Working suit sleeve buttons

[MisterGee]

I just bought a BBBF suit and was hoping my tailor would be able to create surgeon's cuffs. No dice. She told me that there's a special machine necessary. Whether it's "necessary" or just makes a really tedious, difficult job easy, I'm not entirely sure, but she's very good and does everything for me from hems to much more complex and involved jobs. Nevertheless, I was disappointed, but I figure it can always be done in the future if I find someone with the necessary equipment.

 

[rob]

My alterations tailor in Milwaukee will do but he charges $15 per button hole. He does it by hand, no machine and he doesn't go out of his way to offer the service.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by MisterGee

I just bought a BBBF suit and was hoping my tailor would be able to create surgeon's cuffs. No dice. She told me that there's a special machine necessary. Whether it's "necessary" or just makes a really tedious, difficult job easy, I'm not entirely sure, but she's very good and does everything for me from hems to much more complex and involved jobs. Nevertheless, I was disappointed, but I figure it can always be done in the future if I find someone with the necessary equipment.
She doesn't need a machine if she knows how to do it by hand.

 

[instep]

Originally Posted by furo

Well they certainly blink out here in west texas. I've called over five tailors, ranging from cheap to very expensive, who won't do it because they don't have the button-hole machine.
I think you have your answer there.

 

[Cary Grant]

Button holes are a very specific skill. Most alterations tailors 1) need the machine or 2) need somebody talented enough to do them by hand, well, and quickly and 3) lacking that in many cases, they refuse to do them.

I'm fortunate my tailor does gorgeous, hand-sewns for a reasonable price, but before he came along, where I got my suits shipped them across town to the one shop that finished sleeves.

 

[phillyesq]

Originally Posted by doctorj!

My tailor said he cannot do them. Any new jersey tailor recommendations?

AJ

I'm not sure where you are in the jerz, but if you're close to Philadelphia, Rich Chae at 15th and Walnut will do them.

According to him, it is a very labor intensive process, and the work there is done by hand. He is quite reasonable -- he charges $10/button.

 

[Wes Bourne]

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

I've had the same experience here in Edmonton. I still don't know of a tailor in Edmonton who has any of these machines.

Try Sam Abouhassan at Commerce Place. I popped in when I had a few minutes to spare before a meeting earlier this summer. http://www.samabouhassan.com/style.cfm

They make suits and shirts; fwiw, an article in a local Edmonton mag states they dressed Gretzky and his groomsmen . Don't know if they'll do alterations on your rtw though. If not, they can probably refer someone who'll just do surgeon cuffs for you.

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by MisterGee

I just bought a BBBF suit and was hoping my tailor would be able to create surgeon's cuffs. No dice. She told me that there's a special machine necessary. Whether it's "necessary" or just makes a really tedious, difficult job easy, I'm not entirely sure, but she's very good and does everything for me from hems to much more complex and involved jobs. Nevertheless, I was disappointed, but I figure it can always be done in the future if I find someone with the necessary equipment.

+1

I was trying to do the same for my Black Fleece suit

As you mentioned, they can always be made into working sleeves when/if a tailor can do it

 

[CaesarSTL]

I've had similar experience calling a few tailors here in St. Louis. Two said they didn't have the machine to do it, and one said it'll be $20 a button... Hmm, I love the idea, but that works out to around $160 a suit, X10 suits....

 

[III]

I am also in West TX and have had the same experience as you. I pretty much only buy suits & jackets when I travel nowadays.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by III

I pretty much only buy suits & jackets when I travel nowadays.
All my shopping is now done out of town. Although there are ample stores locally, what I like to purchase is usually found elsewhere.