Shortening sleeves with functional buttonholes?

WhateverYouLike · Mar 11, 2009

So I bought an amazing cashmere overcoat from BB. Unfortunately, it comes with 2 working buttonholes and it turns out BB1's sleeves are about 2 inches too long for my little stumps. Before looking into major shoulder surgery, I was wondering if there was a way to shorten the sleeves? I do not care if I lose the working buttons. Can a tailor, I don't know, cut off the material between the 2 buttonholes and turn it into a sleeve?

I am willing to pray, rub a lamp, sacrifice a heathen, etc. Whatever it takes to make this coat wearable. As a last resort I can look into shortening from the shoulder.

JayJay · Mar 11, 2009

Shortening the sleeves from the shoulder is likely to be your only option.

polar-lemon · Mar 11, 2009

If you post a pic of the sleeve it will help. Depending on how close the buttons are to the edge and how much you'd need it shortened, you could lop off the entire bottom part and just sew the buttons on the new end.

Gus · Mar 12, 2009

Probably need to shorten it from the shoulder.

holymadness · Mar 12, 2009

Can someone clarify exactly how surgeon cuffs make sleeve adjustments from the hem impossible/difficult? I acknowledge the accepted wisdom, I just don't know how to explain it. Does it apply to lengthening as well as shortening?

aKula · Mar 12, 2009

The working buttons can't be moved because of the physical holes. If the sleeve is shortened from the end the buttons may be too close to the end. So it depends on how high the buttons are originally and how much the sleeve is to be shortened.

holymadness · Mar 12, 2009

I see. So some follow-up questions in that case:

1. Can jackets with surgeon cuffs be lengthened without any issues? Or does this also depend on their distance from the hem?
1.5 What is the ideal distance between the last button on the sleeve and the hem?
2. How exactly are the buttons moved on a jacket with nonworking buttonholes? Do they pick out and re-stitch the fake buttonhole elsewhere?

polar-lemon · Mar 12, 2009

Originally Posted by holymadness

I see. So some follow-up questions in that case:

1. Can jackets with surgeon cuffs be lengthened without any issues? Or does this also depend on their distance from the hem?
1.5 What is the ideal distance between the last button on the sleeve and the hem?
2. How exactly are the buttons moved on a jacket with nonworking buttonholes? Do they pick out and re-stitch the fake buttonhole elsewhere?

1. No, not usually, but it depends on the distance from the hem, as you say
1.5 Normally between .75" and 1.25" is the standard measurement
2. Exactly, or just pick out the fake button hole and replace the button without faux stitching

aKula · Mar 12, 2009

See this article. My response was based mostly on this. http://www.englishcut.com/archives/000215.html

holymadness · Mar 12, 2009

Originally Posted by polar-lemon

1. No, not usually, but it depends on the distance from the hem, as you say
1.5 Normally between .75" and 1.25" is the standard measurement
2. Exactly, or just pick out the fake button hole and replace the button without faux stitching

Originally Posted by aKula

See this article. My response was based mostly on this.
http://www.englishcut.com/archives/000215.html

Thanks guys, I understand it now. More importantly, I can explain it to others.

Charles55 · Mar 12, 2009

Originally Posted by JayJay

Shortening the sleeves from the shoulder is likely to be your only option.

+1! Don't destroy the coat!

Shortening sleeves with functional buttonholes?

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