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armscye

armscye

1 9.9
An opening in a shirt or dress where the sleeve is attached
  • noun
  • /ˈɑrmˌsaɪ/
  • Specialized
: sisa
  • The tailor carefully measured the armscye to allow for comfortable movement in the garment.

Examples

  • Learn how to adjust the pattern to make the armscye treatment shown, create the band, and sew it.

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  • Turn the facing to the inside; press the band away from the armscye.

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  • Make the armscye band pattern.

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  • Repeat for the back armscye.

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  • Cut, interface, and fold two armscye bands with the right sides out.

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  • Follow the original armscye for the top half, and straighten the curve as you extend its length, as shown.

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  • Align the original armscye pattern's side seamlines.

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  • Trace the line and the rest of the armscye and seam allowances.

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  • Trace the lower armscye and seam allowances.

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  • Sew the armscye band.

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Synonyms

armhole
vsarmscye
1 2.5

An opening in clothing where the arm goes through and the sleeve joins

focuses on where the sleeve is attached to the garment

Surface Forms

armscye singular
armscyes plural

Morphology

armscye = arm + scye (semi-transparent) = arm + scye

Formally a straightforward compound 'arm' + 'scye' meaning the arm opening, but 'scye' is a specialised sewing term unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

The word armscye comes from arm and scye, where scye is an old word that means 'opening' and sounds like 'eye'. So an armscye is literally the 'arm's eye', the opening in a piece of clothing where the sleeve is attached.