How to Upcycle a Shirt with Statement Sleeves

I  usually avoid fashion trends because they fall out of favor way too fast, but I made an exception for the current statement sleeve trend.  If done right, a beautiful shirt with statement sleeves can have timeless appeal.

Here’s a quick and dirty overview of my statement sleeve refashion.

Step 1:  Cut sleeves of blouse

This Banana Republic shirt only cost me $3 at the thrift store.  I chopped off about two thirds of the sleeves.  I wasn’t feeling collar so I chopped that off too.

Step 2:  Cut skirt for statement sleeves

I used the lower half of a Forever 21 circle skirt for the statements sleeves.  I knew the high contrast of the black and white pattern would make the statement sleeves pop.  I’m a lazy sewer, so I reused the finished hem of the skirt to save time.

Step 3:  Sew sides of statement sleeves

I cut the top of the statement sleeves the same size as the blouse sleeves and sewed the sides.  The circle skirt I used had a natural flare to it, so I didn’t feel the need to gather the statement sleeves.  If you are using a rectangular piece of fabric for your statement sleeves, I recommend cutting it twice the size of your sleeve opening and gathering it for a poufy look.

Step 4:  Attach statement sleeves to shirt

With right sides together, sew your statement sleeves to your shirt.

This upcycled statement sleeve shirt only took me 1 hour to make.  It’s an easy project with dramatic results.  One small detail can completely transform a garment.

If you’re new to refashioning, this is a great project for beginners.  Using thirft store finds kept the cost of this project down to $6.

With a little bit of effort, you can be fashionable and sustainably responsible on a very small budget.