Replies

1. 
   Becky-book | Feb 28, 2007 04:07pm | #1

   Sounds like you are looking in the right direction, some cautions however...

   Keep track of left vs right sleeve and put the proper one back in!

   Keep track of shoulder match point.. maybe a line of hand basted thread so that no matter how much you cut off the head you won't loose your mark.

   If the sleeves taper at all, the width of the sleeve decreases the farther down you go.

   Tract the existing sleeve head onto tissue paper (from side seam to side seam) and then use that to re-cut the head, do not just cut a set amount off the edge (ie. 1 inch) or you will change the width of the head not just the length.

   These are the first things that come to mind, hope they help,

   Becky

2. 
   Fruzzle | Mar 01, 2007 12:00am | #2

   What if you cut the sleeve slightly above the end of the decorative pattern, and then removed some fabric, then sewed the cuff back on?So if the decorative border at the bottom is, say, 3 inches, cut across the sleeve 3.5" from the bottom, then remove whatever length you need from the garment. Then sew the decorative bottom back on. You'll have a seam line, but it will just look like an attached cuff.

3. 
   woodywoodpecker598 | Mar 01, 2007 03:48pm | #3

   I agree with Fruzzle. I have shorten blue jeans this way when they have a design on the bottom of the pant leg and the customer wanted to keep it, only in this case I cut in the knee area to make it look like the bottom of the leg was added on, pressed the seam open and topstitched both sides.

1. 
   fabricholic | Mar 02, 2007 12:05am | #4

   I agree with you. It will be so much easier to do it this way. So there is a seam before the decorative fabric. I guess it is up to how much trouble she wants to go through.Marcy

1. 
   tricone | Mar 02, 2007 12:46am | #5

   HI allthanks a million for your help.
   I am thinking of cutting the cuff and resewing it on, but the only concern is , its half way up the arm. and would the fleec material make it look to bulky?

1. 
   Teaf5 | Mar 02, 2007 01:13am | #6

   On a fleece fabric, you can use an overlapped seam rather than a conventional seam to reduce bulk. With a conventional seam, you have the bulk of the seam allowances making for a lump, while the overlapped seam does not.To make an overlapped seam (on non-ravelling fabrics only), put the upper part over the bottom part (the wrong side of the upper part against the right side of the bottom part), and then stitch along the edges of each. If your overlap is about 1/2", your stitching lines will be about 1/2" apart and be a kind of decorative line.

4. 
   Ralphetta | Mar 02, 2007 06:30am | #7

   I think your original idea of removing the sleeves would be better than putting a seam on the sleeve.  Your can recut the top of the sleeve IF you can also take in the side seam a little so that the armseye is also reduced.  Hopefully, you have a little slack in the coat and can do this.  I think you would be much happier with your sleeves left smooth to display the trim at its best.