The ebay jacket arrives

**auld argonian** · 24th October 07, 11:10 AM

...and it fits! Believe that rule of thumb that you should order one size up. I'll have to get it pressed before I dare to do a photo...it was crammed in a USPS priority box.

So I have a nice Navy Blue Argyle.

Now...who has advice on how to replace the buttons? I'd like to take the silver off and find some black buttons to replace them. These are the shank buttons and have a plastic disc and cotter pin holding them in place but the cotter pin/disc assembly is sewn inside the lining and I would dearly love to not have to do surgery to get at them. Any thoughts?

Best

AA

**beloitpiper** · 24th October 07, 11:29 AM

No idea what to do with the buttons, but I'm jealous of the jacket! A tweed argyll is next on my list!

Can't wait for photos!

**Mr. MacDougall** · 24th October 07, 11:36 AM

My advice on the buttons: Take 'em to your neighborhood alterations place, and let them do surgery on the jacket.

**McMurdo** · 24th October 07, 01:06 PM

Congratulations on the new jacket, I concur with Mr. MacDougall, have the professionals do it for you.

**gilmore** · 24th October 07, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

...and it fits! Believe that rule of thumb that you should order one size up. I'll have to get it pressed before I dare to do a photo...it was crammed in a USPS priority box....

AA

Or in some case TWO sizes larger. Just a couple of days ago I finally received here in the US a lovat blue (or close to it) tweed argyle jacket and waistcoat from the UK that I had bought at an Ebay auction on September 12. I had almost given up hope of seeing them. My chest measures 46 inches. The waistcoat was advertised as 48 inches, and the jacket as 50. I was expecting to have to take at least the jacket if not also the waistcoat to a local seamstress to have them altered, but they both fit quite well. The material is a heavy wool, so I guess that accounts for the fit.

**O'Neille** · 24th October 07, 02:10 PM

Look around the lining for an opening to get at the cotter pins. My Montrose has a sewn opening in the forearm lining so you can navigate your way to the pins.

**auld argonian** · 25th October 07, 05:01 AM

I'd love to turn the job over to a professional, guys, but the problem that I'm running into is the lack of really qualified tailors hereabouts. Lots of "cowboys" and no old pro's...and forget the possbility that I'd be dealing with anybody who knew their @$$ from a hole in the ground vis a vis kilts or kilt jackets. My last guy was a gentleman from Palestine who had a shop downtown and, when the building sold, he moved with no forwarding adress...that guy did know what he was doing and I have no doubt that he could have handled anything that got thrown at him.

So I'll either go and finally check out that small kilt shop out in Summit or look for a tailor that specializes in cop and fireman uniforms...that might be a possibility.

But I see mention of the buttons being removed before dry cleaning...is that a necessity?

Best

AA

**pipesndrumsnun** · 25th October 07, 07:35 AM

Can't wait to see the pics! Navy blue is my favorite color!

**12stones** · 25th October 07, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

But I see mention of the buttons being removed before dry cleaning...is that a necessity?

Best

AA

It's not a necessity as far as dry cleaners are concerned, but it risks having your buttons damaged, nicked, dented, etc. If you're okay with that, leave them on. Oh, and as always, the dry cleaners won't be responsible for the damage to your buttons. I'm sure they have a sign that says that somewhere...

**auld argonian** · 25th October 07, 01:34 PM

I just read somewhere that you should make sure that they turn the jacket inside out when they clean it so the buttons don't bang against the machine interior. The same source suggested that if the buttons are silver or some other valuable metal, you might want to take them off just to be sure that they don't "walk off".

Best

AA