I hate baggy floppy t-shirt sleeves with a passion. It’s like the #1 thing that will make me never wear that shirt. They look stupid and throw off the entire look

But don't worry, it’s actually really easy to make your sleeves tighter and get that snug look that makes your arms look bigger.

Never used a sewing machine before? No problem, it’s honestly stupid easy. They can do a lot of things. But since we just want to make our crappy clothes fit better then we don’t need learn all that much.

Pinch for the Perfect Fit

First off, let’s come up with a plan for slimming these stupid sleeves. Grab the fabric around your sleeve with your fingers and pinch it to tighten it. Feel around to find the fit that feels the most comfortable to you. It's all about personal preference here, so take your time to get it just right. Don’t make it TOO tight however. It’s better to pinch less than you think than more.

Mark Your Spot

Once you've found that spot where the sleeve feels just right, use something to mark it. A clothespin or a safety pin works great for this purpose. This is your temporary marker that are gonna give us a good ballpark idea of our new fit.

Move, Bend, Stretch and Shake

Move your arm around a bit. Lift it, swing it, shake it like a Polaroid picture. Really put it through the motions to see if you like the fit. This step is really important because you want your sleeve to not only look good but also be functional and comfortable. If it feels too tight, just adjust the pin around until you find a good balance.

Measure and Mark(y) Mark

Now, measure that distance from the edge of your marking spot and your original stitch. For me, it was about one inch or 2.54 centimeters. Take some tailor’s chalk (or yes, even some chalk "borrowed" from a third-grade classroom), and connect this point back to your sleeve's original seam at an angle, forming a triangle – and no, it doesn't need to be an isosceles triangle, despite the rumors you might have heard about their superiority.

(King) Pin It Together

This step is optional, but I strongly recommend using sewing pins to keep everything tight and together. It helps hold your shirt in place as you sew and makes sure your shirt doesn’t get all shifty on you.

Get Sewing Bro!

Now, rub your hands together and lets make some magic happen! We’re gonna start sewing at the underarm seam with what's called a back stitch. This stitch sews one stitch forward and then looping back through that last stitch. This technique is a bit of a throwback to back in the day before sewing machines, but but it’s all good, it’s still a solid stitch. Keep sewing your back stitch along the pinned line that you made.

Start off by making a proper knot in your thread.

Don't worry if you miss a stitch or two underneath while making your back stitch; it won’t compromise the overall project or your sleeve. Just be careful not to do it too many times and you’ll be in good shape.

Cut Off the Excess

Once you’re at the end of your sleeve with your stitching, it’s time to cut off all that extra fabric you have left. This doesn’t require special finishing or anything – just a clean cut.

Lets Take A Closer Inspection…

Look over your hand sewing job and see how you did. They might poke through a bit, and that’s perfectly fine (obviously use matching thread, I’m using white so you can see what I’m doing). Remember, even sewing machines aren’t perfect every single time. Don't beat yourself up if it's not immaculate either. The most important part is that you've made your sleeves fit a million times better!

Practice Makes Perfect

Boom! Your once stupid looking t-shirt sleeves should now hug your arms comfortably and enhance the overall appearance of your t-shirt and outfit. Like any skill, sewing takes practice, and you'll find that you get better with it as time goes on. I like to tell people they can master all of this in weekend, no problem. Now let’s go learn how to make your t-shirts slimmer!

I’ll see you in the next tutorial. SD out, deuces!