Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon
Insider

Sign in or become an insider to access this story

Sign In

Alteration Shop Techniques: How to Shorten Jacket Sleeves

Learn how to shorten jacket sleeves like a pro.

This tutorial is for all of you on a quest to customize me-made or upcycled garments. The garments’ sleeves sometimes need to be shortened or lengthened, and you want that alteration to look professional while giving the wearer a tailor-made fit. I’ll walk you through the steps to shorten jacket sleeves below. My next post (coming February 12, 2021) provides the steps required to lengthen a jacket’s sleeves.

This technique for shortening sleeves can be applied to ladies’ and men’s jackets that have nonworking vents near the sleeve hems. Nonworking vents include sewn-on buttons. Some also have nonworking buttonholes with the buttons sewn on top. The buttonholes are just for show, since they have not been cut open.

An alterations shop method

While working at a menswear store in the 1980s, I learned how to shorten and lengthen sleeves on jackets with nonworking vents and buttons. That job gave me invaluable sewing experience overall. It could get stressful at times, especially during sales when the work piled up and the turnaround time was condensed. But I learned to complete a set of sleeves in 35 to 40 minutes. Whew! While not nearly as fast now, I still do this alteration and am happy to pass this information along to you.

It may seem like a complicated alteration because of the many steps, but it isn’t difficult at all. Lots of images are included below to make the method clear. Once you get the hang of shortening jacket sleeves, you may decide to complete this technique your way.

Take note of the jacket sleeve details

Notice the vent near the sleeve hem and the buttons sewn in a row onto it on the unaltered sleeve.

Suit jacket sleeve showing the buttons near the sleeve hem

 

When the cuff is lifted, you can see (below) the difference between the upper lap…

Start your 14-day FREE trial to access this story.

Start your FREE trial today and get instant access to this article plus access to all Threads Insider content.

Start Your Free Trial
Discuss

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Discuss

  1. User avater
    [email protected] | | #1

    Wonderful and helpful explanation. Thank you.

  2. User avater
    sunnylutz | | #2

    Thank you! Those are excellent step-by-step instructions. My only question was if/ when you need to open the vent further up the sleeve as you shorten the length. I’m guessing since it wasn’t mentioned here that you don’t worry about it as most sleeves are not shortened enough to impact the vent...true?

Log in or become a member to post a comment.

More From Threads

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More