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Early 1940's—Ladies' Garment Cutting and Making
by F. R. Morris

Chapter XI—Sleeves for Dresses

THERE is a saying in the trade at the moment that "the sleeve makes the dress." Of recent designs this is certainly true, for sleeves have had the attention of designers concentrated upon them exclusively to the end of added interest in the design as a whole.

It is certainly true that the addition of an intricate sleeve to a dress minimizes the need for a great deal of design in the body part, and so we have pouched, pleated, gathered and leg-of-mutton sleeves featured with recent dress styles.

The majority of intricate sleeve designs can be evolved from a basic one-piece sleeve pattern with manipulation, though in the majority of instances it is practically impossible to obtain a sleeve pattern by straight drafting. A certain amount of cutting about of the basic pattern is necessary before the desired result is achieved.

Dress sleeves are based upon the same principles as coat sleeves, with amendment to the draft for the requirements of the smaller armhole, and consequent less quantity of fullness in the sleeve crown in addition to the general narrower cut in the sleeve width at the elbow and cuff.

From the basic one- and two-piece sleeve patterns, any sleeve design with darts, pleats or pouched effects can be cut in a few moments providing the basic principles of manipulating and cutting about of the outline pattern are thoroughly understood. So the author will show the basic drafts for one- and two-piece sleeves in their outline form and illustrate how to cut the many sleeve design variations in vogue at the moment.

Figure 125 (a)Basic Draft (Fig. 125 (a))

The draft of the scye is as follows, based upon a 36-inch bust size.

To draft—

Square lines from X.

The front sleeve pitch is located at A, ¾ inch up from the base of the scye line at 12.

The back pitch B is located at half the back depth from X to 1 up from 5.

The following measures derived from the scye outline are necessary—

(1) The height of the back sleeve pitch from the breast line to calculate the base of sleeve depth.

(2) The sleeve crown height, derived from the position of the shoulder seams in their relation to the height of the back pitch from the breast line after they have been sewn together.

(3) The circumference measure round the top-scye from the front pitch A to the shoulder end at 18 and from the back shoulder end at 16 to the back pitch B.

(4) The circumference measure of the under-scye, measured from the back pitch B round the under-scye to 19 and the front pitch A.

(5) The total scye circumference, combining the top- and under-scye measures.

(6) The full sleeve length, measured either from the centre back to the elbow and wrist or alternatively from the sleeve seam at the shoulder end to the wrist over the forearm.

These days dress sleeves are worn very long instead of the normal length, to crease over the hand at the wrist and to act as a safeguard to the sleeve shortening up the arm in wear, which is a fault in tightly-fitting dress sleeves.

Figure 125 (b)One-piece Sleeve Basis Draft (Fig. 125 (b))

Fig. 125 (b) illustrates the one-piece sleeve draft. The following measures are derived from the scye—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

Figure 126Two-piece Sleeve Basis Draft (Fig. 126 (a))

The scye measures are as enumerated for the one-piece sleeve draft. The hindarm seam is displaced towards the underneath of the sleeve, and a three-quarter sleeve finish to the forearm seam is also included in the draft outline.

To draft—

Square lines from X.

One-piece Sleeve (Fig. 126 (b))

Fig. 126 (b) illustrates the draft of a one-piece sleeve for dresses, with the seam at the forearm instead of at the underarm.

This sleeve is very suitable for cutting pouched effects at the hindarm, as it is cut on the fold of the material at this section.

The scye measures are derived from Fig. 125, and are as follows—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

Figure 127The Raglan Sleeve (Fig. 127)

Raglan sleeves for dresses are deservedly popular at the moment, for they are definitely possessed of greater style value than the plain set-in sleeve, in addition to their ability to harmonize with practically any bodice or skirt design. Though the raglan sleeve with the overarm seam is not used to a great extent, it is always advisable to adhere to the shoulder construction embodying a dart from the neck to the shoulder end in preference to the shoulder construction giving a whole raglan shoulder sleeve without the dart.

The shoulder section of Fig. 127 is constructed to agree with the measurements in accordance with the proportions of a 36-inch bust figure, and the working scale is 18 inches.

To draft—

Square lines from X.

It is advisable to keep the back width for a raglan style rather on the narrow side; otherwise, there is a tendency for the sleeve to cause creases at the back of the armhole when the arm is at the side. The author prefers to think of raglan sleeves as a part of the bodice instead of a separate entirety, and to systematize the construction on a magyar sleeve basis, varying the seam runs irrespective of the outline of the normal scye. Individuality of design is not achieved by adhering to the set outlines of conventional ideas, but by courageously departing from the stereotyped lines and drafting our seams to obtain the artistic appreciation of good style and line.

To do this we must always think of the sleeve and bodice as a whole and add to one the quantity taken from the other.

Figure 128The Raglan Sleeve Draft (Fig. 128)

For the object of illustrating the construction of the raglan sleeve shoulders, a one-piece sleeve basis draft has been adopted. The constructional points described are equally applicable to any other type of sleeve, so it is unnecessary to describe more than the application of the systematic principles to one type of sleeve.

The method of constructing the raglan horns on the one-piece sleeve base is the principle of measuring the shape of the displaced sections of the shoulders and applying these quantities to the sleeve head to obtain the shape of the raglan shoulders on the sleeve in a similar manner to cutting away the shoulder sections and laying them in position on the sleeve head as described in Chapter VIII (Fig. 57). If an intricate shoulder seam design is intended, it is necessary to cut the shoulder sections from the body part and then lay in position on the sleeve draft in a similar way to the cutting of drop-shoulder line sleeves.

The scye measurements are as follows—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

The construction of the raglan shoulders is as follows—

Similarly, if the point 25 were lower than 1 inch from the neck point, the measurements taken and applied as above would give an accurate shape of the front shoulder section for adapting to the sleeve head.

The back sleeve horn is constructed in a like manner.

In the event of a seam being required over the arm from the shoulder in true raglan style, the shoulder dart seams will be continued down the sleeve on the construction line from 4 to 8.

It is necessary to allow seams when sewing out the shoulder dart from 26 and 29 to 4; also, when the seams are continued down the sleeve, provision must be made.

When shaping the raglan seam runs on the front and back shoulders it is not advisable to add too much curve to the seams. They should be shaped to curve inside the prominence of the shoulder bone in the front; for, if the seam is curved over the prominence, a constriction on the shoulder will be felt and the sleeve will drag badly over the muscle as the arm is moved forward.

Figure 129The Drop-shoulder Line (Fig. 129)

Sharing the popularity of the raglan sleeve is the drop-shoulder line sleeve. As the name indicates, the shoulder sleeve seam is lowered from its usual position to further over the arm on the sleeve, and, in some instances, the normal sleeve seam over the shoulder is dispensed with altogether and the sleeve and body part cut completely in one piece. The drop-shoulder line sleeve allows many variations of design to be interpreted; the sloping-shoulder effect may be achieved or, alternatively, the seam run of the lowered shoulder line may suggest a square appearance to the shoulders.

The principle of cutting away the shoulder sections and superimposing them on the normal set-in sleeve pattern is identical in principle with the cutting of raglan sleeves.

For the purpose of illustrating the drafting of the drop-shoulder line and reconstruction of the sleeve to agree with the lowered shoulder, a design has been chosen that embodies a square-cut front and back yoke with the need for the yoke seams on the shoulders to run over the arm and for a similar design on the sleeve.

Measurements for the shoulder section draft in Fig. 129 are based upon a normal 36-inch bust figure.

To draft—

Square lines from X.

Cut away the front yoke from 23 to 24, 25, 26, 28, 27, 18, 22, 14, and 11, and close out the bust dart from 28 to 29 and 22 to 14.

The remainder of the bust dart shown on the bodice from 28 and 29 to 21 should be eliminated by opening out the sideseam and forming an underarm bust dart in the usual manner.

Cut out the back yoke from B to 30, 31, 32, X, 4, and 16 to B.

Figure 130The Drop-shoulder Line Sleeve Construction (Fig. 130)

Fig. 130 shows the addition of the cut-away shoulder sections to the sleeve pattern in accordance with the general principles of superimposing the scye on the sleeve draft.

Measurements of the scye are derived from Fig. 128, and are as follows—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

The preceding method illustrates the general principle of interpreting drop-shoulder and similar shoulder lines with attendant sleeve reconstruction. It is not essential always to take the shoulder seams over the sleeve; in the example described, the shoulder yokes at the back and front could be cut in one piece with the entire sleeve without the over-sleeve continuation.

Intricate Sleeve Designs

The following style diagrams will illustrate how to cut many examples of intricate sleeve designs, in addition to showing the methods adopted for interpreting designs to harmonize with the requirements of waist suppression. The designs chosen will have undoubted style value, for they will illustrate important style features of recurring interest. The tendency to choose styles of which there are no features that present technical difficulty will be avoided as far as possible; and each design will, in addition to showing intricacy of sleeve cutting, enhance general cutting knowledge by extending the principles of cutting to a wider range and scope.

Figure 131A Raglan Sleeve Dress (Fig. 131)

The first example takes the form of a smart town dress with raglan sleeves smooth over the shoulders and at the wrist gathered into a narrow cuff band.

The design shows a wrap-over bodice effect draped into a shaped waist seam, while the skirt is also gathered into the hip yoke at the centre front and back.

At the back, the waist yoke seam runs across straight from sideseam to sideseam and the skirt has a slight flare infused by pattern manipulation.

Measures for the draft are as follows—

To draft—

Commence by drawing line from X to X, the full dress length, i.e. 45 inches.

This completes the draft of the dress and the following diagrams will show the pattern manipulation.

Figure 132THE SLEEVE DRAFT (FIG. 132)

The following sleeve measures are derived from the scye of Fig. 131—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

Figure 133Manipulation of the Sleeve Pattern for the Wrist Fullness (Fig. 133)

The sleeve basis outline requires manipulation to provide for the extra width of cuff to pouch over the wrist. Fig. 133 indicates the raglan sleeve outline as drafted by the system illustrated by Fig. 132.

To add the extra width of cuff proportionately round the sleeve, take the pattern and mark from point 4 squarely down to the cuff at A. A is the centre of the cuff. By pivoting from point 4, open out the sleeve pattern so that points B and C are each 2 to 3 inches from A, depending on the amount of fullness required at the cuff. This operation reconstructs the sleeve pattern as points 17A, 16A, 19A, and 18A.

The sleeve should be gathered into a narrow wrist band about 8 inches in length and 1 inch in width. The wrist band may be either finished as a tie or fastened with press-studs or a buttonhole.

Figure 134Manipulation of the Bodice for Fullness (Fig. 134)

The bodice pattern is manipulated to produce the draped effect as follows. Cut the bodice part away from the pattern round point 49, 64, 65, 66, 27, 39, 40 and 36, and then close out the bust dart from 65 to 66, pivoting from 40 as shown.

The pattern is then wedged up from two points between 36 and 49, pivoting from between 65 and 64, and is opened out the required amount of fullness, which is 3 inches in this example.

The reconstructed pattern is illustrated by points 64A and 49A. The fullness should be gathered evenly into the yoke seam both on top and underneath, and for the edge finish an inlay should be added down from 64A to 49A.

Figure 135Dress with a Darted Shoulder Line (Fig. 135)

The smart dress illustrated by Fig. 135 has a unique shoulder line and sleeve cut. The sleeve is inserted at the shoulder in the shape of a square yoke, forming a square opening at the back and front neck, with darts across the yoke from the neck opening to the shoulder end, giving fullness in the upper sleeve from the shoulder to the elbow. Below the elbow to the wrist, the extra sleeve width is gathered into a shaped cuff to form a pouched effect at the hindarm.

The dress has a wrap-over front fastening with two buttons, and a pointed hip yoke on the skirt at the front to terminate the continuation of the high bodice waist seam from the back waist. The design gives a good illustration of how to achieve back waist suppression without the aid of either panel or across-waist seams. A slight flare is added to the centre front and sideseams to give walking room, and as an average the width of the skirt at the hem line should in all instances be 1½ yards or more.

Measures for the draft are as follows—

To draft—

Commence by drawing line from X to X, the full dress length.

This completes the draft of the dress and manipulation of the pattern to produce waist suppression is as follows—

After the scye measurements have been ascertained for the purpose of drafting out the sleeve, the back and front shoulder yokes should be cut away from the bodice in the lines from 66 to 64 and 58 and from 55 to 54.

A seam is placed across the waist from 9 to 33 and the front waist suppression is closed out by cutting through the pattern from the front waist dart at 45 down to 46 and closing the edges of the waist dart together.

Above the waist line, the waist suppression is closed out in a similar manner,by closing the two edges of the dart together at 45 pivoting from 44.

The manipulation of the back waist suppression is as follows. Cut out the side waist section from 48 to 38 and 49, then split up the pattern from 37 and 38 to 42 and 39.

Close out the back waist dart from 37 to 38, by pivoting from 39 and opening out the width of the skirt at 40.

Close out the back waist suppression above the waist by pivoting from 37 to 38 and 42 and opening out the shoulder seam at 41.

Figure 136THE SLEEVE DRAFT (Fig. 136)

The following are the scye measurements derived from Fig. 135—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

The yoke sections of the bodice are cut away from the shoulders and now placed in position on the sleeve head.

It is essential to have ease in the sleeve for a good-hanging sleeve; therefore, the position where the shoulder yoke is placed on the sleeve head is decided by the need for a slight amount of ease in the sleeve from the front pitch A in Fig. 135 to where the yoke is joined to the sleeve head.

Measure round the front scye from the front pitch A to the termination of the shoulder yoke seam from 64 to 66 at the scye, and apply this quantity round the sleeve head from 1 to 24 plus ½ inch to ¾ inch for ease.

Then place the front shoulder section in position on the sleeve head by placing point 66 in Fig. 135 to agree with point 24 and points 65 and 21 to run with the shape of the sleeve crown as indicated.

Measure from the back pitch B to the yoke at 55 in Fig. 135 and apply this quantity from 3 to 55 on the sleeve head as indicated. Place the back shoulder yoke section in position on the sleeve head so that 55 and 19 run with the sleeve crown.

Shape out the over-shoulder dart from 5 and 14 to 19, 21 and 4.

Figure 137Fig. 137 (A) and (B)

Fig. 137 (A) illustrates the shape of the sleeve before manipulation. Mark down from 17 to 20 and 20 to 23 the three-quarter sleeve length.

Cut the sleeve pattern through from A to 65 and C to 56 preparatory to opening out the sleeve dart to produce the shoulder fullness.

Fig. 137 (B) shows the sleeve pattern after manipulation. After the manipulation lines have been cut through in the manner as described above, commencing at the forearm of the sleeve, open out the shoulder dart from 60 to 65 and insert 1 inch of extra width as indicated by the shaded lines. The pivoting point of the above operation is point A on the cuff edge of the sleeve, which remains constant in its position.

At the hindarm and back shoulder yoke, open out the shoulder dart from 57 to 56 and insert a similar increase of width in the sleeve to the front allowance from 60 to 65. This opening out the shoulder dart is pivoted from point C on the sleeve cuff.

This completes the manipulation of the sleeve pattern to produce the darted shoulder fullness. Add 1½ inches for a hem at the cuff end of the sleeve.

Figure 138Fig. 138 (A) and (B)

Fig. 138 (A) shows the bodice pattern cut away from the skirt and shoulder sections of the pattern, and Fig. 138 (B) illustrates the manipulation of the pattern to eliminate the shoulder dart and produce fullness over the bust in the front high waist line seam.

Cut through the pattern down the shoulder dart lines from 62 and 64 to 44 and up from 52 to 44.

Close point 62 to 64, pivoting from 44 to open 52 to 52A. Join 52 to 52A to complete the shape of the waist seam.

If additional fullness is required over the bust, the pattern should be widened by pivoting from point 64/62 and opening at 44 the required amount.

Figure 139Dress with a Drop-shoulder Line (Fig. 139)

A summer dress is depicted by Fig. 139, and style notes are as follows: The skirt is very plain in character with a back waist dart to achieve suppression, and, in the front skirt, a pocket is inserted in a seam running squarely from the waist to the sideseams above the hip level. An inverted pleat gives walking room to an otherwise plain, tight-fitting skirt. The bodice has a drop-shoulder effect with a centre-front opening fastened with buttons, while, at the back, the drop-shoulder line terminates in a point in the centre.

The draft is based upon measurements disproportionate in size to normal, for in this instance the hip circumference is smaller than the bust girth after the 1 inch for ease has been added. Therefore the draft must be based on the bust circumference; otherwise an overlapping of the sideseams at the bust level would be needed.

Measures for the draft are as follows—

To draft—

Commence by drawing line from X to X, equal to the full dress length, i.e. 45 inches.

Now we come to the across-chest width and the need for a disproportionately greater increase of width than that required for a proportionate woman with a 37-inch bust.

As the normal bust girth for a woman measuring 32 inches over the actual chest should be 34 inches, if there is an apparent increase of size to 37 inches this does not mean that the increase is proportionately distributed, otherwise the back width and chest circumference would also show an increase. So, when the chest measure is disproportionately smaller than the bust circumference, we can safely infer that the increase of girth is from the sideseams forward across the bust. The increase is not placed to the front in its entirety, however. If the author thinks that the normal across-chest width for a 37-inch bust figure is inadequate, he adds two-thirds of the difference between the across-chest widths for normal 34-inch and 37-inch bust circumferences to this quantity.

Therefore, the across-chest width for a normal 34-inch bust girth is 7½ inches, and the normal across-chest width for a 37-inch bust circumference is one-fourth of the bust girth less 1 inch, i.e. 8¼ inches; two-thirds of the difference between these measures are added to the across-chest width for normal 37-inch bust girth, giving a total quantity of 8¾ inches. In other words—

If the total increase of girth is added to the front, this would mean an increase of 1½ inches to the across-chest width, as the draft would be based upon a 34-inch bust circumference. The across-chest width would become 7½ inches plus 1½ inches, a total of 9 inches. By computating the across-chest increase of width by two-thirds of the difference between the normal widths for the two bust girths, a slightly wider scye is obtained, which is needed as women of the full-bust type usually are well developed about the shoulders and arms.

A seam is placed through the waist from front to back, and the back waist suppression is closed out by pivoting from 42 and closing 37 to 38.

Add ¾ inch down the front opening from 63 to 64 as shown to complete the draft.

Manipulation of the front skirt and bodice is illustrated by the second diagram in Fig. 139. Pivoting from point 46, close out the bust dart by closing 44 to 47 to open the sideseam dart at 55 to A. The drop-shoulder line from 58 to 59, 60 and 61 in the first diagram now becomes a continuous line, and the yoke so formed may be cut away from the bodice.

Close out the waist suppression from 48 to 49 to open the sideseam dart at 55 which becomes lowered to line B to 46.

The quantity shown between A and B is reduced by two sideseam darts as shown by the solid lines, each dart being 4 inches in length.

The skirt is manipulated so as to close out the waist suppression by closing 48 to 49, pivoting from 50. The hem-line width increases from 54 to 54 as the waist dart is closed out, and the seam from the waist at 48 joins up with the pocket mouth seam from 51 to 53.

Add 4 inches at the centre front for the inverted pleat as indicated by points 65 to 68 and 69.

Figure 140THE SLEEVE DRAFT (Fig. 140)

The following are the scye measurements necessary for drafting the sleeve—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

The shoulder sections of the drop shoulder are cut through and placed in alignment with the sleeve head.

Measure round the front-scye from the front pitch to point 61 in Fig. 139 and apply this quantity round the sleeve head from 1 to 61 plus ½ inch for sleeve ease.

Place the front yoke in position, making point 61 on the shoulder agree with 61 on the sleeve head, and point 21 at the shoulder end meet the sleeve crown at 5.

Place the back section of the shoulder in position on the sleeve head, with the back pitch B covering point 3 on the sleeve; the shoulder end at 19 touches the sleeve head at 5. Shape the continuation of the drop-shoulder line across the sleeve head from 61 to 62, locating point 16 1½ inches to 2 inches below 4.

Fig. 140 (b) shows the shoulder yoke and drop shoulder cut away from the sleeve. The seam from 5 and 14 to 4 and 16 may be terminated at 4 instead of taken through to 16.

Figure 141Figure 141 Style IllustrationDress with a Sloping Shoulder Line (Fig. 141)

The dress illustrated by the following draft shows the drop-shoulder line cut in one with the sleeve. The shoulder treatment gives a sloping-shoulder effect, as the shoulder line is kept low towards the base of the armhole and disappears at the scye to become part of the one-piece sleeve. A high neck line is included in the design with a jabot bow for fastening at the fronts and a centre back opening with buttons.

The skirt design shows a panel seam running from a slightly higher waist line in front to a low line at the back. A fairly full flared hem line is attained by panel seam flaring, and the design gives a lesson on the application of waist suppression principles to a design without the aid of a waist seam.

Measures for the draft are as follows—

To draft—

Commence by drawing a line from X to X, the full dress length, i.e. 47 inches.

The shoulder line breaks at the bust dart at 69 and 68, the distance of each of these points being equal from point 42, so that when the dart is sewn out the shoulder line becomes a continuous run. The dress draft is now completed.

Figure 142THE SLEEVE DRAFT (FIG. 142)

The scye measurements are as follows—

To draft—

Square lines from X.

Figure 143Manipulation of the Front and Back Bodice Patterns (Fig. 143)

Manipulation of the back and forepart bodice patterns for obtaining waist suppression is carried out as follows. Cut through the suppression lines from 58 and 57 to 62 and down from 61 to 62. Close 58 to 57 by pivoting from 62, which causes the shoulder seam to lengthen as shown. Shape the shoulder-yoke seam from 63 to 64 and re-mark the outline of the pattern from 19, 29 and 34 to 57.

The bodice front is manipulated as follows. To obtain a whole shoulder yoke and bodice front close out the bust dart from 17 to 43, pivoting from 41, and close out the waist suppression dart from 49 to 50. The sideseam bust dart line from 44 to 42 consequently moves to 44A and 44B; therefore, the distance between these two points comprises the amount to be taken from the sideseams by the bust dart. The quantity registered between 44A and 44B is 2 inches, so two bust darts are marked from 44A and 44 to C and D, each equal in size to half the total quantity to be darted out.

The front shoulder yoke becomes one piece by the act of closing out the shoulder dart, and the broken line from 67 to 68 and 69 to 70 becomes a continuous seam run.

Figure 144The Reconstruction of the Sleeve (Fig. 144)

The sleeve is cut on the fold edge from 17, 18 to 21 as illustrated.

Measure round the scye from A to 21 and apply this quantity round the sleeve head from 1 to A plus 1½ inches for fullness. B from A = ¾ inch. Shape out the small dart at the sleeve head down for a distance of 1 inch.

C is midway 20 to 21 for the position of the overarm seam. D from C = 1½ inches. Shape out the two rounded edges of the sleeve cuff as illustrated and then complete by joining D to B and A.

When cutting from the material add a seam on each side of this seam.

The edge of the cuff may either be faced up with the same material or else bound with a narrow bias binding.

Style Illustration for Figures 145-149Style Illustrations of Figures 145-149
(a) Leg-of-Mutton Sleeve.
(b) Pouched-hindarm Sleeve.
(c) Sleeve with Vertical Fullness.
(d) Double Pouched Sleeve.
(e) The "Cowl" or Draped Sleeve.

The Leg-of-Mutton Sleeve (Fig. 145)

Fig. 145 (a) Figure 145indicates the standard basic one-piece sleeve pattern drafted in the usual manner. To produce the leg-of-mutton sleeve, it is first necessary to realize that length and width are required in the sleeve head to form the pouch effect by either darts or gathers. There must be extra length down the sleeve to provide for the increased size of the sleeve at the shoulder when the darts or gathers are sewn out. Therefore, the sleeve pattern must be manipulated to produce extra length and width.

Mark the following manipulation lines on the one-piece pattern according to whether the pouch effect is required to be high at the shoulder end or low down at the elbow.

Cut through the manipulation lines from the above six dart positions to 5, keeping just sufficiently away from this point to enable the sleeve pattern to be manipulated without the various sections becoming detached. Cut through from 5 to 2 and 1, making sure that the sleeve does not become separated.

Fig. 145 (b) shows the manipulation in detail. By pivoting from points 1, 2 and 5, open out the six darts to allow for 1¼ inches of extra width for a dart at each of the points. As the darts are opened, the sleeve will increase in width and length as indicated by the shaded lines, subsequently to be drawn back to form a pouch effect when the darts are sewn out.

There are many methods of taking out the darts. They may be pleated over when the sleeve is sewn into the armhole, in the form of either small knife or box pleats. Alternatively, they may be sewn out inside the sleeve like an ordinary dart, or as an outside dart to show machine stitching. Another method is to dispense with darts and to gather the sleeve into the armhole, firstly drawing in the fullness with a thread or by machine.

Figure 146The Pouched-hindarm Sleeve (Fig. 146)

The pouched-hindarm sleeve is reproduced from a one-piece sleeve base, drafted in the usual manner, with the seam placed at the forearm and the hind-arm of the sleeve cut on the fold of the material from sleeve head to elbow.

Fig. 146 (a) shows the basic pattern with a shaped cuff marked from 1 to 2 and 3, commencing 6 inches from the end of the sleeve. Point 4 indicates where the fold edge of the sleeve ends, and 5 is the pivoting point for increasing the elbow width.

Fig. 146 (b) illustrates the manipulation. The need for extra width and length at the hindarm to form the pouch effect must be observed. Pivoting from point 5, sweep from 4 to 4A a distance of 2 inches. Line through from 5 to 4A and continue down to 6 and 7. Pivoting from 5, sweep from 3 to 6 the length from 5 to 3.

The extra length at the hindarm is added from 6 to 7. The amount added varies with the effect required, and an average quantity is 1½ inches. Shape round from 2 to 7 and from point 8 on the under-sleeve as indicated; 9 from 3 is 1 inch, and the sleeve seams from 2 and 8 pass through this point. The increase of width from 9 to 7 may be reduced by three darts at the forearm and hindarm as marked by dash lines or by gathers as indicated by Fig. 146 (c), showing the reconstructed shape of the sleeve.

Figure 147Sleeve with Vertical Fullness (Fig. 147)

The basic pattern utilized for producing this type of sleeve is the plain one-piece pattern with seams at the underarm. Length must be infused in one half of the sleeve to form a ruched effect at the hindarm from the shoulder to the elbow, in addition to a slightly pouched effect above the elbow.

Fig. 147 (a) indicates the manipulation.

By pivoting from 6 and the points marked on the line from 6 to 7, open out the sleeve as indicated by Fig. 147 (b), allowing 1 inch of fullness to each of the cuts at the centre and hindarm seams. The extra length to form the pouched effect is obtained as the darts open and increase the distance between the centre and hindarm sleeve seams and the position of point 6 from 5.

Shape round the reconstructed sleeve outline from 3 to 1 and 6 to 12 and 4. The sleeve fullness is either darted or gathered to the plain sleeve front from between the points A and B on the centre sleeve seam and between C and D on the under-sleeve seam (Fig. 147(c)).

Figure 148The Double Pouched Sleeve (Fig. 148)

The double pouched sleeve consists of a tight-fitting one-piece sleeve with a three-quarter- or half-length sleeve sewn to the tight-fitting sleeve to form the pouched effect.

Both sleeves are derived from the standard one-piece pattern, and the extra width and length to form the pouch are infused by manipulating as indicated on the lines laid down in the previous draft descriptions.

Points 1 to 4 are the outline of the one-piece sleeve pattern.

Five and 6 from 3 and 4 indicate where the pouched top-sleeve sews to the tight-fitting under-sleeve. Add 3 inches of extra length from 5 to 8 and 6 to 7; then mark four manipulation lines from 9, 10, 11 and 12 at the sleeve head down to 13, 14, 15 and 16 at the end of the top sleeve.

Cut through each of the manipulation lines from 13, 14, 15 and 16 to 12, 11, 10, and 9 respectively. By pivoting from points 9, 10, 11 and 12, open out the sleeve pattern by inserting 2 ½ inches of extra width at each of the following points: 13 to 13A, 14 to 14A, 15 to 15A and 16 to 16A, as in Fig. 148 (b). Reshape the top sleeve outline from 1 to 2 round the sleeve head and from 8 to 7 round the sewing edge.

The increase of width from 7 to 8 is drawn in to agree with the distance from 5 to 6 in Fig. 148 (a), or may be reduced by means of darts or pleats.

The top sleeve must be mounted on a tight-fitting foundation to form the "drop" of the pouch; otherwise, if the sleeve from 7 to 8 were sewn to 5 to 6 without the foundation going right through to the armhole, the result would be that the wrist part from 3 and 4 to 5 and 6 would drop down and the pouched effect lost.

Figure 149The "Cowl" or Draped Sleeve (Fig. 149)

The "cowl" or draped sleeve is a recent style and is very suitable for evening and afternoon dress sleeves, in addition to its adaptability for swagger or town coats. It resembles a "cowl" in appearance, and the principles of cutting are similar in practice. To form a "cowl" effect there must be both additional length and width in a triangular form as an addition to the basic outline of the pattern where the "cowl" is superimposed. Fig. 149 (a) shows the one-piece sleeve foundation with manipulation lines marked for obtaining the required additional length and width down the centre of the arm to the elbow.

The preceding drafts indicate the general manipulation of a basic sleeve pattern for draped and pouched effects. With practice, the cutting of fancy sleeve designs becomes simplified as the knowledge of where and how to manipulate the outline pattern becomes familiar. Always keep in mind the principle of additional length and width for pouch effects, and the points where this addition must be made will become automatically fixed.


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