RTW shirts and sleeve issues
 

I have a RTW t-shirt and a RTW button down shirt that I need to wear for an organization (embroidered logos) and the sleeve on the t-shirt is a cap sleeve, which looks horrendous on me. Any ideas for making the sleeve longer and a bit more flattering?

The woven button down shirt is too tight in the sleeve and I am wondering how to modify that also.

Sorry, cutting off the sleeves and having them sleeveless is not an option as I do not have attractive arms and I have to be outside in the sun all day. There are no other size options either.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

PB from MN

Is there any way you can get some matching fabric and replace the entire sleeve, with a longer one?

oh that is an idea, putting a longer sleeved t-shirt beneath the one with cap sleeves. just say you don't like the Sun.

I would layer it with either long sleeved or 3/4 length shirt under it.

If you have access to a matching fabric, you can take out the under arm seam on the woven shirt and add a gusset. 2" wide at the sleeve hem if it's short sleeved, then slowly tapered to a point where it sets in the shirt. If the shirt is long sleeved, the it's 2" in the underarm area and tapered to a point on both ends. A similar gusset would add some ease to the cap sleeve - no length, but not so fitted.

Are you able to get more than one of each shirt? I like the gusset idea, but if for some reason that doesn't work, maybe you could cut up an extra shirt to remake the sleeves.

Getting your own shirts embroidered might be an idea, although it might get expensive if you have to pay design and setup charges. If you can use the same embroidery company that your organization did, and just provide the shirts, maybe they'll charge you a nominal fee.

How about removing the sleeves from the long sleeve shirt and using that fabric to make 4 short sleeves - 2 for each shirt.

I would add a gusset to the sleeves of the button down shirt. The fabric doesn't have to be an exact match, just as close as you can get it. If you add the gusset to the underneath seam, it won't be noticed. As for the cap sleeve shirt, I would just get fabric and make new sleeves. If budget allows, you could buy an extra shirt and cut the sleeves from that.

I would get a similar or coordinating long sleeve shirt (or fabric) and cut off the sleeves and add them to your shirt. That is what I do with my husband's softball league shirts to keep him from getting sunburned and not get overheated from two layers of shirts.