Club Obi Wan

Just curious to see if anyone has any ideas on how to make my jacket sleeves just a tad longer. I hate to say they are too short for me because with my arms straight down they cover my wrist but I would like them to be maybe 1/2 inch longer without taking the jacket to a tailor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well, yes, you can get at least a 1/2 inch more out of the sleeves (I'm assuming you're talking about a Wested, right?), and I have done so....but, you HAVE to take it to a good leather tailor to have this done. Once done, it will have a line above the new cuff end from where the leather was bent backwards on itself in the fold. That just doesn't go away either, and I've tried every trick I know of to do so. You can lighten it up with brown Pecards, but it's there.

So, the answer is yes, but there are things you'll have to live with once it's one.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks Michaelson for the reply, I knew that would probably be the only option but since it is still a new jacket (less than one month old Wested) maybe once it drapes on my shoulders better that may even help a little.

Humm. Hate to be the possible bearer of bad news, but if they're short now, they'll only get a bit shorter with wear. You have to factor in the 'ride up' at the elbows that occurs during the break in period of the jacket. That extra length is usually figured into the making of the jacket. When folks first put on a new jacket, they think their sleeves are a bit too long. After a few days, they suddenly realize the sleeves are now the correct length. That's because the extra lengh has moved into the elbow area due to the bend and flexing of the arms.

Sorry, but your shoulders aren't going to help the sleeve length over time.

Regards! Michaelson

Here is a picture of me with the jacket on, it's probably no the best picture because it does not show my whole hand but gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Not terrible, but that extra 1/2 inch wouldn't hurt. Still, from all appearances, it's not going to get any shorter, as it appears the 'ride up' has taken place, looking at the elbow area of your sleeves.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for the tips Michaelson

davefelker wrote:Just curious to see if anyone has any ideas on how to make my jacket sleeves just a tad longer. I hate to say they are too short for me because with my arms straight down they cover my wrist but I would like them to be maybe 1/2 inch longer without taking the jacket to a tailor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

On the Vintage Leather Jacket Forums a member described lengthening a leather jacket sleeve by soaking in water, inserting a dumbell weight, closing the wrist with a metal clip, and allowing it to dry. He claims he gained 3/4" to 1".

http://cornellsurgery.com/v-web/bulleti ... t&start=30

I´ve done this on my Wested myself.

I simply opened the seam in the top sleeve and turned the sleeve inside out.

Luckily Wested has a "backfold" at the end of the sleeve at about 3 cm.
It´s glued, but You can easily rip it apart.
Then simply fold it half and glue it again, reverse the sleeves once again and sew the opening at the shoulder together and You are done.

But as Michaelson says, there is a slight crease whare the old fold was.

Best regards

JAN

I did find a place years ago that maintained that they could actually stretch leather for their customers (typically in the sleeves) and more specifically with smooth grained leather such as lambskin. But my experience with them was that the amount that they were able to 'stretch' the sleeves was partially negated after a few weeks of wear. I recollect that it was probably a bit more than 1/4", clearly not enough in your situation and certainly not the 3/4" to 1" claimed on that "Vintage Leather Jacket Forum." I would be very wary of putting too much stress on the seams of your Wested and follow Michaelson's suggestion on an otherwise nice looking jacket.

It's always easier to correct sleeves that are a little too long than too short as many of us here have learned the hard way.