I once knew a lady ages ago that worked for a men's clothing store shortening the sleeves of mens', dress shirts. She used the seam ripper this way but used her sewing machine presser foot to hold the fabric taut. She could take the cuff off, cut off excess fabric and sew the cuff back on in under maybe three minutes or so. This same lady would run out on her lunch hour and make $25 (35 years ago) altering fur coats.