Pailette Panels Sleeves
Designer: Samira of Belly Dance Mirage in St. Louis, MO
Difficulty Level: 3

ITEMS NEEDED TO MAKE IT:

• Pailette Panels Skirt and Veil Set

DIRECTIONS:

Remove the top stitching from the bottom edge of the skirt casing that secures the top layer, both front and back. These two pieces will eventually become your matching sleeves.

You may stitch the sides of each panel together for a more closed look, or leave them unstitched, allowing your sleeve to drop and hang open.

Making the casing.

Take 2" hem tape and open out one quarter inch fold of the hem tape, laying it along the raw edge of the panel, making sure all raw edges are even. (Match the right side of the hem tape to the wrong side of the top of the panel.) Starting 1" in from the end of the tape, sew along the open fold of the tape, all the way around each panel and up to the point where you began stitching. This should give you a nice 1/4" seam.

Cut off the extra hem tape, leaving a 1" extension. Fold over (crosswise) the first tape extension at the end and then take the other 1/4" folded edge of the hem tape and bring it down so the folded edge lies barely over your seam. (Wrong side of tape over right side of the panel.) Now top stitch the casing on by stitching right along the very edge of the quarter inch fold. Before sewing up the end of the tape, remember to fold over that raw edge as well. Your casing should now be complete!

Cut a piece of 3/4" non-roll elastic approximately 2" less than your upper arm measurement. Thread it through the opening of your casing and secure the ends of the elastic by sewing back and forth with your sewing machine.

For a narrower casing top, choose a narrower hem tape and use 1/4" or 1/2" elastic.