tailoring question - slimming sleeves on a sports jacket

[falsestart]

Hi all-

Was curious if it were possible to slim the sleeves of a sports jacket? Is this particularly complicated, or staightfoward job?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Despos]

Pretty straightforward. Take in the back seam on the sleeve and reduce the lining a like amount. Open the vent, reduce and remake. Nothing tricky about it.

 

[falsestart]

thanks despos- good to hear

 

[tiecollector]

It isn't as easy as it sounds. I am practicing tailoring. I have slimmed some dress shirts and ties this week, they aren't rocket science but do take some getting used to, not to mention I don't have industrial machines with the proper foots. Right now, I am content just to have a decent silhouette.

I am trying to take apart a jacket and alter it. I think it is easiest to start with an unlined one so you can see the seams more easily. The way I am trying to alter my jacket sleeves, and I believe to be the proper way is to:

1) take the sleeve off completely.

2) Then take in the side seams around the armhole that run up and down the side of your body, there will be two usually.

3) Then, you have to unstitch the two seems on the sleeve and make them match up with the new armhole you just made.

4) When that is done, you have to baste the sleeve back on, taking care to get the right pitch so that it isn't too far forward or back. Tailors have a tool they use for this, I believe.

5) sew the sleeve back on, which I would do by hand because doing it with anything other than an industrial machine will be near impossible.

It is probably a $150-$200 alteration at a tailor.

 

[a-rock]

sounds like it depends on whether the arm hole has to be made smaller or not. if its just a taper job along the arm, a tailor should be able to do that easily for around $30

 

[a tailor]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

It isn't as easy as it sounds. I am practicing tailoring. I have slimmed some dress shirts and ties this week, they aren't rocket science but do take some getting used to, not to mention I don't have industrial machines with the proper foots. Right now, I am content just to have a decent silhouette.

I am trying to take apart a jacket and alter it. I think it is easiest to start with an unlined one so you can see the seams more easily. The way I am trying to alter my jacket sleeves, and I believe to be the proper way is to:

1) take the sleeve off completely.

2) Then take in the side seams around the armhole that run up and down the side of your body, there will be two usually.

3) Then, you have to unstitch the two seems on the sleeve and make them match up with the new armhole you just made.

4) When that is done, you have to baste the sleeve back on, taking care to get the right pitch so that it isn't too far forward or back. Tailors have a tool they use for this, I believe.

5) sew the sleeve back on, which I would do by hand because doing it with anything other than an industrial machine will be near impossible.

It is probably a $150-$200 alteration at a tailor.

careful now realize that if you take in those seams 2) you will be making the chest circumference smaller.
the tool you speak of is "chalk". before you rehang the sleeve make a chalk mark on the jacket at the front of your wrist with your arm hanging down. thats the mark you must match.

 

[Viktri]

I've also got a question - is it easy to suppress the waist of a sports coat?
I see few of Sports Coats on EBay that are 38s and even fewer that have the appropriate waist measurement.

 

[a-rock]

85 posts and you're asking that question? that seems to be the advice given on nearly every picture of a suit or jacket that's posted here.

but yes, your tailor should be able to supress the waist.