How to Alter a Men's Jacket
Weight loss or gain may cause a men’s jacket to fit improperly. Sometimes style changes may cause a jacket to appear dated. Increased wear may be realized from a men’s jacket with minor alterations. The following steps may add several years of wear to a finely made jacket.
Items Needed:
- Bobbin
- Iron
- Needle
- Pins
- Scissors
- Seam ripper
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Decide if specific styling details such as cuffs, collars or pockets need to be updated.
- Slip the jacket on the person that will be wearing it, and have the person stand up straight.
- Decide if the length of the jacket and sleeve length are acceptable or should be shortened.
- Pin the hemline and sleeves at proper lengths. After pinning the sleeves, have the person raise his arms to determine if the pinned sleeve length is still appropriate. If not, adjust slightly.
- Observe the buttons for closure, and determine if the buttons need to be moved or the side seams or back darts need to be adjusted.
- Perform sleeve adjustments at the cuff by ripping the seam with a seam ripper to separate the lining from the outer fabric.
- Perform styling detail changes concerning the cuff at this time.
- Properly pin the sleeve cuff and hem using a whipstitch with needle and thread that closely matches the outer fabric and press.
- Separate the inner lining from the outer lining at the hemline of the jacket.
- Turn the jacket inside out, and adjust the side seams as needed.
- Perform styling detail changes concerning the collar or pockets at this time.
- Thread a bobbin with thread from the same spool, and then place thread and bobbin on the sewing machine.
- Secure the seam with pins and using a straight stitch, sew the side seam beginning at the armhole with a sewing machine. Press all seams flat.
- Rip the seam of the darts, if an adjustment is needed. Pin in place, and sew by machine.
- Pin the hemline at the bottom of the jacket, and hem with a whipstitch attaching the lining to the outer fabric. Press seams to lie flat.
- Cut the threads from the button carefully, and move to the proper location and reattach in new location with needle and thread.