When a Jacket or Coat is Shortened, Where Does the Extra Material Go?

[minervau]

Sorry if this is a really silly question, but I'm wondering what happens to the extra material when an item like a suit/sport coat is shortened (I know, I know, not supposed to do it!) or when an overcoat is shortened. Does the tailor just give you the cut off extra fabric (perhaps it would be worth keeping in case the main piece needed mending in a few years?)? Is that material actually folded into the lining of the coat, the way the hem on trousers is? (Seems unlikely.)

I'm wondering because I would like to have an overcoat shortened and based on past posts it sounds like this is a practical and even quite an easy alteration. Is it easy to do, and if so, where does the extra material (if you're taking it up 4 inches, that is a TON of wool, cashmere, etc.) go?

 

[David Reeves]



Sorry if this is a really silly question, but I'm wondering what happens to the extra material when an item like a suit/sport coat is shortened (I know, I know, not supposed to do it!) or when an overcoat is shortened. Does the tailor just give you the cut off extra fabric (perhaps it would be worth keeping in case the main piece needed mending in a few years?)? Is that material actually folded into the lining of the coat, the way the hem on trousers is? (Seems unlikely.)
I'm wondering because I would like to have an overcoat shortened and based on past posts it sounds like this is a practical and even quite an easy alteration. Is it easy to do, and if so, where does the extra material (if you're taking it up 4 inches, that is a TON of wool, cashmere, etc.) go?

The technical name for it is a "cloth bin".

 

[bengal-stripe]



......I'm wondering what happens to the extra material......(perhaps it would be worth keeping in case the main piece needed mending in a few years?)

Just ask your alteration tailor to return the cut-offs to you.

 

[HansderHund]

I don't know on most of it and it's never really occurred to me to ask. My tailor knows my finer things and will give me any useable material left. I was told it would be useful to have to do repairs should I need them down the line and it would be difficult/expensive if I didn't have a piece of the exact material. I keep them all together but I don't think I've used one yet.

tl;dr: If you want them, just mention it to your tailor before he makes the adjustments.

 

[NORE]

Some say heaven, others hell. Depends on the fabric, really.

 

[coolarrow]

My tailor will often put some excess fabric in the pockets for me. As I am reaching for a business card, I will pull it out and say, "WTF?" Then I calm down.

 

[mymil]

Some say heaven, others hell. Depends on the fabric, really.

I thought tailors put the scraps under their pillows, and in the morning they find a quarter for each in their place. Guess I was wrong.

 

[TM79]



Some say heaven, others hell. Depends on the fabric, really.

lol... nice