How to Hem a Lined Jacket Sleeve

You can hem lined jacket sleeves by hand or with a sewing machine.

Hemming a lined jacket sleeve may be intimidating because the outer material and lining material are thick when layered together. If you measure the sleeve properly and pin the fabric in place before you sew, you can complete the task efficiently and effectively. Pinning the sleeve while the intended wearer tries the jacket on yields a more accurate final hem than pinning the length from measurements alone.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Seam ripper, if needed
• Jacket
• Measuring tape
• Straight pins
• Thread
• Needle or sewing machine

Instructions

1. Remove the original sleeve hem stitching with pointed scissors or a seam ripper.

2. Put the jacket on.

3. Fold the sleeve material under, so that you cannot see the excess fabric as you adjust the sleeve length. The sleeve should fall just past your wrist bone. Hold the sleeve in place once you adjust the length to the appropriate position.

4. Insert two straight pins -- one in the front and back -- of the sleeve to hold the cuff in place. Repeat the process with the other sleeve. Pin the hem according to measurements, if the person who will wear the jacket is unavailable. Measure from the outer corner of the shoulder just past the wrist joint.

5. Remove the jacket. Turn the it inside out. Lay it on your work surface.

6. Trim away excess fabric with scissors. Leave 2 inches between the new hemline position and material you trim. If the excess is less than 2 inches, do not trim it.

7. Hold the cuff in place as you remove both straight pins. Fold the 2-inch hem allowance under, to create a 1-inch hem. Insert a row of straight pins along the new hem position, to establish a guiding line to follow as you sew. Repeat the process with the other sleeve.

8. Sew a straight seam along the row of straight pins. Sew by hand or with a sewing machine, depending on which method you are more comfortable executing.

9. Tie off the thread once you have stitched around the entire sleeve hem. Trim the excess thread with the scissors. Repeat the process with the other sleeve.

10. Turn the jacket right side out.

References

• University of Nebraska - Lincoln: Extension: G93-1125 Lining a Jacket or Coat; Rose Marie Tondl; 1993; page 7
• iSew: Designer Techniques: Clothing Alterations; Janet Moville