NEW DIY | Flutter Sleeve

I wanted to post a tutorial on how to insert sleeves into a sleeveless dress because it's totally easy to do (even if you're not the most skilled seamstress) and can make any dress a stand-out piece.  You can do this with most sleeveless dresses, as long as the edge of the fabric comes closer to the shoulder than the neck.

For this dress, I cut out bell sleeves on the bias to make the edges extra fluttery...and flutter sleeves are romantic and sort of ethereal...especially when constructing them of layered chiffon. 

1.   Using a bell-shaped pattern as a guide, cut the bottom, longest layer first. Then use that as your pattern for the top layers.  Each layer is one inch shorter than the previous layer. The bias will give the edges a bit more flutter. I used the same color for the top two layers.

2.  Run the tip of a hot glue gun along all edges of chiffon fabric to sear and prevent fraying. Make sure you don't have any glue in the gun.

3.  Baste all layers of sleeve together along top edge, then cover with bias tape. This will prevent the seam allowance of your sleeves from unraveling.

4.  With right sides together, machine stitch ends of sleeve together. Press seam flat.

5.  With right sleeve side to wrong garment side, pin completed sleeve to inside of armhole opening so that bias trim is not visible. Make sure the bias tape is hidden all the way around.

6.  Edgestich close to fabric edge on right side of garment to secure. Lightly press.

7.  Repeat for other sleeve.

8. DONE.