Whether you’re sewing a men’s or women’s shirt, it’s easy to overlook the cuffs. Unlike the collar or the front button placket, cuffs aren’t the first detail to get noticed. Still, it’s nice to know you’ve created the nicest cuffs you can. I’ve learned from experience, including an excellent menswear sewing class at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, that by using a few simple techniques, it’s possible to create beautiful cuffs every time. Shirt cuff corners are most commonly made squared, rounded, or notched (cut diagonally). I’m going to demonstrate rounded and notched cuffs. Materials and fabric preparation Each shirt cuff consists of two pieces: the inner cuff (or cuff facing) and the outer cuff. Interfacing, generally fusible, gives the cuff extra body. I like to use a lightweight knit fusible, as I’m not a fan of stiff cuffs, and I interface only the outer cuff. Is it wrong to interface the inner and outer cuffs, or to use a stiff interfacing? Absolutely not. The crispness of the finished cuff is up to you. Soft knit fusible interfacing yields a firm but not overly stiff cuff. My shirt will be made of a navy cotton bird print…
Start your 14-day FREE trial to access this story.
Start your FREE trial today and get instant access to this article plus access to all Threads Insider content.
Love that you are using an old Singer. I too have one and use it sometimes. Does a beautiful job. And your instructions are wonderful. I will be sure to use them on my next shirt! Thank you.
Nicely done tutorial Peter. I make dress shirts for hubby, yes those with stiffer cuffs and collars. I usually attach the outer cuff to the shirt and then top-stitch from the outside, catching the folded down inner cuff. Will have to try your method. How about collars next? I'm still trying to perfect them, with a lot of guidance and help from David PC.
This is wonderful step-by-step instruction, which I will bookmark! I also love the ingenuity of using a quarter to round corners. I'm hoping Peter will be a frequent contributor in this space.
Bodysuits keep pants and skirts neat by eliminating the bulk of tucked-in shirttails. This close-fitting silhouette has a deep V-neckline, crossover front with waistline pleats, crotch snap closure, and three…
Apr 04, 2018
Oh my, very nice. Excellent clear visual and verbal instructions. Thank you very much. Hope my practice cuff turns out as nice as yours.
Love that you are using an old Singer. I too have one and use it sometimes. Does a beautiful job. And your instructions are wonderful. I will be sure to use them on my next shirt! Thank you.
Yeah for old Singer machines. I have a 201 that I love.
Thank you for the tutorial. Like your blog, it is well written with loads of pictures.
Very well written, I will definitely use this the next time I make a shirt. Love that bird fabric, and I really like that contrasting inner cuff.
Classy! I will try this method for the cuffs next time I make a shirt. So clear.
Nicely done tutorial Peter. I make dress shirts for hubby, yes those with stiffer cuffs and collars. I usually attach the outer cuff to the shirt and then top-stitch from the outside, catching the folded down inner cuff. Will have to try your method. How about collars next? I'm still trying to perfect them, with a lot of guidance and help from David PC.
This is wonderful step-by-step instruction, which I will bookmark! I also love the ingenuity of using a quarter to round corners. I'm hoping Peter will be a frequent contributor in this space.