Here is part 2 series of the Boho wedding gown I altered. I previously did part 1 to show you how I shortened the back waist of this gown. In this post, I'll show you how I shorted these lace sleeves without ruining the detail of the lace. The alteration is done from the top - removing the sleeve, making the alteration, and reattaching.
In the end, the bride decided she did not want the sleeves, so she removed them, tucked in the lace and did some amazing beading herself.
However, I wanted to show you the alteration I performed so if you decided to do this similar alteration, maybe my tutorial may help you!
Here are the original sleeves on the dress. She wanted them more like a cap sleeve style.
I feel that diagrams can show more clearly the details I have to describe. While the dress was on, I pinned up the top half portion of the sleeve to see how much we wanted to take up. Before I released my pins, I marked the new sleeve cap seam with another row of pins.
That dotted line represents my new row of pins. My goal is to remove that excess fabric and reconnect the sleeve cap. I had to partially disassemble the sleeve, cut the fabric, then I could reattach the sleeve - In that order.
Here is the front of the sleeve. The piece you see is what I took up with pins. I'm getting ready to release my pins.
You can see up close my second row of pins marking the area to be cut.
Released the pins. I'm measuring just to make sure the other side will be even.
Double checking to see how it will look before I cut.
I partially disassembled the sleeve.
I reattached the sleeve to the new marks. I did this because I want to be sure all fits good before cutting that excess fabric off.
Here is the excess fabric sticking out.
Before sewing, I hand basted the sleeve to the bodice.
Machined stitched the sleeve back on and removed basting.
Since everything looked good, I started to trim off the excess fabric.
I finished with some zig zag stitching on the raw edge.
Here is what the sleeve looks like now. (inside out)
Time to press!
Walla! Shorted sleeves!
Here is the final look with the new sleeves. Even though she did request the cap sleeves, in the end she decided to remove the sleeves and add bead work on the top. I still wanted to do a post on this since it was a process and could possibly help anyone who wants to shorten sleeves from the top with lace detail.
I think Lisa did a beautiful DIY here with her beadwork!
Wedding day - what a beautiful couple!
This concludes part 2 of this gown! I hope you found this tutorial helpful, thank you for stopping by and I'll see you next time!
Happy sewing! - Diana
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