How To Fix Tight Sleeves (5 Techniques!)

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Are your sleeves too tight and you want a simple way to fix them that isn’t expensive? This post is for you! I have fixed many tight sleeves and will show you several options that will loosen up your sleeves to give you more movement and comfort.

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Fixing tight sleeves is a pretty common tailoring job. You have a few options on how to do it!

Each option includes adding fabric to the sleeve somehow, using various methods based on your sleeve’s needs and type.

I tend to have larger arms in the bicep area than some of my shirts, so even if the rest of the shirt fits fine, the arms may not!

In addition, I have also had shirts that were just a bit too small in general, but I didn’t want to give them up just yet! Making the sleeves and entire shirt a bit larger by adding some panels let me wear them longer while adding some interesting style to the shirts!

Ready to fix your tight sleeves? Let’s Get started!

*Before you go on: I have just found this amazing digital resource that will be insanely helpful to anyone who is having sleeve issues. If you go through this list and just can’t make your original sleeves work, this detailed guide will walk you through creating a sleeve that finally fits!*

Determine Where Your Sleeve Is Tight

Before choosing the method you will use to tailor your shirt, take a minute to try it on and observe where it is too tight.

• Is it tight in the armpit area? Is the armscye (armpit hole) too tight?
• Is the armscye fine, but the sleeve itself (in the bicep area) too tight?
• Is the sleeve AND the shirt too small?
• Or does the sleeve actually fit fine, but for some reason you don’t have much movement or can’t lift your arms well?

Each of these scenarios has a certain tailoring technique that can quickly address and fix it!

I will go over each method below to help you decide which is right for you.

1. Add A Triangle Gusset To The Top Or Bottom of the Sleeve

This method is good if the armpit area of the sleeve fits well, but the short sleeve gets tighter as you go down the length, particularly at the hem.

Adding a triangle shape of fabric to the sleeve essentially keeps the armpit area the same size, but adds width to the circumference of the sleeve and especially it’s hemline.

This triangle gusset can be added to the top or bottom of the sleeve depending on if you want to see the fabric or hide it under the arm.

Essentially, you will cut open a slit from the hem of the sleeve straight to the seam where the sleeve meets the armscye. Then you will measure the size of triangle you need to create, including a seam allowance, then insert the triangle and sew it back together.

For an in depth step-by-step tutorial with photos of this method, read my guide: How To Sew A Triangle Gusset To A Sleeve.

2. Add A Diamond Underarm Gusset

This technique will fix armscyes that are too tight, sleeves that fit mostly well but need more movement, as well as add just a bit of fabric to the shoulder and bust area, but it leaves the hem of the sleeve untouched.

The diamond gusset can be made with a matching material to blend in, and it hides under the armpit to remain unseen.

Here is one shirt I added a diamond gusset to, can you see it hidden there?

To add a dimmond gusset, you will cut a 6 inch slit in your shirt along the side seam, with the center of the cut being the point where the sleeve meets the armscye. (So three inches of the cut will be through the sleeve seam, and 3 inches will be through the shirt seam.)

Of course you can make a larger or smaller slit as needed.

You will then cut out a diamond shape of fabric the right size and insert it into the slit.

Here is another example photo:

For step-by-step instructions on how to measure the right size of diamond gusset, and how to sew it in, read my tutorial: How To Add A Diamond Underarm Gusset.

3. Raise The Armscye

If your sleeve seems to fit around your arm fine, but for some reason you can’t lift your arms without the entire shirt or dress pulling up, it could be that the armscye needs to be raised.

Raising the armscye involves adding a small bit of material to the bottom of the armpit hole to raise it. More fabric in this area allows your arm to have more movement without tugging on the shirt. Many modern woven garments have this problem.

You can raise the armscye and redraft the sleeve entirely, or you can simply cut and resew the sleeve so it tapers a bit to be smaller in circumference, or you can try just gathering the top of the sleeve to make it smaller and setting it in the new arm hole, which will add a bit of a puffed/gathered shoulder detail.

You can watch a very in depth tutorial about raising the armscye in this video demonstrated by Andrea Schewe.

4. Sew Panels Down The Side Seam

If your sleeves AND your shirt are too tight or small, you can open the side seam of the entire shirt and sleeve, and insert a panel all the way up.

I have done this a few times on different items of clothing by first removing the cuffs from the hem of the sleeve and bottom of the shirt if they have cuffs, then cutting the side seam open.

Then you would cut a length of fabric that is long enough to go from the end of the sleeve down to the bottom of the shirt, and sew it in. Then replace the sleeve cuffs or hem the panel somehow.

Here is an example on one sweater I added contrasting colored panels to:

Read my tutorial about making a shirt larger/wider and fixing the sleeves by adding side panels to sleeves here!

5. Lower the Armscye & Enlarge Sleeve Circumference

If you determine that the problem is your armscye (armpit hole) is too tight AND the sleeve is too small around, then you can lower the armscye and replace the sleeves either with re-drafted/re-sewn ones, OR you can add a panel only to the sleeve and fit it into the new larger hole.

This method is usually one I only do if I am trying to avoid adding a gusset to the shirt. I often replace the sleeves with contrasting ones for a cool color block look.

This method is not too hard. You first remove the sleeve. Then you flatten the shirt on a table and mark the bottom of the armscye the amount it needs to be lowered/enlarged. Cut a tapered line that meets back up with the original shoulder cut line.

Then, either redraft a new larger sleeve, or add a panel to the top or bottom of the sleeve.

Adding a panel to the bottom will hide it better, but adding a contrasting fabric panel to the top adds a sporty touch. Here is an example of a top that once had tight sleeves, I lowered the armhole and added a panel to the top of the sleeve.

To learn this method you can read my tutorial: How to Make Armhole And Sleeve Bigger.

You can also learn how to entirely redraft a sleeve in this tutorial.

Conclusion

There you have 5 different but very useful methods to fix tight sleeves on your shirt or dress. Each has different applications but each works! I have used all of these techniques to fix tight sleeves on my own garments.

How do you know which option to use? Don’t worry, there is a bit of overlap with what these methods will fix. If you can’t determine the exact right one, I recommend trying out number 5 or Number 2. They will generally fix the problem without too much fuss!

I want to mention again this very valuable digital ebook that has over 50 sleeve drating tutorials, amazing value for the price. Even if you have never drafted a sleeve before, you might consider learning how with a guide like this to make your sleeve finally fit just right!

I hope this post helped you out, if it did please pin it so that others can follow along, and join my email list for more tutorials!

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