Shortening Sleeves on a Lined Leather Jacket?

Frances Adams

January 5, 20120 found this helpful

It can be done, with a 'hidden stitch'. I am not a good explainer LOL, so it would be best if you could search for images or videos on how to do one, if you don't already know. You would fold the edge of the leather inside, to the length you want, then fold the lining down, shorter than the leather, so that it doesn't show from the outside. It needs to be secured well with pins, but not through the outside layer of leather, only through the inside part that is folded in, and the lining material.

The hidden stitch is done by hand, catching both the lining, and the inner edge of the leather, without going through the outside leather that shows. I am hoping that you can find a video of how to do this.

Best of luck to you!

Frugal Sunnie
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January 5, 20120 found this helpful

You should be able to unpick the lining from the leather, shorten it, tuck it into the inside turned up bit of the leather, then stitch it with the machine at the same time you machine stitch the new hem on the leather.

You'll need to be sure that your bobbin thread matches the colour of the other topstitching if you stitch from the inside as it is the bobbin thread that will show on the outside; make sure that your stitch length matches the rest of the topstitching, too, for best appearance.

Some machines that will sew leather, sew a nicer looking bobbin thread stitch than top stitch, you'll need to experiment to be sure what side you want to stitch, inside or outside, to get a good looking match. Use the leather you trimmed whilst shortening the sleeve, and make sure to add the lining scraps too, as you experiment as you may have different results in the machine stitching with and without the leather and lining materials together.

Also, no pins, FBSM is so right! Use a double sided tape instead to do any basting.

Frances Adams

January 5, 20120 found this helpful

Frugalsunnie gave a much better description! I never would have attempted sewing with the machine, but it would look much more like the original that way!

Frugal Sunnie
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January 8, 20120 found this helpful

LOL, FBSM, I teach sewing from my home, and have recently been doing alterations/refurbishments of these expensive leather and waxed cotton coats:)

I'm working on a vintage Barbour waxed cotton field jacket right now. New, these Barbour jackets are hideously expensive, and the vintage ones fetch a huge price too-thank goodness it's my husband's and he's promised not to divorce me if I botch the work!