Business Casual Part 5: Classic shirt sleeve vent

Welcome to the Business Casual series! We will share exciting tips from various inspiration magazines about sewing concealed button plackets, a collar with stand, polo closure and more. Todays tip about “How to sew a classic shirt sleeve vent” is from inspiration Magazine, issue 66.

If you want to read more helpful tutorials, you can find an overview here: “Tips and Tricks”. It’s worth checking back regularly or subscribing to the newsletter to not miss the tricks of our experts!

Colourful outfit from the inspiration Magazine 66 (2016)

The classic shirt-blouse style is making a comeback, so today we’re showing you how the shirt sleeve vent is sewn. This sleeve vent with a triangle is a classic finish, especially for men’s shirts. If you are looking for a more delicate vent for women’s blouses and shirts which is less visible, then head over to this article: Sewing a sleeve vent and cuff easily

Classic shirt sleeve with embroidered cuff

Or learn how to sew a delicate sleeve vent for blouses and shirts here.

How to sew a classic shirt sleeve vent

Note: In the drawings, the right side of the fabric is shown as dark, the wrong side as light.

For the vent, you’ll need 1 fabric strip of 17 × 7 cm and 1 strip of 13 × 3 cm – seam allowances are already included in these measurements (or adjust these measurements to your pattern if it is already cut).

The side of the sleeve vent lying closer to the sleeve seam yields the underlap, the other side the overlay. Place the wide fabric strip right-sides-facing on the overlay and flush with the bottom edge of the sleeve. Starting at the bottom, sew on for 12 cm. Place the narrow fabric strip flush along the underlap and sew on for the same distance.

Cut slit 11 cm straight upwards into the sleeve; from there, cut diagonally to the seam ends.

Fold underlap strip inwards; turn open edge under twice and stitch on in the ditch from the right side.

Press the seam allowance triangle on the end of the vent on the right side of the fabric upwards. Turn the overlay strip inwards and pin with turned-under long edge.

Form a point on the right side of the fabric at the top end of the strip; trim excess seam allowances and snip in the corner. Beginning at the bottom, stitch down overlay strip over the point and crossways (see drawing).