How to Make a Tail for a Tuxedo Jacket
A tail on a tuxedo jacket gives the coat a very elegant look. With elegance often comes expense, and this is no exception for a tailed tuxedo jacket. If you are handy with needle and thread, you can turn a regular tuxedo jacket into a tailed one and save a bit of money.
- Try on the coat. Make sure that the coat you will be wearing fits as it should before you start alterations. The top two buttons should fasten easily and not look stressed when fastened.
- Enlist the help of an assistant. While you have the coat on, have an assistant draw a chalk line across the coat at your waist level. Next, have them draw another line from arm to arm on both sides. They need to make the last line straight down for the tails.
- Loosen the lining. Use a seam ripper to do this, making sure not to rip any seams above the chalk line marks that your assistant made on the coat.
- Cut the jacket. Use the markings as your guide when cutting. Make sure that you do not cut the lining.
- Check for accuracy. After you have made the first cut, check to make sure that the jacket is even by folding it. Now you can use the first cut as a guide for the second one.
- Adjust the lining of the jacket. Now that you have made your cuts, you will also need to trim the lining accordingly. Gather the lining up into the jacket and secure it with pins. Stitch the lining in place and try the coat on again to see if any hemming is needed.