How to Hem the Sleeves on a Sports Jacket

Getting the right measurements is critical when hemming a sports jacket.

Hemming the sleeves on your sports jacket can save you a trip to the tailor and some money. Altering your sports jacket sleeves can seem like a daunting task. But with a few simple sewing tools and a little time, you can get those sleeves fitting perfectly.

Things You'll Need

• Tailor's chalk
• Ruler or cloth measuring tape
• Pins
• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Thread
• Needle
• Iron

Instructions

1. Put on the jacket, and measure where you want the sleeves to end. As a general rule of thumb, it should come down to the wrist. With the tailor's chalk, mark where the sleeves should end.

2. Measure the distance from the edge of the sleeve up to where the first button on the sleeve starts. Measure the distance between the buttons. Write down these measurements.

3. Use the seam ripper to remove the buttons from the sleeves and the lining from the jacket.

4. Mark with the tailor's chalk on the jacket fabric, about 1 inch down from where your first mark is, and cut the fabric along this line.

5. Fold the jacket fabric on the initial tailor's chalk mark, and pin it into place. Iron the jacket fabric along this line.

6. Remove the pins, and fold under 1/4 inch of the edge of the jacket fabric. Iron the fabric along this fold line.

7. Use tailor's chalk to mark the jacket lining 1 1/4 inches up from the edge of the sleeve -- where you made the initial mark on the jacket fabric -- and cut the lining on this mark. It is better to have too much lining than too little, so if this amount seems like too much to you, cut off less.

8. Fold under 1/4 inch of the lining. The folded lining edge should match up with the 1/4 inch fold of the jacket fabric. Adjust the lining fold, if it does not.

9. Sew the lining to the jacket fabric, with your needle and thread -- sewing the folded edge of the lining to the 1/4-inch fold of the jacket fabric. Grab some of the outer jacket fabric with your needle as you sew, being careful not to stick the needle all the way through the fabric. If you do, there will be stitches visible on the outside of the jacket.

10. Sew the buttons back onto the sleeves, using the measurements you took before removing them.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay attention when you are ripping apart the seams on the sleeve of the sports jacket. You will need to put those same seams back into place, when you sew the sleeve back together. The lining should not be visible when you try on the jacket. If it is, remove the lining from the jacket fabric, and adjust the lining so that it fits tighter.

References

• How To Shorten The Sleeves Of A Blazer Sport Coat