Converting a tweed sport coat to a Braemar jacket

[Carolina Kiltman]

I'm sure that this story is apocryphal, but my mom always told me that buttons were originally placed on the sleeves by Napoleon. The story goes that the Emperor was disgusted by the table manners of the officers with whom he often took meals. The particular thing that drove him up the wall was their tendency to wipe both their mouths and their runny noses on their sleeves. Now, as we all know, It's Good To Be The King...and even better to be the Emperor; so he decreed that buttons be sewn on the sleeves to deter the behaviour that he found so reprehensible.

...or so the story goes...


Best

AA

I have heard that too, but most likely the buttons were originally to keep the cold wind from coming up your sleeve! I have found it is best to discount any, if not all neat explanations, I seem to remember that during the Nepoleonic wars, the British petty officers had a row of brass buttons around the cuff of their uniforms. . . . I am quite sure that the Brits would NOT follow a fashion dictated by Napoleon!

[Bugbear]

The higher end jackets often have funtional sleeve buttons. It makes sleeve hemming an aughful task... I've had to adjust the sleeve lingth on every sport and suit jacket I've gotten. I hate alining the buttons...

I used this thread a lot in doing my own jacket conversion, thanks. Someday, when I get pictures, I'll post pictures and find out if I did it well.

[ChattanCat]

I often wonder why I put buttons on the sleeve. Why have cuffs and what function did they serve? If I look from the practical side. I thought the cuff was to have some material to pull down on my hands to keep them warmer in the cold days and nights. The buttons were there to hold the cuff up when not needed. It makes sense to me.

[Mipi]

One (dumb) question on jacket.

I see those jackets in grey and black colors. Are other colors not acceptable? There is a jacket (Harris Tweed) in brown-like color which I don't use for some time. The only issue I see (as total ignorant on this field) is, to what tartans this jacket could be used not to clash.

[Bugbear]

One (dumb) question on jacket.

I see those jackets in grey and black colors. Are other colors not acceptable? There is a jacket (Harris Tweed) in brown-like color which I don't use for some time. The only issue I see (as total ignorant on this field) is, to what tartans this jacket could be used not to clash.

The brown tweed should be just fine for a daywear jacket.

I would avoid wearing it with tartans that have a large amount of black and/or gray.

It would probably look great with some kind of horn or horn-like buttons. Good luck.

[Robertson]

I think this would make someone a great part time business "hint-hint"

[Bugbear]

I think this would make someone a great part time business "hint-hint"

I think one of the members already started converting people's jackets on the side, but I don't seem to remember which member that was..

Big BTW:
I put the soft strips of interfacing that were in the original hems of my jacket back in the new hems... Boy it made a world of difference in the hang and shape of the hem area.

It's almost like when you forget to put the interfacing back in the sleeve cuffs after shortening them...

[Robertson]

[QUOTE=Ted Crocker;608565]I think one of the members already started converting people's jackets on the side, but I don't seem to remember which member that was..



Anyone remember ?

[Tetley]

Many thanks for this photo-essay, it inspired me to go out and buy a dress jacket from a charity shop and cut it down into an Argyll jacket for the recent charity dress up at work.

I don't have a sewing machine, well I do, but it's in Malta, so I had to had sew it, but using your pictures as a guide I was able to do the job.

Thanks again.

Mark

[Bugbear]

Anyone remember ?

There is information at this link:
Aracos mac Domhnaill's thread "Jacket Conversion"

Hope that helps.