How To Shorten Suit Jacket Sleeves

Download Article

Download Article

Shortening the sleeves on a jacket can take it from ill-fitting and sloppy to tailored and chic. It is fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to change the length of your sleeves, but yous volition demand some basic sewing skills and a sewing machine. You volition need to mensurate to discover the new length, marker your material, cutting it at the desired length, and and then hem the sleeves to end them.

1. 1

   Endeavor on the jacket to determine the new sleeve length. To get the best possible fit, put the jacket on and identify where y'all would like the sleeves to autumn. It is a expert idea to curve your arms and agree them direct at your sides to run into where you lot are near comfortable with the sleeves ending in these positions. You may want to choose a midpoint measurement between these ii spots.

   • For example, if yous desire the sleeves to end right at your wrist, but they are besides short at this length when yous bend your elbows, and then yous might demand to shorten them so that they end about 0.5 cm (0.20 in) below your wrists instead.

2. 

   2

   Mark the sleeves where you desire them to end. Marker the position in a few spots effectually the sleeve with a piece of chalk. So, remove the jacket and connect the marks into a solid line going around the sleeve.^[one]

   • Yous may want to apply a ruler to aid y'all get a straight line and to ensure that all of the marks are the same distance from the end of the sleeve.

   Advertisement

3. 

   3

   Measure 2 in (5.1 cm) from the marks you made. The spot you identified is not where you will need to cutting your jacket sleeves. You volition need to leave room for the seam allowance, and so measure out two in (five.one cm) from the commencement line going towards the cease of the sleeve. Marker this spot in a few places effectually the sleeve using a slice of chalk. Then, connect the marks in one solid line.^[2]

   • This will leave a picayune extra room in case you need to lengthen the sleeves again in the future.

Advertisement

1. 

   1

   Utilize a seam ripper to pull out the stitches along the hem and seam. Rip the stitches past running the hook section of the seam ripper through the stitches on the hem and seam of the jacket. You will demand to remove the stitches earlier y'all first cutting.^[iii] This will detach the sleeve lining from the sleeve textile, which is necessary for hemming the sleeve properly.^[4]

   • Exist careful not to rip the fabric equally you lot do this!
   • If the shirt has mitered corners effectually the buttons, you'll need to open that upwardly, also.^[five]

2. 

   ii

   Slide the lining fabric up and out of the mode. To avoid cutting through the lining fabric, move information technology up into the sleeve so it will be out of your way. Cutting the lining along with the jacket's exterior material may affect the fit of your jacket.^[half-dozen]

   • You may want to pivot the lining upwards inside of the sleeve to ensure that it will not make it the way when yous cutting the outer fabric.
   • It's a skillful idea to printing the pieces of the sleeves to ensure you have nice clean edges to work with.^[7]

3. 

   3

   Cut the outer fabric forth the second line you created. Cut straight along the line all the way around the sleeve using a pair of sharp scissors. Make sure to cut the outer sleeve fabric only.^[eight]

   • Repeat the same process for both sleeves.

Advert

1. 

   ane

   Pull the lining textile back down. Pull downwards the lining then that information technology extends past the new stop of the sleeve fabric. If you lot used pins to concur the fabric back, so take out the pins first.^[9]

2. 

   2

   Cut the lining just a little longer than the finished sleeve. Trim the jacket lining and so it's just a petty longer than the finished sleeve will be. This will be just a little shorter you cut the sleeve fabric to, since it was cut to business relationship for the seam allowance.^[10]

   • If y'all cut the lining to the exact same length as the finished sleeve, it will pull and make the sleeve await puckered.

3. 

   three

   Fold the cloth under by 5 centimetres (2.0 in) so it covers the lining. Ensure that the jacket lining and outer material are lined up. So, fold the outer material at the stop of the sleeve over the lining material towards the inside of the sleeve. This will hibernate the raw edges of the lining and outer material.^[11]

4. 

   4

   Identify a few pins effectually the folded sleeve to keep information technology in place. Insert the pins going perpendicular to the end of the sleeve and so they will be easier to remove as you sew together. Place a pivot most every v cm (ii.0 in).

5. 

   v

   Secure the folded fabric with a straight sew. Set your sewing car to the straight stitch setting and sew all the way around the edges of the sleeve. Brand sure to utilise a thread that matches the colour of the jacket, such as black thread for a blackness jacket. Position the stitch about 3 cm (ane.2 in) from the folded border.^[12]

   • Remove the pins before you sew over each expanse to avoid damaging your machine.
   • You can also sew the sleeve past paw, if you prefer.^[xiii]

6. 

   half dozen

   Backstitch past v cm (2.0 in) when you reach the cease. To secure the final stitches, press down on the lever on the side of your sewing car and hold information technology while still applying gentle pressure to the pedal. This will reverse the direction of your sewing machine. Run up for v cm (2.0 in) and so release the lever and sew back to where you started. Trim off the backlog threads and yous are washed with the sleeve!

   • After you lot finish sewing the first sleeve, repeat the process for the second sleeve.

Advertisement

Add together New Question

• Question

  How much seam assart should you go out?

  

  David Pew is a Professional Tailor and the Owner of Sew together Generously based in Seattle, Washington. With over a decade of experience, David specializes in bespoke tailoring and alterations. He uses his experiences, skills, and middle for detail to produce the highest quality of products.

  

  Professional Tailor

  Skilful Respond

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  When I'thousand shortening sleeves, I typically leave virtually 2 inches of seam allowance inside the sleeve and the lining. That fashion, the sleeves can be diffuse again later if they need to exist, which is especially helpful if the alteration is for someone young.

• Question

  Do I need to add interfacing?

  

  David Pew is a Professional Tailor and the Possessor of Sew Generously based in Seattle, Washington. With over a decade of experience, David specializes in bespoke tailoring and alterations. He uses his experiences, skills, and eye for particular to produce the highest quality of products.

  

  Professional Tailor

  Expert Answer

• Question

  Why do you lot cut the lining longer?

  

  David Pew is a Professional Tailor and the Possessor of Sew Generously based in Seattle, Washington. With over a decade of experience, David specializes in bespoke tailoring and alterations. He uses his experiences, skills, and eye for detail to produce the highest quality of products.

  

  Professional Tailor

  Proficient Answer

See more answers

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertising

• Cull a heavy-duty needle for thicker jacket fabrics, such as denim, leather, and suede. A larger needle size indicates a thicker needle.^[14]

Ad

Things Yous'll Need

• Chalk
• Ruler
• Pair of scissors
• Pins
• Sewing car
• Thread

About This Article

Article Summary 10

If y'all have some basic sewing skills and a sewing auto, you lot tin shorten your jacket sleeves relatively hands. Commencement, you'll need to put your jacket on and mark where you want your new sleeve to end. Make some other mark two inches below that for the hem. Remove the old seams and hem with a seam ripper, cut the outer fabric along the 2nd mark you made, and fold the fabric nether the lining 2 inches. Then, you'll need to pivot your sleeves and use a straight stitch to sew together them together. Make sure you use a thread that matches the color of your jacket then it looks natural. For more tips, including how to sew thicker fabrics, like denim or leather, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Thank you to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 147,639 times.

Did this commodity help you?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Shorten-Jacket-Sleeves

Share this post