putting sleeves on a tank sounds like it might be really frustrating, as the armhole for a normal sleeve is cut very differently than a tank. What about making a flimsy/sheer kimono overshirt that you wear over the top, so you get coverage and style have the style you want.

as for the trousers, if the fabric is sturdy maybe a velcro dot would work, if the fabric is soft or sheer, I would try some small snaps rather than a hook and eye, you wont feel the snap and it wont catch on the fabric.

I'd rather not wear anything over the top. I was sort of thinking instead of a- bear with me as I'm not familiar with the appropriate terminology- sleeve that wraps all the way around the arm like a cylinder and comes down the arm a few inches, I thought perhaps a sleeve that just layed on top and sides but not all the way underneath the arm. Or not sewing the seems together where they would meet under the arm.

Snaps might do the trick, but the fabric is very light for velcro. Thanks for the suggestion.

cat 2 - I'm picturing a light loose sleeve cap coming out the top of the arm hole....almost like a big ruffle...with no seam in the armpit area. Is that what you mean? I did see something cute but it might not be what you are looking for.....just the cylinder you talk about but it was only sewn around the armhole itself and the open end had like a bias tie on the lower sleeve on top (at the lower end of the sleeve)....there was no seam...just this piece of fabic and you tied the thing around your arm. It looked cute and was very pretty. Can you picture it?

For the pants, try clear snaps. I really like the look of them, they barely show. JoAnn's has them, and I'm sure many others do, too. The sleeve issue sounds complex. How about wearing a t-shirt with sleeves or a light blouse underneath? To get the sleeve cap correct on a tank top without a pattern could be a challenge unless you're into pattern making.

Budster- I think I can- it sounds exactly like I was thinking except for the ties. I knew it would probably have to be ruffly, especially since the material is so light. I didn't think about it before, but I guess you might need the ties or something to hold it down. I will have to think about it some more. When I said the top is "tank" style, I meant no sleeves, but the part that goes over the shoulder is wide- almost but not quite to the edge of the shoulder. Maybe I should be looking for something with a sunblock rating of about an 80 or so that I can just rub on. Although I'm self conscious about showing that much shoulder outside of a bathing suit, the compliments I usually get from these outfits tells me no one else is bothered by them.

Clear snaps would do very well, I think. I'll have to look for them. The problem with layering clothes is the heat. We've been warned that Spain in August is hotter than we are used to, and that air conditioning is very limited- there is none at the place we are staying. And with limited funds and little time to shop around, I'd have to have a lot of luck to find just the right top in a very light material.

Another sleeve suggestion: measure the armscye opening.

Divide this measurement by pi (3.14159) draw a circle with this diameter on a big piece of tissue paper. Double-check: stand a tape measure on edge and walk it around the circle. It should be the same measurement as your armscye.

Now draw a bigger circle that encompasses the first one. It doesn't have to be centered on the same point. It will look like a big doughnut with an off-center hole. Add 5/8" seam allowance to the inside of the inner circle, and the outside of the outer circle. This is your sleeve pattern.

Cut this out of your sheer material. You'll sew the inner circle to the armscye of the tank. the widest point of the "doughnut" shape will go on the shoulder seam, the narrowest at the underarm. This will make a circular sleeve that will cover your shoulder but still be float-y and summery looking. You can finish the edge with a serger or even add some trim.

Oh, don't tell me this is too much math for you! I took algebra II twice! I have at least two calculators in the sewing room at all times.

All made sense and sounded great, except I have to look up armscye or assume you mean the existing armhole circumference. I don't have a serger, so I'll either have to add a seam allowance at the other side & sew a seam to finish that edge before attaching or come up with another idea. The math isn't too much- for me it's usually finding time that's the problem. I was looking for something that sounded like it was easy, would look good, & not take too long to add. I really appreciate ideas that have worked for others since I rarely have time to look for what I want (especially in the clothing department) & then try to reverse engineer it, as it were.

(I'm an engineer and sewing is something I generally find time for only about once or twice a year unfortunately. This time the focus is fixing a couple of things for the upcoming vacation, hopefully the next round will be the valances for the bedroom to go with the shades I made.)

Thank you very much.

Someone at work also suggested cutting out a large semicircle shape, put in 2 seams along the straight edge to gather slightly, then attach to the armhole front side & back only for a cap style. Or, use the double circle as suggested except put in a couple seams to gather the material toward the top so it doesn't bunch under the arm.

She doesn't sew, but her mother does and she often buys sleeveless tops & dresses that her mother adds sleeves to or creates a matching jacket since she finds a lot of things she likes in sleeveless styles, but her father doesn't like her going out without them. The rule I guess is that she has to leave the house with sleeves on. The good thing is everything her mom makes is so beautiful and perfectly matching that she rarely ends up taking them off. Refreshing these days, isn't it?

I told her I'd try a couple of practice ideas out, & if it wasn't working I'd ask her mom for help, or pay her to do it.

If the fabric is light weight & kind of floppy, seems it would blow about & not protect you from the sun. I say go with the sunscreen & leave them as is.

Cap sleeves that just cover the top of the arm would probably be fairly easy. How about using a solid black cotton knit? If you like the look, piping in the seam and at the hem or neck would be a nice fashion detail to make it look as though it had always been there. This might be more work than you had in mind, I realize. However I love the finished look that self-fabric piping can add.

Paula

OK- I totally cheated. Over the weekend I met up with a family friend who happens to have been sewing for most of her life- helping to outfit community theater productions at last minute notice in addition to her many other achievements with her hobby. I asked her for tips, and she told me to stop by her house (she's on a tight travelling schedule, so I went last night with the tops, black sleeve fabric, thread, and every pattern with short sleeves in it I had at home.) She chose one of the patterns, cut them with an extra long mid section, ironed, pinned, and sewed all four sleeves between 6:30 and 10:00 while I tidied cut pieces, folded patterns we weren't using (gosh darn things!)collected pins, started sewing the snaps in the pants, and generally watched carefully. I had offered to take the others home to do once I saw how to do it, but she was up & running and would have none of that. It worked wonderfully, they are regular short sleeves that have a touch of gathering/slight puff over the shoulder since the tank ended about an inch to inch and a half from the edge of my shoulder. She did a zigzag stitch to hold the twice folded hem at the end. I only hope that it doesn't shrink when I wash it- cold water of course, since I didn't get to wash it beforehand. I'm going to have to pick up a nice bottle of wine for her when she's back in town.

The snaps for the pants, on the other hand- are kind of funny because I put the pants on and we pinned them where I wanted them- but it turns out the front parts are offset (height) by about 1.5 inches. I guess I tend to tie the backs higher than the fronts, although you can't really notice just by looking. I don't think I should move them because then I'd have to start tying them differently. BTW, when I asked for "clear snaps" they seemed confused- until one asked if I meant plastic- so I ended up with nylon plastic snaps that can be ironed.

Thank you for all your suggestions.