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quick fix: winter to summer

While i’m waiting (impatiently) for the arrival of the sea container holding our entire household and all my sewing equipment (sigh/freakout), i find myself doing a lot of “quick fix” type projects.

This is one i’ve done over and over for the kids clothing. Often the season will change before they grow out of their long sleeves, and that just frustrates me! I hate wasting perfectly good clothing.

Since jersey doesn’t fray, i often cheat and just cut the sleeves shorter! Voila! Summer shirt!

Isn’t that ridiculously easy?

After a few washes the edges will curl up a bit – which to be honest is a look i actually quite like.

Sometimes i feel super energetic and hem the sleeves properly – but for the length of time toddlers use a shirt, i often can’t bring myself to go that far.

And since i’m a thrifty lady – i keep all the sleeves i cut off, incase i have the opposite problem when winter comes. I sew a contrasting sleeve onto a short sleeve shirt (usually for Buddy) to get that layered sleeve look.

About Author

Meg is the Founder and Creative Director of Megan Nielsen Patterns, and is constantly dreaming up ideas for new sewing patterns and ways to make your sewing journey more enjoyable! She gets really excited about design details and is always trying to add way too many variations to our patterns.

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Vanya Earthia
11 years ago

Ah awesome! I too cut off sleeves of my own t-shirts, and shorten tops! love jersey ;) Great blog, I’ve been reading for a while – thank you! ;)

Stephanie @ Henry Happened

so pretty! I can imagine this done on grown up clothes, too :)

Annelise
Annelise
11 years ago

That is so cute, I want one!

stacysewsandschools
11 years ago

CUTE!!!
I also cut off the sleeves without hemming. LOL I love the curled up look it gives!! :) I made a maxi dress out of knit and didn’t hem it at all.

stacysewsandschools
11 years ago
Reply to  Meg

Thanks!
Exactly!! It gives some items a more bohemian look.
Come to think of it, I left the edges of my peasant blouse un-hemmed, too. LOL

Katie
Katie
11 years ago

Keeping the sleeves is brill – officially stealing your idea now :)

Marina
11 years ago

Love this idea. One of those seemingly simple ones but for some reason I’d never thought of doing it! Your little girl is a real cutie…

casey
casey
11 years ago

what is that toy in the before shot?