Tailoring an argyle jacket.

[kilted2000]

I was wondering if it was possible to have the sleeve with a gauntlet cuff of an argyle jacket shortened without ruining the jacket? Let’s say I found a jacket on eBay or somewhere similar but the sleeves were too long. How would I go about it? I probably wouldn’t be doing it, but a local tailor.

[ShaunMaxwell]

While lI don’t know the particulars of how it’s done, I’ve had the sleeves shortened on several eBay-purchased gauntlet cuffed Argyll jackets by a local alteration shop. I can’t imagine it would be a challenge for an experienced tailor or seamstress.

Take the jacket to the shop and they’ll have you try it on and will mark up the sleeves with chalk and/or pin them up to your satisfaction, then will make the alterations required. It shouldn’t take too long or cost too much (at least in my experience).

Cheers,

SM

[Father Bill]

I am absolutely no tailor, but I think a good tailor might even remove the sleeve and shorten it at the shoulder. I've been surprised by some of the ways my fellow has successfully made a variety of adjustments.

[Pleater]

I think it depends on how your arm fits into the sleeve shape - over the years I have recut sleeve caps to keep most of the sleeve as it was, shortened the cuff and removed a piece from behind it as the sleeve was long below the elbow and the cuff made in proportion, or cut the cuff off and shortened the sleeve then reattached the unaltered cuff. The last one was the most difficult as it was a mass produced jacket.

Tailor made garments with some age seem to be the easiest garments to alter. Some modern garments are impossible to work on as the seam structure is all that is keeping the threads together.

[OC Richard]

I think a lot depends on how the cuffs are made.

Here are three Argyll jackets, the left and middle ones have a false cuff sewn all around onto the sleeve prior to the back seam of the sleeve being sewn. I suppose it would be possible to completely remove the cuff and move it higher. But not knowing if there's fabric underneath the cuff, or if it's possible to remove the cuff cleanly, I couldn't say whether it would be possible to lengthen the sleeve.

The jacket on the right has the cuff as a separate piece, thus it would be simple to move the cuff higher or lower on the sleeve.



Here you can see that the cuff is lined in satin like the rest of the jacket.

[ktk1961]

I am absolutely no tailor, but I think a good tailor might even remove the sleeve and shorten it at the shoulder. I've been surprised by some of the ways my fellow has successfully made a variety of adjustments.

I had two jackets with gauntlet cuffs shortened in exactly this way. Turned out beautifully.

[Pleater]

Every time I look at that picture I think - that is SO cheating!!

Anne the Pleater

[OC Richard]

Just be aware that with Highland jackets it's long been common for the wrists to be fully covered, with the sleeves coming down around a third of the way between the wrists and the knuckles.

I know with modern non-Highland suits the sleeves are often rather short, even exposing the wrists, the intention being to have an inch or two of the shirt showing.

As always the Duke of Rothesay is impeccable.



What you don't want is this

[Jock Scot]

OCR.

I can well remember discussing this point about kilt jacket cuff length with my tailor. As the measurements were being passed on to the scribe, I did question the measurement for the length of the sleeves and the reply that I shall never forget, "we dont want to get our shirt cuffs wet , do we sir", and over the years I have had occasion to thank him, under my breath, for his wisdom.

[Jock Scot]

Apologies to all. I seem to have posted more or less the same words in two threads. I suppose the two posts are relevant to both threads. Nevertheless, it does appear to me a tad strange! I am not at all sure how that happened, might be something to do with old age.