Швеи не хотят, чтоб вы знали: как сделать манжет на толстовке без оверлока, как на фабрике

There are various ways to finish seams and attach cuffs to sleeves. Many people think that sewing a garment neatly without an overlocker is difficult, but that’s not true. Even without specialized equipment, you can achieve a clean and polished finish. For example, using a simple bias tape. This method looks neat and resembles a factory-made, “high-end” finish. Today, I’m sharing a straightforward and easy-to-follow tutorial. I’ll demonstrate everything using a sweatshirt sleeve as an example because this is often where questions arise: how to make the seam neat, how to attach the elastic so there’s no extra bulk or puckering. First, I finished the sleeve edges with bias tape. You can use a thin cotton fabric or ready-made bias tape for this. The key is to choose something not too thick; otherwise, the seam will look bulky. I wrapped the edges with the bias tape and stitched it down. Next, I sewed the sleeve seam and then pressed the seam allowances open in opposite directions. After that, I prepared the elastic. Its length should be slightly shorter than the sleeve itself. This is necessary so the cuff gently gathers the fabric and fits nicely around the wrist. Then, I placed the elastic on the right side of the sleeve. While sewing, I stretched it slightly to ensure it distributed evenly along the edge. I stitched the elastic about 12 mm from the edge. Afterward, I pressed the seam again with an iron. Now for the most interesting part. I folded the opposite edge of the elastic and aligned it with the sleeve edge, which we had previously finished and pressed open. I stitched this edge down to secure it. The other edge of the elastic ends up inside the elastic band itself. Thanks to this, the seam is thinner and tidier. From the right side, the fabric lies flat without any extra thickness or rough transitions. This is especially noticeable on thicker fabrics, where every extra layer can stand out. The result is a cuff with a clean finish. From the outside, everything looks smooth and neat, while all raw edges are hidden inside. This method works not only for sweatshirts but also for other garments with elastic, such as sports pants or children’s clothing.