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Sewing long layered sleeves on tshirts

Newbie sewer seeks advice: I like to design and sew appliques on tshirts for my little boy. Its winter now though, and I was considering long sleeved tshirts. Then I had a thought - I recently got a used serger ( a 4/3/2) and was wondering what I would do with it - and I thought of a cool idea: I thought I could buy some coordinating stretch knits and attach long sleeve layers under the applique'd tshirts. But of course, I'm not quite sure how best to do this and its not something that sewing books have in it.

I assume I need to remove the hem in the sleeve, pin the new sleeve to it and then resew on the serger.

All recommendations welcome.

Reply to
Beth In Alaska
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Or you could leave the hem where it is. Then just topstitch the new sleeve in place over the hem stitching on the original sleeve. That way it would look like he's wearing the long sleeve t under the short sleeve t. Y'know so he would look like all the teenagers. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

sharon!! Thats the idea! but I bought "kiddie" knits for the long sleeves.

Question - I have an OLD serger - do I serge the sleeve edge and the hem on the traditional (since I have no idea how to do a flatlock, just a regular overlock, I think)???

Reply to
Beth In Alaska

Nevermind, I've found flatlock instructions. Thank god for the internet! I'll flatlock the hem of the sleeve and overlock the seam up the arm.

Reply to
BethInAK

:D So glad you liked the idea! And I'm tickled you found flatlock instructions. A good way to do a cheat-face cover stitch (which you sometimes see on knit hems) is to serge the cut edge, then turn up about twice the width of the serged stitches (so you turn up the serged part, and that much more.) Then topstitch with a double needle. (Or twice with a single needle about 1/4" or less apart. Use the edge of your presser foot instead of the markings on the machine bed. Works great.)

Glad I could help you figure that out. Let me know how it turns out. Sounds like it will be really cute!!!! The teenagers here (including my one teen and one almost teen) wear a lot of the long sleeve t-shirts under short sleeve t-shirts. I'd sweat to death in AR in 2 shirts, but whatever. lol I've seen a lot of dragons crawling up the sleeves, and Chinese glyphs and flames. Those seem to be the most popular. Just some ideas for later. Once you get rolling on this, you may whip through the kiddie knits fast and need other ideas. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

you can buy short sleeve t-shirts in Alaska !? and i thought it was always winter in Alaska ;)

Reply to
robb

I think i'll try the fake coverstitch - sounds fun.

My shirts are usually animals, but I have plans for a rocket ship too - Monk is only 2 and doesn't need skulls or flames - although we love dragons. Right now working on a fed fox applique (need to find coordinating arm fabric still).

Reply to
BethInAK

Its just about to become another endless winter!

Reply to
BethInAK

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