This Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve length Cutting is for beginners as well as for sewing experts, who want a ready guide while cutting a dress for anybody.
In this post, I share with you -
- 4 Rules of Taking Armhole Measurements
- Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting / SCYE
- Tips to Get your Scye / sleeve hole right
My Story - Cutting an armhole depth and sleeves used to be something I feared most.
And I know if you are here, you also share my fears.
That's the reason, I decided to share a super easy way to cut the armhole depth (or length) with you.
You can simply check out your size and figure out the number that is your measurement, and accordingly cut your dress' armhole and sleeve.
Using this method, I am sure you'll get your armhole (and the sleeve) perfectly fitting. This will help you make your own sewing patterns at home.
Table of Contents
How to Make Your Own Sewing Pattern at Home
Make Your Own Sewing Pattern at Home using Manual or Online Method. It’s easy to make your own sewing pattern using the tips that I use.
Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting
Chest / Bust Round | armhole Depth / Length | Sleeve Length |
|---|---|---|
16 | 4 | 4.5 |
17 | 4.25 | 4.75 |
18 | 4.5 | 5 |
19 | 4.75 | 5.25 |
20 |
5 |
5.5 |
21 |
5.25 |
5.75 |
22 |
5.5 |
6 |
23 |
5.5 |
6 |
24 |
5.75 |
6.25 |
25 |
6 |
6.5 |
26 |
6 |
6.5 |
27 |
6.25 |
6.75 |
28 |
6.5 |
7 |
29 |
6.5 |
7 |
30 |
6.75 |
7.25 |
31 |
7 |
7.5 |
32 |
7 |
7.5 |
33 |
7.25 |
7.75 |
34 |
7.5 |
8 |
35 |
7.75 |
8.25 |
36 |
7.75 |
8.25 |
37 |
8 |
8.5 |
38 |
8.25 |
8.75 |
39 |
8.5 |
9 |
40 |
8.5 |
9 |
41 |
8.75 |
9.25 |
42 |
8.75 |
9.25 |
43 |
9 |
9.5 |
44 |
9 |
9.5 |
45 |
9.25 |
9.75 |
46 |
9.5 |
10 |
Why people face armhole Measurement and sleeve cutting problem
Before we start, understand that it is not that people like you and me face this problem of armhole and sleeve cutting.
Even the most skilled professionals face this problem while cutting sleeves once in a while because of two main reasons -
- Some of us may have substandard body measurements or may have some postural deformity.
- Secondly, armhole cutting difficulty may also arise when the customer (or wearer) has some specific design requirements.
How to Take Armhole Measurement without fear
Different people may follow different method of measuring the armhole depth, but the end goal is to get our sleeves perfectly fitted (or loose if we so desire).
People all around the globe are cutting perfect armholes and sleeves and you can do that too! It is no hard to master skill !
- 1Tip No. 1 - Not to get intimidated by others' skill of cutting armholes and sleeves.
- 2Tip No.2 - Different methods exist but practice the one, which you like.
- 3Tip No.3 - If you have body deformity, postural deformity or different body shape because of accident or any other reason; then you need to check armhole using a measuring tape. I'll show you the method.
- 4Tip No.4 - Specific design requirement of any particular dress may require some tweaks or adding a few centimeters to the armhole depth or sleeve depth.
Related Post : Sewing Rules for Making Kids' Clothes
There are different methods to take measurements and you can choose any of these methods :-
Method #1. Know Your Armhole Depth / Length and Sleeve Curve Length Without Calculations
- If you are not interested in calculations and formula finding, then you take armhole measurement from a readymade dress, or
- Wrap an inches tape around your shoulder joint to know your armhole measurement.
You can either know your chest or bust measurement by inch tape or refer the above Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting for almost exact measurement of your armhole and sleeve depth / length cutting.
Remember, your armhole depth would be same as on sleeve.
But when we measure armhole curve, that would be as follows.
All these measurements are in Inches.
How to Measure Armhole Directly
Method #2. Use Formula and take following steps -
1. Take Bust/4 - 1.5" for women & Chest/4 for men and kids
If your bust round is 32". You use this formula and you get 6.5" (this is fit around your armhole, if you want it slightly loose, keep it 7")
Suppose, your dress’ armhole length is 7″
2. Mark 7" on folded fabric
You mark 7″ long on sleeve armhole length also, same as you measured on your dress.
From open side, go 3" inside (bust/12"). Shape outer sleeve hole that is 1/2" out.
Shape inner sleeve hole like a reverse "S".
3. After Drafting, add side seam allowance
This measurement is not inclusive of your shoulder seam so you need to take extra 1/4″.
Include 1/2″ seam allowance for sleeve sides (same as you kept on the sides of your dress).
My Bonus Tip for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting
To make things easier for the inexperienced ones, I have some more easy to follow tips to measure and cut armhole and sleeves depth/length.
Till the time, you master and polish your skills in sleeves’ measurement and cutting, I am sure this would help you tremendously.
By this method, you’ll get your armhole length and sleeve length perfectly about 90% of times.
Note : There are different methods to measure and cut sleeves to achieve different styles. You will remember these methods and formulas to measure and cut sleeves with practice. With each and every dress, you may need to follow a specific pattern of sleeves’ cutting. Different style requirements may need a different methods to follow.
Did you find this information useful?
