How to Remove Pleats From a Men's Suit

Pleats on mens suit pants are removable.

Women may go crazy for a sharp-dressed man, but pleats in suits for men still remain a personal choice. Some two-piece suits come with pleated pants, which causes a dilemma for shoppers if they like the jacket but prefer flat-front pants. Fortunately, pleats can be removed from most pants. Removing the stitching that holds pleats in place is a straightforward job that is executable at home. However, this will leave the pants' waistline much bigger, requiring additional alterations to make them wearable once again. You can either complete the job yourself, or get help from a tailor or seamstress.

Things You'll Need

• Utility knife or seam ripper

Instructions

1. Turn the pants inside out, and locate the stitching for the pleats. They are commonly found on or just below the waistband, and may be stitched with a color thread that is slightly different from the rest.

2. Cut the pleat stitching carefully with a utility knife or seam ripper, and then pull the stitching out of the pants with a thread puller.

3. Flatten the pants where the pleats were on an ironing board, and then iron them.

References

• Tom Jones Company: To Pleat or not to Pleat
• Sewing Basics: All You Need to Know About Machine and Hand Sewing; Sandra Bardwell