Tailoring my jacket

[lefty_monster]

Ok, this has been driving me crazy ever since i bought the thing last year.

My jacket fits me like a men's jacket. It fits across the shoulders just fine, but around the waist area it is very loose. I use this jacket for competition and practice, so i need some kind of fix that is going to work and keep working three days a week for the next year or two, ideally. Can i take it to a place that does alterations on suits and stuff to have them fix it? I am scared to do it myself because the jacket has two layers, which would be hard to sew, and i would be a little mad if i messed it up somehow.

The lame that i got from the same company has the same problem. Could i have anyone fix it, too, or would that mess up the conductivity?

I have to get the jacket's sleeves shortened anyway. But i think i could do that myself.

[Purple Fencer]

I would take it to a good tailor and explain the problem. Let a pro handle it....sleeves, too. I would think the main worry would be the fact that the jacket (unless it's a back zip) is not symmetrical like a standard suit.

For the lame, you could go the same route, but you MUST impress upon them the necessity of keeping the remaning material in good contact with itself.

[telkanuru]

If one were to um, edit a FIE jacket, would it still be FIE, since the tag applies to the cloth and not the design?

[Alex_Paul]

If one were to um, edit a FIE jacket, would it still be FIE, since the tag applies to the cloth and not the design?

NO

FIE jackets are tested to CEN level 2 which includes seam tests. The thread used is much stronger than what a regular tailor uses.

[DangerMouse]

What if the original seam was left intact when the jacket was taken in?

[DHCJr]

That is an idea. Sam may remember at the last Orange Coast competition, someone came up with a lame that didn't fit quite right. The problem was it was a ladies' lame. They are easy to spot. Look at the front of your jacket and lame. They should have two what looks like seams on the front. These are called darts and are used to adjust the size to a ladies shape. These darts could be taken in more. If they are not there, that may be a problem as you have a man's or generic jacket.

[lefty_monster]

it is a women's jacket; there are chest protector pockets in the front, but there are no darts.

[Purple Fencer]

it is a women's jacket; there are chest protector pockets in the front, but there are no darts.

?? That doesn't make any sense....the presence of the pockets kinda makes the darts for breasts a necessity.

Question: Was it bought new or used? It COULD be a man's jacket originally owned by a woman who was a touch large in the lower body (breast darts would be useless in that case) and the pockets were sewn in after-market...

[Mergs]

?? That doesn't make any sense....the presence of the pockets kinda makes the darts for breasts a necessity.

Question: Was it bought new or used? It COULD be a man's jacket originally owned by a woman who was a touch large in the lower body (breast darts would be useless in that case) and the pockets were sewn in after-market...

Not necessarily. Most practice jackets that I've seen have the pockets and no darts.

[Purple Fencer]

Not necessarily. Most practice jackets that I've seen have the pockets and no darts.

OK...on a practice jacket yeah....but I've nt seen a front zip without darts on a woman's jacket...'course, it's possible I just haven't coime across one...

[DHCJr]

As was said before, it could be a Generic Jacket that is made to accomodate both. That is not saying it accomadates them well.

Without worrying about a seam, darts would be the way to go. The problem is, if you are not experienced it is not for you to do. Find a tailor, it should not cost too much.

[lefty_monster]

It's a brand-new jacket from Triplette Competition Arms. And i got it with one of the starter kits so they probably did put in a generic practice jacket. But then again, my lame isn't fitted either, so that might just be how the company makes their uniforms.

Now all i gotta do is figure out who i can steal...i mean borrow... a jacket from while mine is in the shop.

Should i tell them to use any special kind of thread?

[telkanuru]

Triplette seems to think people are naturally shaped like boxes, so as you will.

[CheekyCanuck]

I have the same problem with my jacket. (It was a cheap jacket though, non-FIE)
I was just going to live with it for another year or so , then buy a decent one.
If you do find someone, please let me know what their quote is like. I would think custom work like that (on a lame especially) would be a little pricey, but if you expect to get a few more years out of it, maybe the investment is worth it.

[wpotere]

It's a brand-new jacket from Triplette Competition Arms. And i got it with one of the starter kits so they probably did put in a generic practice jacket. But then again, my lame isn't fitted either, so that might just be how the company makes their uniforms.

Now all i gotta do is figure out who i can steal...i mean borrow... a jacket from while mine is in the shop.

Should i tell them to use any special kind of thread?

I don't think that I would let a tailor alter a fencing jacket. I have agree with Alex Paul. Even through this is not a FIE jacket, there are still some standards that were followed to ensure that there was some safety built in. If a tailor does not know what they are doing, it could compromise the jacket. Best to buy a good jacket that fits from the get go.

[Mergs]

If you are really concerned about destroying the integrity of the jacket, and the alteration is fairly minor (taking in an inch or so of folded material) don't cut it. Just have them run another double stitch seam where you take it in. Don't cut the seam out or trim off the excess material Who knows, you may want to dontate the jacket one day and the next guy may not have your svelte figure! It may look like mine!

[Robert Smith]

I have the same problem with my jacket. (It was a cheap jacket though, non-FIE)
I was just going to live with it for another year or so , then buy a decent one.
If you do find someone, please let me know what their quote is like. I would think custom work like that (on a lame especially) would be a little pricey, but if you expect to get a few more years out of it, maybe the investment is worth it.

My daughter and I are making lames - I do the cutting out, she does the sewing up - and she's got it down to about 3 hours work to make an entire lame. Putting a couple of darts in an existing one is trivial, particularly if you don't mind outer layer and lining being sewn together.

When we first started on making lames, we planned to get a local seamstress to do the work, but she estimated six hours per lame, which took all the advantage out of it. But I recall her hourly rate was not much at all. We found her through a local fabric store, which is where I'd recommend you look if you don't want to do it yourself. You'll likely find there's at least one local seamstress (funny, never a seamster..) who they can point you to who'll do alterations at reasonable rates.

[lefty_monster]

Ok, i really don't want to mess this jacket up so i guess i'll just suffer with it for a while longer.

And honestly, the way I've been using it, how long could it possibly last? Well, long enough for me to save up for a new one, i hope.

Is triplette the only company that is under the impression that people are square? Maybe i should have ordered from Blue Gauntlet.

[Mergs]

I would say that for the most part, that for practice jackets, yes they all pretty much assume that people are the same basic shape, square as you describe it.

[wpotere]

If finding a fitting jacket becomes difficult you could have one tailor made. Uhlmann and others will actually make a jacket to your specs and you can order directly from them. The only down side is the Euro rate at this time. However, it has been getting better.