Is there a way to enlarge the armholes of a knit top?

Maybe you could add some fabric on the bottom of the sleeve, where the seam of the sleeve comes together with the seam of the shoulder. Open it up, put in a triangle of fabric, and sew the three sides. Or a rectangle of fabric.

Here’s the top. I was wondering if I could inset a whole panel from a second top. What do you think?

https://www.zolucky.com/products/women-long-sleeve-boho-v-neck-plus-size-tops-6503891

You could probably get some dark fabric and use that, in lieu of a whole second top that you’d have to cut up.

I like the shirt a lot! I hesitate to buy from sites like that because I heard the fit or the item are not always as shown.

Yeah, I’ve never bought from them either. The ad came up while I was reading a political article in the NYT, and I seized the escape route. I really like the print. (Never knew I was “boho.”) At that price, I could buy two. Not fitting right would be exactly the problem to solve.

Disclaimer: I know very little about sewing.

If I understand what you want correctly, I’d take the sleeve off and cut the arm hole slightly larger only where the underarm is. So, slightly changing the shape of the “hole” a little more oblong. The original sleeve might still fit, depending on how much fabric was there, but if not you could add a small piece.

I don’t think I would touch the shape where the shoulder connects or even anywhere else except the very very area under the arm if possible. It depends on how the shirt is fitting overall, which only you can judge.

Maybe lay it on top of a shirt that fits you well and compare where the differences are.

Don’t rely on my suggestion though. There must be YouTube for making arm holes larger?

Thanks, @JLeslie, but that won’t do it. The sleeves themselves would have to be widened, and that can’t be done without adding material. The shape of the hole isn’t the controlling factor; it’s the width of the sleeve, and consequently the length of the seam around the hole.

Odd how many garments even in larger sizes have skinny little sleeves. I know there are a lot of customers in my age bracket who aren’t buying custom tops for everyday wear and who don’t have their youthful dimensions any more. What it takes to look glamorous on the catalog page simply may not do when you try it on.

@Jeruba I see. So, it seems like you can add a piece of fabric at the seam that runs down the sleeve. Make it slightly triangular in shape if it’s only tight at the top of your arm. You would still need to increase the underarm hole a little, unless it’s only lower on your arm that the sleeve is tight?

I have trouble with sleeves being too tight sometimes. I can’t tolerate the feeling anymore. It’s much worse when I’m having overall muscle troubles, at times I have more cramping or shaking, but mostly it’s only a vague discomfort and barely noticeable unless I’m overworking the muscle or something like tight clothing is aggravating my limbs.