Sleeve Fit Tips for Your Dress Kit Sleeve When it comes to getting a smooth, comfortable sleeve fit with your Sure Fit Designs Dress Kit, a little tip can make all the difference! What's the purpose of the Elbow Dart? The elbow dart helps shape your garment sleeve to follow the natural bend of your arm. If you take a look at how your arm rests at your side, you'll notice it's rarely held completely straight - we naturally keep a slight bend at the elbow. This dart allows the sleeve to mirror that curve, giving your garment a more refined, tailored finish. It's especially important when working with woven fabrics that don't offer much flexibility or stretch.
If you are planning to create a more casual or relaxed garment, you may prefer to draft your sleeve without the elbow dart. Removing the dart softens the sleeve's shape, which can work beautifully for laid-back styles or fabrics that don't require as much built-in shaping.
A word of Caution: Don't Mix and Match! I enjoy working with you when you reach out with fitting challenges, and along the way, I've noticed a common issue popping up: some are using the stretch sleeve master pattern when trying to avoid the elbow dart. Unfortunately, this combination can lead to poor fit, pulling, and restricted movement - so we don't recommend it.
To help you create a sleeve without an elbow dart that works beautifully, Elsabe Hurn has created a step-by-step video tutorial just for you. You can find her tutorial here: | 
