Hatrack River Forum: Anyone here any good at tailoring?

This is topic Anyone here any good at tailoring? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=039164

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Here's the story:

I have broad shoulders for a chick. This causes endless problems with shirts and jackets. I got a fencing jacket last year that was a great jacket...but too small in the shoulders. However, I didn't realize this until later (a few months) because of my posture. By then, I'd worn and washed it several times and couldn't be traded in. [Frown]

I frequent a fencing forum and someone had posted a thread asking about opinions on the company that made said jacket. Fit issues aside, I did love the jacket. I said so.

Turns out the owner of the company also frequents that board, emailed me, and said he wants to work something out so I can wear my jacket. Sweet! He said they could either tailor it (no charge) or replace it with a jacket a step up in price for a nominal fee.

I sent it in July and promptly completely forgot aobut it. I remembered yesterday morning and emailed the owner. He didn't reply. Then this afternoon, UPS dropped off a package containing...a new jacket, no charge, and a step up. Niiiiice.

It fits my shoulders!

However.

I could fit a small African village in addition to myself in the rest of the jacket. I think they think I must have way bigger boobs than I do and am much...wider. I have broad shoulders and birthin' hips, but I DO have a waist.

I need it tailored. [Frown]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Hmmm. I could give you some tips, but if you're not experienced, I'd take it to the local dry cleaning and alterations place, tell them what you need, and let them fix it for you. [Smile]

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

I can tailor, but not well, and not with my current machine. I'd reccomend you ask your drycleaner about a tailor, they usually know. I know nothing about fencing jackets, is it lined, what type of material is it made of? I'm sure it can be done, sorry this was so little help. I usually have the opposite problem, my shoulders are tiny, my arms are short, my waist is pretty little, but to accomadate my boobs I have to go up a size, not fun.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I could do it myself, but I lack a sewing machine. [Frown]

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

That's something that should be rentable, but either isn't or is very hard to find. When my mom was in charge of Orchestra uniforms, that was always the catch in getting people to help,"I can sew but I don't have a machine" we loaned our old one to someone, and they never gave it back, luckily it was after we bought the new one, and the sewing machine store said it was worth about $80 because it was 30 years old, but not collectible.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

The thing with taking in something like a fencing jacket is it's often lined and so double-seamed, needs extensive tailoring on multiple seams, and is really more of a headache than it would be worth to just take it to the local tailor if you don't have specific experience making alterations on things like lined blazers and suit jackets.

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

Yeah, my mom just said that too, she did tux jackets, multiple times, teenage boys have weird proportions compared to adults.

Though I took a pair of cordroy pants in today, and they said they couldn't just replace the zipper pulll, they'd need to put a new zipper in and that's $14, I think these pants were $17 three years ago, but the pull was lost, and even with a saftey pin, the zipper goes down. They were the only cordroy's I'd ever found in petite, that I actually liked!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, why didn't you just put a new zipper in yourself? Pants zippers are a couple of bucks. [Razz]

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

I can't find the right color or length, and hoped the could do just a pull.

Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :

I would shop around for a good tailor. A complicated jacket probably isn't worth doing yourself unless you're a talented seamstress who also likes to sew and has a machine and time. I think they made the right decision by sending you a new jacket; altering shoulders to be larger is nearly impossible, but taking the rest of the jacket in should work;

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Take the pants to a JCPenney, if they are large enough to have a tailor, ours charges $8 for a zipper, I think. [Big Grin]

Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :

I hate zippers. With a passion. I avoid putting them in any clothing I sew, because I always screw it up. and clothing that I don't sew, the zippers always get bound up.

I think finding a good tailor is your best bet, too. Tailoring sucks. ::kicks coat::

Ni!

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Nathan thinks it's very funny that my last name is Taylor and I need a tailor.

Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :

Your last name is Taylor? Is there any little secrets you and Nathan need to tell us, hmmm?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Indeed. I thought it was your middle name now? [Wink]

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

My legal last name is Taylor Novak.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Ah! I forgot that was the eventual decision.

But I am going to keep teasing you about your voice mail. [Big Grin]

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

What does my voicemail say?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Taylor. No Novak.