Last photo. Not sure it helps, but I wanted you all to see what I've got.

You can see in this photo the required gather as the center point of the sleeve doesn't line up with the top sholder point of the dress.

Sorry if my terms aren't "correct". I don't know any better... :D

My opinion is after you gather the top of the sleeve to fit the opening and get it sewed in you will need to also gather the botton, Usually some bias binding was used to cover the edge. I don't know for sure but used to wear those dresses when I was little.

Here are a few pictues of the sleeve from my dresses. Hope you can see what I mean.

I do thank you. I'll have to see how big it puffs it with the gather, because the fabric actually curves the other way. Maybe that's to even it out after the puff?

:D

For the sleeve, do a long basting stitch, 1/4" away from edge, either by hand or machine. This sleeve looks real full, like it might be a gatherred puffy sleeve. Soooo, start your basting just past your notches, then, pull in the gathers. Start pinning the sleeve in, start with the edge of the sleeve against the side seam, and pin, then pin other edge to other side seam, and pin, then put a pin at the beginning of each side of the gathering. Now pull your gathering all nice and snug and even, and just begin pinning the gathers along, so it is all nice and gathered even. Then stitch your 5/8" seam. Then trim your seam. Now, you will be able to tell by holding the dress up, if the bottom of the sleeve is just meant to have a hem, or if it is nice and full. If it is nice and full you have couple options. You can run a gathering stitch, and put a nice piece of bias binding around the edge, like in the above photos, or you can use elastic. Then next you can sew your underarm and side seam all at once.

Thank you everyone who helped me! I learned so much putting this dress together.

The sleeves are poofy and ended up being straight at the bottom. Instead of hemming it I used some satin ribbon which I feel gives it a just a little touch of "extra". Perhaps they come down longer than was intended, but I didn't line them so it looks darling.

When the sleeves where on and the sides were sewn I went looking for matching buttons, and found snaps! So there are five snaps that run down the back every 3.25" or so. Snaps were the easiest for me when dd was little. I even put them in blind so you can't see them from the back.

While I think dd might be able to wear this backwards as a shirt, I think it is best left saved until the right moment comes along and passed along then. I wonder who will end up liking it?

That is so cute and you did a wonderful job.

That turnd out really nice. I'm sure some young lady will be thrilled to get it.

Elizabeth--You did an awesome job!!! Pat yourself on the back. That little dress turned out just precious.