How to Shorten Sleeves of a Button Up Shirt
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Learn how to shorten sleeves of a button up shirt to get the right fit. This is a simple alteration to make your sleeves the right length.
Everyone needs alterations to make your clothes fit. Clothes are made to fit an arbitrary average that doesn’t actually exist. You can shorten the sleeves of a button up shirt for the right fit, and the best part is that it’s a very easy sewing alteration!
You can shorten sleeves on a button up shirt for both men’s shirts, women’s shirts, and some children’s shirts. Any shirt sleeve that has a sleeve placket and a cuff can use this method. It’s quick and easy.
Clothing is made to fit an average that doesn’t exist. Simple alterations like this can make your clothes look custom made. Clothes look the most expensive when they fit you. This is one of the sewing and alterations you can do yourself!
What is a sleeve placket and cuff?
A placket is an opening in the bottom of the sleeve that makes it possible to roll up your sleeves. The cuff is tighter than the sleeve and it keeps the sleeve at the wrist instead of falling down on the hand.
How much can I shorten a sleeve?
Sleeves with plackets can only be shortened up to an 1″ though, if you shorten sleeves any more than that you won’t be able to roll up your sleeves.
Here are some ideas for altering your clothes:
- How to shorten a sweater
- How to crop a sweatshirt
- How to shorten sweater sleeves
- How to shorten a sweater from the bottom
- How to make a shirt bigger
How to Shorten Sleeves
Supplies
- Button up shirt with sleeves that are too long (up to 1″)
- Seam ripper
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Marking tool
- Pins
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine
Put the shirt on. Move your arms around a little bit and then let them hang heavy by your sides. Have someone mark how much needs to be removed or where the sleeve should hit on your arm. Take the shirt of and measure how much needs to be removed.
If the amount is less than 1 inch then you can use this tutorial to shorten it. If the amount is more than 1 inch then you need to use a different tutorial to shorten it.
Use a seam ripper to carefully take the cuffs off. Pull out on the remnant threads so that you don’t sew over them. Especially take out the topstitching thread that is often thick.
Mark (up to an 1″) up from the original cut line. Make sure you still have seam allowance. You can mark the new cut line and the new sew line to help you keep it straight.
Cut along the line. You will cut through the placket, seam, and pleats.
Carefully pin the cuff onto the sleeve matching the top of the cuff to the marked line. Be careful to pin the cuff to the right sleeve.
The buttons should be on the same side as the buttons and the buttonholes should be on the same side as the buttonholes. The right cuff needs to go on the right sleeve, and the left cuff needs to go on the left sleeve.
The pleats will need to be adjusted and deepened. You will have to play with them until they fit smoothly in the cuff.
Sew with a regular stitch on the original cuff seam line. Make sure your thread matches the original thread exactly so that it doesn’t look like you altered the sleeves.
Check to make sure you caught the fabric on the back side.
Press the new pleats really well. They go up to the height of the placket. You might have to sew the buttons back on which you can do by hand or by sewing machine.
I’ve done this on crisp white shirts too!
If you make shorten sleeves using this tutorial, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
You can move the placket that is connected to the cuff up. Remove the placket and notice the under fabric at the top of the placket. Cut through the middle of that piece minus half inch of total you are shortening the sleeve. By moving the placket up you can roll up the sleeve. Hope this makes sense. Practice on an old shirt. It is a satisfying alteration.
Yes, you can move the placket up if you need the sleeve to be even shorter. It’s just a lot more involved than this tutorial!
I want to know if there is a way to change long sleeved cuffed shirts into 3/4 lengths?
If you want to shorten it that much, you have to redo the placket and the cuff. The placket is pretty involved to move up. You can just cut and hem it at 3/4 length without the cuff though.
Thank you it was very helpful and easy to follow!!
I used to pinch out a 2-inch tuck above the elbow. Sewn, it looked like a design detail.
yes! I'm lazy too! so easy, but I just HATE hemming. I want to make something FUN! 🙂 or lay in bed and read awesome blogs all day! ha
That's so easy, and still I always feel too lazy for this small adjustments when sewing. hehe