AboutSharon Vogel Expertise I can answer general sewing questions as well as tailoring, heirloom, menswear, children's wear, craft sewing, quilting and just about any fabric or notion. I can also help with some sewing machine repair and maintenance.
Experience I started sewing at the age of 3...thanks to my mom and grandmother, and I am now in my fifties. Home economics classes in junior high and high school helped me to finesse my skills.
Education/Credentials Palmer and Plesch tailoring class
Basically, self-taught...give me the instructions and I will figure it out and then make it better!
Awards and Honors A few blue ribbons at fairs along the way
Expert: Sharon Vogel Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: shortening sleeves on mans suit
Question I need to shorten the sleeves on a mans suit and am not sure how to do it. It has buttons on the cuff also. Please give me a few simple steps. I do a lot of sewing so I know the basics.
Thank you,
Answer Dear Virginia,
Okay, dear, we will do this stepwise:
1. Note the positioning of the buttons on the sleeve...the distance from the hem and how close together they are. Remove the buttons.
2. Using a seam ripper, take the lining hem out, then take out the sleeve hem. Note the width of the sleeve hem as a reference. If the sleeves have a vent in them at the hem, you will probably want to sew the sleeve seam completely closed or the vent will appear too short when the sleeves are shortened. Of course, if you want to put the vents back into the sleeves, you may choose to do so after determining the sleeve length in step 3. Write back and I will step you through that process if you need further help.
3. Now have the gentleman put the jacket on and decide how much you want to shorten the sleeves. The sleeve should be long enough to touch the first knuckles on the thumbs when his arms are hanging at his sides. Fold up the hem on each side at the correct length and pin. Do not have him put the jacket on wrong side out because it seems easier to turn up the sleeve hems. Bodies are not symmetrical and one arm may be a bit longer than the other.
4. Turn the jacket wrong side out. Fold up the sleeve hems to pin markings and press. Mark the width of the hem as you determined it to be in step 2. Trim off the excess fabric and then blind stitch the sleeve hem. Mark the position of the buttons as you determined in step one and sew them back on. The buttons may have been sewn through the lining originally, but you are going to make it look more professional!
6. A sleeve lining is turned up 5/8" at the bottom with about a 1/2" overhang ease. The easiest way is to trim off as much fabric from the lining as you did from the sleeve itself then turn up 5/8" on the lining edge and press. Position the pressed edge 5/8" over the hemmed sleeve edge, easing in any excess fullness, pin and slip stitch in place.
(If any of these steps are confusing, please write me back and I will try to explain it better.)
Congratulations for taking on the task of altering! Many people do not understand why they are charged so much for alterations...but we know why!
