Button Down Rehab Day 4: Roll Cuff Sleeve Refashion

Unfortunately, one of the guest posters couldn't make it, so here I am again for day 4 of Button Down Rehab!

We're 4 days into our fabulous button down shirt upcycles and refashions, and I still have some other great projects coming to you from Shannon of Details of a Love, Gwen of Gwenny Penny, and Rebecca of Searching Out Simple.

But today, you get me again :)

This project is a simple refashion that is perfect for beginners.

I had a long-sleeve button down that's been sitting in my closet because long sleeves are definitely a no no in the sweltering Tennessee heat. With a few cuts and simple sewing, I refashioned the long sleeves into roll cuff sleeves with pick-ups.

Supplies:

• Women's button down shirt that fits you  
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Sewing machine and thread

This is the shirt I started with:

Step 1: Trim your sleeves.

First, I used my rotary cutter and mat to cut my sleeves off approximately 2 inches before the elbow to make it short-sleeve length. Remember, you'll be rolling the sleeves, so take that into account when trimming your shirt length.

Make sure you save your cuff, you'll be needing that later.

Step 2: Make your cuff.

Roll the raw edge of your shirt sleeve up about 1/2 inch and sew straight across all the way around.

Now, roll your sleeve up so that it's resting at the final length you want it to be. Your raw edges should be hidden now.

Step 3: Make your pick-up.

The pick-up is the small strip of fabric that will be holding your sleeve cuff in place.

Measure from the bottom edge of your sleeve to where you want the top of your pick-up to be and add 1/2 inch. This will be the length you need your pick-up to be. My measurement was 3 inches from where I wanted the top of my pick up to be to the bottom of my sleeve, so I added 1/2 inch and got the final length of 3 1/2 inches.

You will be making your pick-up from your shirt cuff. You want to cut your pick-up in a way that will include one of the buttons (or snaps in my case) for decoration. I laid my cuff out and cut it down the middle with my rotary cutter, then I trimmed it to the length I needed. Tuck the raw edges in and sew the edge of your pick up closed (as you can see in the picture below, I forgot to tuck the raw edges in, oops!) Repeat with the other cuff to get 2 pick-ups.

 

Next, pin the bottom 1/2 edge of your pick-up to the inside of your sleeve, making sure it's positioned on the side opposite your armpit. Make sure you pin your pick-up so that the button will be showing on the outside of your shirt when the pick-up is folded up.

Sew the bottom of your pick-up to your shirt cuff close to the edge.

Last, fold your pick up over top of your cuff and sew along the top of the pick-up to secure it to the shirt.

Now you have a cute short-sleeve shirt for summer. I layer mine over a tank top and wear it to work. I love my "new" old shirt.

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Click on the pictures below to check out the other great posts from the Button Down Rehab series!

Tomorrow, Shannon from Details of a Love will be guest posting with another fabulous (and really cute!) upcycle.

Linking up!

Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design