base for your arm warmers. Gothic colors include hot pink, neon blue, bright green and electric purple mixed with white, black and red. Mix and match these colors to achieve truly original arm warmers.

References

• Mooky Chick: Make Arm Warmers
• Crafty Crafty: How to Make Arm-Warmers From a Pair of Socks