Sun Sleeves PDF Pattern
A beginner friendly, skin-saving, scrap-busting sleeve pattern!
Sun Sleeves keep your arms protected from harmful rays and are perfect for golfing, gardening, pickleball and all other outdoor activities. Choose either a thumb-cuff option that partially covers the hand, or a shorter style that ends at the wrist, depending on your preference and activity.
Pattern Features: PDF instant download, layered sizes in formats: Letter, A4, A0 (Copy Shop) and Projector File.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a pdf download for the sewing pattern, not a finished garment. A link to download the pattern and instructions will be emailed to you upon completion of your order.
Suggested Fabrics
This pattern is designed to provide arm coverage from the sun when wearing a t-shirt. Suggested fabrics all feature 4-way stretch and minimum UPF 30 sun protection. A fabric's UPF rating (ultra violet protection factor) indicates the percentage of UVA and UVB radiation that penetrates the fabric and reaches the skin.
| Fabric UPF Rating |
% of UVA & UVB Reaching Skin |
| UPF 30 |
1/30th = 3.3% |
| UPF 40 |
1/40th = 2.5% |
| UPF 50 |
1/50th = 2% |
| UPF 60 |
1/60th = 1.7% |
| UPF 70 |
1/70th = 1.4% |
In addition to blocking the sun, these sleeves are ideal for adding a little bit of warmth to your arms on a cool morning when you know you will be too warm for a long-sleeved shirt later in the day. You will need approx. 24" length (.6m) of fabric to make the largest size and your fabric should have a minimum of 50% stretch in both directions. With this length of fabric you should be able to get 3 sets of sun sleeves, if the fabric is 58-60" wide.
Some excellent fabric options include:
Sun Lite Jersey: https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/sun-lite-jersey
Magic Yarn Graphene Jersey: https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/graphene-jersey
Polartec Power Dry Lightweight**: https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/power-dry-lightweight (**PLEASE NOTE: Check the Specs and Features to ensure the style of Power Dry Lightweight you have selected offers UPF protection as not all styles do).
Polartec Delta**: https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/polartec-delta (**PLEASE NOTE: Check the Specs and Features to ensure the style of Delta you have selected offers UPF protection as not all styles do).
Breathe Tek Athletic (a heavier weight fabric than others noted above): https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/breathe-tek-athletic
Notions Required:
Gripper Elastic or Silicone Grip Athletic: https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/gripper-elastic or https://discoveryfabrics.com/products/silicone-grip-athletic
Sun-Sleeve Fabric & Notions Pack - Everything you need (except the pattern) all in one pack!
If you just want to try out small yardage/notions, the Sun Sleeve Pack is a great start. Enough to make up to 3 pair of sleeves in an appropriate fabric and gripper of our choosing. A great way to try out the pattern without buying more than you need!
