Extended Jacket Sleeves and Hand Warmers

Intro: Extended Jacket Sleeves and Hand Warmers

It doesn't matter if you are in a tree stand or on the ground, still hunting(staying still in one spot and waiting for the animals to come to you) in Pennsylvania in the Winter months gets REALLY cold sometimes.  The idea is to stay as still and as quiet a possible so that you blend into your surroundings. That means you aren't moving around to keep warm.  All that leaves you is layers.  Layers are your friend.  Layers let you regulate your warmth and comfort by adding and taking away layers as needed.

I have a pair of heavy hunting gloves that are very warm, the problem is that they are so thick that I can not fit my finger into the trigger guard when I wear them.  I also have a thinner pair of hunting gloves (think glorified gardening gloves) that don't cause any issues with using the trigger, but they aren't the warmest gloves around.

At first I was just going to add enough material to cover my wrist when my arms are fully extended.  But why solve one problem when you can solve two.

Enter the extended sleeve.  The sleeves can be worn at the wrist when they are not needed, and when I do need them they are long enough to cover my hands.  It gives me another layer of warmth for my hands without interfering with my ability to hunt.

STEP 1: Problem

I recently bought a new hunting jacket to replace my old one that has served me well for many years. 

The only problem I have with my new jacket is that the sleeves are not long enough. 

naked wrists .. this just won't do.

STEP 2: Solution

I decide to reuse an old zip up sweatshirt that I don't wear anymore, and use it to fix the problem with my new jacket.

I measured out the length of sleeve material I would need by putting the sweatshirt sleeve on so that it was covering my hand, and then I slid the jacket sleeve on over that  and marked where the jacket ended on the sweatshirt sleeve.

I then allowed enough material to account for the jacket cuff length and a little extra so that I could hem the edge of the sweatshirt sleeve to prevent rolling and fraying.

Pinning the sleeve extension in place on the inside of the jacket cuff, using a reinforced stitch to attach the sleeves together.

Repeat the process for the other sleeve.

turn everything right side out.

Voilà.

STEP 3: Sewing Dos

measure twice - cut once  (hey bubba .. something is wrong with these here scissors.  I done cut the fabric twice and it is still too short)

make sure you have enough thread to complete your project  - running out half way through stinks.

use your pins, they are there to help you - it's their job .. it's what they do.

STEP 4: Sewing Don'ts

Don't forget to take into account the fact that sweatshirt sleeve get wider as they move away from the cuff - yes i had to put a dart into the sleeves and cut off the excess material *hangs head in shame*

Don't forget which way you want you material to face - yes I got both of my sleeves finished and then realized i sewed one in inside-out so I had to rip out the seam (reinforced stitches ar a bugger to remove) flip the sleeve around and re-sew that sleeve into the jacket arm.

Comments

[tall_dark_n_twisted]

why not trim that excess diameter from the hoodie sleeves on the seem that is already on them?

[Lorddrake]

ooooooh suuuuuure .. do things the easy way ... pppfffffttt :)

[grannyjones]

I can see this idea on my fleece capris. Why they did that I'll never know--
fabric too warm for hot weather, length all wrong for cold. But with POCKETS!
and on clearance! (wonder why they didn't sell at full price?--duh.)
I hoped I'd figure out something--you did it for me. Thank you!.

[Lorddrake]

I'm glad you were inspired by the idea. post up a pic or two when you are done, and don't forget to vote if you liked it .. this IBLE is sin the "Sew warm" and "Reuse" contests.

[brothertuck]

Your father had a reason for calling you a mutant, those long arms must be part of it.
I still think there is a market in making sleeves for down filled vests.

[Lorddrake]

making the sleeves is easy .. figuring out how to attach them without having to mod each vest is the hard part

[brothertuck]

Velcro

[squeakykeek]

Great idea, I am going to try this on my scooter jacket so the wind stops coming up my sleeves.

[Lorddrake]

Go for it. You will be very pleased with the lack of sleeve breeze.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

I hate when sleeves get too short and your wrists are exposed. This is a great solution and it goes with the jacket really well!

[Lorddrake]

Thanks.

You'd think they would add a few more inches to the sleeve length for a size 3X jacket .. but no .. they were the same length as the 2X jacket *sigh*

[zomfibame]

I like this a'lot. I've been thinking about doing somethin like this with a pair of cargo pants I got for when working outside in the cold. Keep the cold from getting in as easy.

[Lorddrake]

rookie mistakes aside, this was a really simple and easy solution to my problem. I say "go for it", and don't forget to take pics while you are working so you can make an IBLE :)

added bonus - I have noticed that even when they are pushed up out of the way they act as draft blockers for the sleeves .. no more chilly wrists for me.