tailoring suggestions

latinmajorac · 06-01-2006, 11:42 PM

i have an overcoat for Lt. - Capt. that i bought in e-bay a while back. the coat and buttons were proper and excellent, but the shoulderboards were fantasy and improper. i acquired the proper boards and created a rank for it (i chose captain). the problem is that only half of the boards were able to be sewn down (the part under the collar). the reason for this is that i can't find a tailor that has a needle strong enough to sew through the shoulder padding on the shoulders.

now to get to my question: what do i do? i want this thing to be finished, i enjoy wearing it and i want to wear it properly. but i need the boards sewn properly. i have already tried military tailors, their needles break as well. any suggestions? thanks everyone

ekclete · 06-02-2006, 10:53 AM

One idea might be to not go all the way through the padding of the jacket. Take a regular needle and go down a part of the way and loop it several times like that.

Or just get a much bigger needle...

latinmajorac · 06-02-2006, 11:07 AM

the looping thing isn't a bad idea, but the problem is that the material is to thick to do even that effectively... it would need to be done by hand, and the shoulderboards are to think (are they made of cardboard?) when i tried to sew on the collar tads, i stabed my thumb through a metal thimble, and they are alot thinner than the boards

a bigger/thicker needle isn't really feasible. i saw some of the needles that this jacket broke, they were kind of like steel beams with thread holes in them...

EricFG · 06-02-2006, 06:16 PM

Is there material *under* the SB that you sew something to?
Im thinking of those little...I dunno whatcha call 'ems....they're about 7mm round, they're metal, one has a male part, the other a female receptacle, they snap together (and unsnap). You could sew like three of the male ones to the underside end of the SB and three females in a corresponding position on the top of the shoulder of the coat?
Or maybe a velcro strip??? You could conceivabley glue half to the under of the SB...

latinmajorac · 06-02-2006, 10:30 PM

i tried velcro, no dice. but a snap would maybe work, it would involve hot gluing the male or female to the jacket though... not a bad idea, i will have to talk to a tailor about that one... hmmm.... thanks for the suggestion eric...

EricFG · 06-03-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by latinmajorac

i can't find a tailor that has a needle strong enough to sew through the shoulder padding on the shoulders.

What I don't get is why you need to sew through the padding?
Why not just sew the edge or underside of the SB to the uniform material on the top outer edge of the shoulder???

I'm guessing these "tailors" tried to sew these on a machine. I've done hand stitching on much thicker material (leather) with no problems at all (other than blood, sweat and tears).

edit: 6/3 edited second sentance for spelling and content

latinmajorac · 06-03-2006, 10:13 AM

yes, the tailors tried to sew them on a machine, but the SB material is realy hard to get a needle through. i may try again today to sew it on thinner (not through the padding) that seems to be the best idea yet...

EricFG · 06-03-2006, 04:59 PM

All the SBs on my tunics and coats (all German of some variety) are slip-ons.

That don't help you much.
But what I'm picturing is sewing the edge of the SB (either the upper or lower edge) to the collar-side of the seam that connects the arms to the torso area of the jacket.
This ought to test your sewing skills!

Esteban_cool · 06-04-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by latinmajorac

now to get to my question: what do i do? i want this thing to be finished, i enjoy wearing it and i want to wear it properly. but i need the boards sewn properly. i have already tried military tailors, their needles break as well. any suggestions? thanks everyone

Hello latinmajorac,

I also enjoy wearing my uniforms and stuff (yes, I know it would look a little bit weird) as you do. What I did when I re-attached the shoulderboards of my M55 was sewing the SB only by the piping (edges) using red thread. Perhaps you could do the same, if the hard material doesn´t reach the edges totally. good luck!

Regards,
Esteban

EricFG · 06-14-2006, 06:53 AM

Did this ever get finished?

06-02-2006, 10:53 AM	#2
ekclete Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: West St Paul, MN USA Age: 60 Posts: 236	One idea might be to not go all the way through the padding of the jacket. Take a regular needle and go down a part of the way and loop it several times like that. Or just get a much bigger needle... __________________ Thanks, Clete

06-02-2006, 11:07 AM	#3
latinmajorac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Bloomfield MI Age: 36 Posts: 146	the looping thing isn't a bad idea, but the problem is that the material is to thick to do even that effectively... it would need to be done by hand, and the shoulderboards are to think (are they made of cardboard?) when i tried to sew on the collar tads, i stabed my thumb through a metal thimble, and they are alot thinner than the boards a bigger/thicker needle isn't really feasible. i saw some of the needles that this jacket broke, they were kind of like steel beams with thread holes in them... __________________ Money for College $0 Money for text books $0 Money for Food $0 Somehow finding money for my next medal purchase? Priceless starving college kid: will do calculus for Medals Newly promoted to the Deputy Kapusta Commander position

06-02-2006, 06:16 PM	#4
EricFG Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naples, Florida, USA Age: 59 Posts: 1,496	Is there material under the SB that you sew something to? Im thinking of those little...I dunno whatcha call 'ems....they're about 7mm round, they're metal, one has a male part, the other a female receptacle, they snap together (and unsnap). You could sew like three of the male ones to the underside end of the SB and three females in a corresponding position on the top of the shoulder of the coat? Or maybe a velcro strip??? You could conceivabley glue half to the under of the SB... __________________ "patina imparts character" - PJS A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'

06-02-2006, 10:30 PM	#5
latinmajorac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Bloomfield MI Age: 36 Posts: 146	i tried velcro, no dice. but a snap would maybe work, it would involve hot gluing the male or female to the jacket though... not a bad idea, i will have to talk to a tailor about that one... hmmm.... thanks for the suggestion eric... __________________ Money for College $0 Money for text books $0 Money for Food $0 Somehow finding money for my next medal purchase? Priceless starving college kid: will do calculus for Medals Newly promoted to the Deputy Kapusta Commander position

06-03-2006, 10:13 AM	#7
latinmajorac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Bloomfield MI Age: 36 Posts: 146	yes, the tailors tried to sew them on a machine, but the SB material is realy hard to get a needle through. i may try again today to sew it on thinner (not through the padding) that seems to be the best idea yet... __________________ Money for College $0 Money for text books $0 Money for Food $0 Somehow finding money for my next medal purchase? Priceless starving college kid: will do calculus for Medals Newly promoted to the Deputy Kapusta Commander position

06-03-2006, 04:59 PM	#8
EricFG Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naples, Florida, USA Age: 59 Posts: 1,496	All the SBs on my tunics and coats (all German of some variety) are slip-ons. That don't help you much. But what I'm picturing is sewing the edge of the SB (either the upper or lower edge) to the collar-side of the seam that connects the arms to the torso area of the jacket. This ought to test your sewing skills! __________________ "patina imparts character" - PJS A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'

06-14-2006, 06:53 AM	#10
EricFG Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naples, Florida, USA Age: 59 Posts: 1,496	Did this ever get finished? __________________ "patina imparts character" - PJS A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)