Sleeves always too short? Ordering for long arms

Two other things that shorten a sleeve

Sometimes the sleeve itself is not the only cause. Check these too.

• The shoulder seam sits too far in. If the kameez is narrower across the shoulders than you are, the sleeve starts up on the shoulder instead of at its edge, and loses length at the wrist. Our article on armhole and shoulder problems explains the shoulder measurement.
• A tight upper sleeve. A sleeve that grips the upper arm cannot slide as you move, so it rides up the forearm when you bend.
• A close cuff. A narrow cuff stays where it is put, while a looser opening slides back down. A cuff that grips the forearm makes a short sleeve look shorter.

Where a full sleeve should end

With your arm hanging, a full sleeve usually ends at the wrist bone or just past it, touching the top of the hand. Bend your elbow, as you would to hold a cup or type, and the sleeve rises because the outside of the arm gets longer. On long arms it often rises well clear of the wrist. A sleeve that passes this test covers the wrist bone in both positions.

A sleeve with a cuff can be cut a little longer, as the cuff holds it at the wrist and the extra blouses slightly above. An open or flared sleeve should not be too long, or it covers the hand. Three-quarter sleeves need the same care: on a long arm, a standard three-quarter sleeve can land closer to the elbow than intended.

Measuring a long arm

Ask someone to help, or use a mirror, and take these three numbers. Our size guide shows the first one in the standard way.

• Sleeve length, arm relaxed: from the shoulder point, the bony edge of the shoulder, down the outside of the arm to where you want the sleeve to end.
• Sleeve length, arm bent: bend your arm to a right angle with the hand at your waist, and measure from the shoulder point, over the elbow, to the wrist bone. The difference shows how much your arm uses when it moves.
• Wrist or cuff: around the wrist where the sleeve will end, loose enough for your hand to pass if the cuff is closed.

Saying it on your order

Put a clear line in your notes, such as “long arms: please cut sleeves to my measurement, not to standard”, and give both sleeve numbers. If you wear a watch or bangles, say whether the sleeve should cover them. If you are also tall, our guide to custom lengths for tall women covers kameez and trouser lengths; this article is only about the arm.

Send it when you ask for a quote. The custom stitching page explains how every measurement is agreed in writing before cutting.