How to Tailor a Man's Suit

It is important for a man's suit to fit correctly. You want that first impression to be a good one. The waistline should allow for comfort, but not require a belt to remain in position. If you allow your pants to rub on the ground, they will get wet in the rain and begin to fray, giving you a sloppy appearance. Hiring a professional to tailor your suit can be expensive. However, you can easily make some of the alterations yourself, even if you do not own a sewing machine. You can tailor the length of a man’s suit using an iron and fusible iron-on web to shorten the sleeves and the pants yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cloth measuring tape
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Fusible iron-on web
• Iron
• Matching thread
• Sewing needle
• Stitch remover

1. 

   Notice that the cuff of the jacket reaches the base of the thumb. ("Base of the thumb" means it touches the basal joint or thumb carpometacarpal joint.) The hem of the pants should hang slightly on the top of the shoe. The waistband of the pants should just fit (not snug, not loose) with two of the man’s fingers inserted between the waistband and his abdomen. Keep these criteria in mind when making alterations.

2. 
   Inseam measurement

   Measure the man's inseam from the crotch almost to the bottom of the foot while wearing the pants. This should allow the slightly hanging look that you want to achieve on the shoe. Turn the pant leg under and place a straight pin to hold it in place.

3. Turn the pants inside-out. Measure the actual length of the pant leg that you turned. Turn the pant leg under all the way around, measuring every few inches to be sure you keep it equal. Repeat the process on the other leg.

4. 

   Iron the bottom of the pant leg to create a nice crease where the new bottom of the leg will be. Leave the iron turned on.

5. Cut enough of the fusible iron-on web to go around both new leg hems. Place the iron-on web inside the fold and press with the iron for the length of the time recommended on the package.

6. Use the stitch remover to remove the waistband from the pants. You can now lengthen or shorten the waistband as needed using your sewing machine's invisible-stitch option. You may need to tuck the pants on both sides or at the seams, or release some of the seam before sewing the waistband back onto the pants.

7. Use your sewing machine to stitch the waistband back onto the pants. You may want to use your invisible-stitch option.

8. 

   Have the man put the suit jacket on and turn under the cuff until the seam touches the base of the thumb. Place a straight pin to hold it in place. Now turn the entire sleeve under, all the way around. Measure every few inches to make sure it is even. Repeat the process on the other sleeve.

9. Cut enough of the fusible iron-on web to go around the inside fold of both sleeves. Place the iron-on web inside the fold and press with the iron for the length of time recommended on the package.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to set the iron at the temperature suggested for the suit material.
• You can tack the sleeves into place instead of using the iron-on web if you prefer.
• If the jacket has a cuff, you will need to remove it using your stitch remover. Shorten the sleeve and then sew the cuff back on.
• If the suit is borrowed, use a needle and thread and tack the new hems into place. Every few inches, add a couple of stitches and tie them off into a knot.

[shinaberryj]

on 9/17/2009 No your not being too picky. You have the right to expect your new suit to be tailored properly, and to your satisfaction. The people at this store need to put more effort into doing their job well.

[lesslie-l]

on 7/5/2008 my husband bought a new suit and the sleeves had to be let down a inch. the tailor at the store let them down but sewed the overlap below the buttons together at the very bottom. she said she had to as there wasnt enough fabric left to leave the flap open as it originally was. I dont think this is acceptable as it doesnt look right if you look closely. this is their second attempt at fixing it, the first time they put the cheapest type of seam tape in white to lengthen the lining and it was tacked in with big black stitches! now this! am i being too picky??