Hi out there!
Does anyone have any suggestions for "stretching" or making room of about 1/4" to 1/2" in the elbows of a jacket (besides letting out the seams and re-stitching? The sleeves of my dancer's jacket are very tight at the elbows on both arms (so much that they are leaving marks and bruises on the insides of her elbows! ) I wondered if it would be possible to steam the sleeves at the elbow and put something inside the sleeve that might stretch the fabric a wee bit? Any advice out there? or should I just take the jacket in to have the sleeves adjusted a bit?
Thanks so much
Marilyn

Hi,

Unfortunately, Highland dancing jacket velvet doesn't stretch. Therefore, steaming, pulling, pushing, or stretching with heated rolling pins or pop bottles isn't going to make any difference.
Furthermore, velvet tends not to "like" being let out. Once it has been stitched (and certainly after it has been a jacket for a while) it is almost certainly going to have marks after the fact, i.e. the stitching will show. Even if you did let the sleeves out at the elbows, it's unlikely that you are going to be able to gain much room. See, on the pattern, the seam allowance is at 5/8 of an inch. There are two seams on the jacket sleeve. If you let both out, you're still not going to have much extra space.
In short, if your dancer's jacket is at the point where it is leaving bruises on her elbows, then, most unfortunately, she is probably due for a new jacket.

I'm sorry for being the bearer of such bad news Tragically, jackets, unlike kilts, Aboyne costumes, or even Highland waistcoats, are not at all forgiving for incorrect fits. Jackets either fit perfectly, or not at all

Thanks, Blue Bonnets....sadly, the jacket in question is brand new. We just had it made in December My dancer has worn it twice and it was, as you know, very expensive! We had to order the velvet from Piob Mhor and have it made (also, very costly)...so I was hoping for a way to "fix" this so that she could wear it! It sounds like I will call the maker of the jacket and ask her what to do, since she is the one who fit the jacket and did not allow for the arm movements :/
Thanks again,
Marilyn

If it's brand new, and it doesn't fit, than that's the maker's issue. You should be able to return it to her, and either have her refund your money, replace the jacket with a new one, or fix it so it fits (which would likely involve sewing new sleeves). If it's leaving bruises, then the fit isn't just a little off, it's a major sewing error. Sometimes a dancer will grow in-between the fitting and the final garment, but it's almost impossible that your daughter would grow in the width of her elbows, and nowhere else. That's not the way the human body works.

I agree. This is a manufacturer's issue. The maker should take responsibility for that. S/he will likely have to remake the sleeves.

Good luck! I hope you are able to get this issue resolved easily!

Thanks, everyone! I am nervous to contact the jacket-maker, but there is no way my daughter grew between the fitting and sewing....that was less than a week Also, the jacket is only a month old, no way her elbows grew an inch and not her chest or her waist LOL Luckily, we still have the velvet and it shouldn't be a huge issue to sew some new sleeves into the jacket (I hope!) wish me luck!!
Marilyn

If your maker can't (or won't) do anything, I would try fitting in a gusset by opening up the sleeve from just above the hem to about 3" above the elbow. Pin a strip of velvet to one sleeve seam on the inside, then have your dancer put the jacket on. The open part sleeve seam will spread where it needs to fit and you can pin the spread to the piece of velvet you inserted. Sew the gusset seams to the sleeve seams using the previous stitching as a guide.

If you match the nap and are careful with the sewing, you won't even see the added gusset from the stage.

Good luck!

Thanks, Booverly! Good idea I think that our jacket maker is prepared to do what is necessary to make the sleeves work for my dancer whew!! I was a little worried that she would be offended....however, as you know, jackets are an expensive investment and I feel it is her obligation to "make it right"...thanks for the advice, though