Converting a tweed sport coat to a Braemar jacket

[Don Patrick]

Beautiful jacket. Guess I know what I'm going to try and do with some of my Harris Tweed.

The details for this project conjures up memories of my past. Anyone know why buttons are even placed on sleeves?

[fluter]

The details for this project conjures up memories of my past. Anyone know why buttons are even placed on sleeves?

I do have one jacket with functional button-holes at the cuffs!

[James MacMillan]

I do have one jacket with functional button-holes at the cuffs!

Me too, but it's older that we are!

[ccga3359]

The details for this project conjures up memories of my past. Anyone know why buttons are even placed on sleeves?

Supposedly to prevent runny-nosed soldiers from wiping their noses on their sleeves. This is the only reason I've ever heard. I'm taking it with a pinch of salt.

[Iain Robb]

Beautiful jacket. Guess I know what I'm going to try and do with some of my Harris Tweed.

The details for this project conjures up memories of my past. Anyone know why buttons are even placed on sleeves?

Back when sleeves were separate pieces of clothing, they were usually fitted tightly on the lower part of the arm and closed with buttons. When they become part of the garment and the garment became a sportcoat or suit jacket or whatever, and the fit became looser, the buttons became purely decorative.

[Vafuth]

I may be attempting something similar with one of my fathers old tweed sport coats... the bottom edge is a bit tattered so he doesn't wear it anymore.

I doubt it will turn out nearly as good (my sewing skills are quite rusty)

But first I need to get the sewing machine working again.

[auld argonian]

Beautiful jacket. Guess I know what I'm going to try and do with some of my Harris Tweed.

The details for this project conjures up memories of my past. Anyone know why buttons are even placed on sleeves?

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

[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!

[Farlander]

F-H.C.A.G,

Thanks so much for this great tutorial and pictures. It has given me the courage to try converting my own $8.00 thrift store tweed jacket to a fine Crail kilt jacket.

I will post pictures this weekend (and perhaps try showing it off next week at the NOR CAL BEER AND KILTS NIGHT).

[Kiltman]

Thanks for the really wonderful details of the conversion.