How to Shorten a Tailored Coat or Jacket with a Lining 🧥 - DIY Hand Sewing Hem Length Alteration

In this video I’ll show you step by step how to alter the length of a lined coat or jacket. I do it all by hand sewing so you don’t even need a sewing machine to do this yourself! My only note is if your coat has top-stitching (stitching that is decorative and visible from the outside of the garment) you will need to unpick it in order to do this alteration, and then re-sew it once your alteration is complete - so if you don’t have a sewing machine you will have to neatly hand-stitch the top-stitching back into place.
If you have never used a sewing machine or if you’re rusty with how to thread one up, how to wind the bobbin or adjusting any settings, then make sure you watch this video first! • Setting up a Sewing Ma...
Welcome to Slew Living! I'm Esther and I sew stuff to support a slow lifestyle.
If you’re starting to learn about sustainable and ethical living and how to curate a more mindful lifestyle, a great step is to learn how to alter your own things. This way you can invest your own time into refashioning existing or thrifted garments into beautiful pieces that will serve you in the long run, and steer clear of cheap and nasty items that have been sewn in sweatshops or from unsustainable materials. Making and tailoring your own items increases our appreciation for ‘stuff’, so I hope you find something on my channel to spark some creativity!
In the words of Vivienne Westwood, ‘Buy less, choose well and make it last!’
Follow along for more inspo and BTS / slewliving
Let me know in the comments if you have suggestions for more sewing tutorials or garments/items you’d like to sew from scratch or alter yourself!

[@Megan66666]

This is beyond helpful!! Thanks from Ireland, I have so many coats that are huge on me. Seems to be a trend in recent years, but I just look ridiculous. So excited now I've watched you do this that I won't make too much of a mess!!!

[@josepeka1189]

Fantastic, clearly ,easily explained . Thank you for sharing . I love the way you explained . 🏆Jose from Australia

[@SlewLiving]

Thank you so much Jose :)

[@patriciah3779]

Great! Oh-my gosh! This is doable and going to try it -exactly as shown. Thanks a bunch!

[@kcarroll671]

Left sleeve!? I had no idea about this! This is so helpful to alter my teddy coat

[@Anna-uh9qw]

You saved my coat! Thank you for such a good video! 🥰👍

[@SlewLiving]

Hooray! Glad I could help! 🥰

[@ele_chan7069]

Where did u buy the coat?

[@viviennedor]

Awesome. easy to understand and perfectly executed. Thank you so much.

[@Tabbs909]

wow thank you so much. I need to hem a coat I just bought, will definitely try this. I thought it would be intimidating but this doesn't look too hard.

[@SlewLiving]

Good luck!

[@abbyadda1]

You are wonderful! I learned a great skill. Thank you ❤

[@belariz8237]

I'm impresses, that was a lot of work. Great Job!

[@giulianop853]

Brilliant! Another great video, love your work!

[@SlewLiving]

Thanks Jules!!! 🥰

[@patriciamattson4193]

Excellent! Grape step by step directions.

[@asnab140]

This is a God send!!

[@Karebear01]

Great and easy to follow video!! I’ll save this when I need it

[@SlewLiving]

Thanks for the lovely comment 🥰

[@kl8062]

Exactly what I needed - thank you!

[@SlewLiving]

You're welcome, thanks for leaving a comment 🥰

[@livshredman]

Awesome!! Thank you so much:) really helpful

[@clothingalterations]

Great job

[@rajinderkumari7286]

Amazing, I have 4 new coats that need taking up ,your video was very helpful.

[@SlewLiving]

Glad to hear it 😀

[@karebeck7681]

Hi, I've just found this fantastic video and thanks to your, easy to follow, tutorial i will attempt this alteration on a secondhand pea coat i bought ages ago. You're a star ✨ thank you 😊

[@SlewLiving]

Thank you for your lovely comment! Best of luck with the pea coat, let me know how it goes!

[@eliseocarmona488]

Life safer for short people, thank you

[@SlewLiving]

You're welcome! You can use the same technique for tailored skirts or dresses too 😊

[@henrygjean-baptiste3022]

You are very professional 👌

[@SlewLiving]

Thank you 🤗

[@bluestar.8938]

Thank you : )

[@annelynn3506]

Excellent instructions

[@SlewLiving]

Thank you 😊

[@DrowsyScientist]

I just discovered your channel and love it.

[@SlewLiving]

감사함니다!

[@emmamurnane5495]

So good to see you back online Esther! I miss you on Insta

[@SlewLiving]

Aw hi Em! I do miss being on Insta but I'm also scared of hating it all over again 😂 Sorry for ghosting everyone for so long!!!

[@aiomah]

Thank you very helpful ❤

[@SlewLiving]

I'm glad! Thanks for leaving a comment :)

[@jeslyfrancisco51]

Thanks

[@Mahnazcrafts-ro4pk]

Thank you❤❤p

[@emirashier]

Awesome. It looks like a lot of work. Hope my costume idea works. Wish me luck!

[@SlewLiving]

Good luck! It can take a bit of time but it'll be worth it!

[@simpleMarian]

I thrifted a vintage Escada blazer and just found out that there's some damage in the hemline and i will try this . Pray for me hahaha

[@dauser4]

Are ever coming back to KZbin? I loved your rib top tutorial! 🤩

[@SlewLiving]

You're so sweet :) I've low-key had a baby so I'm itching to make some vids but just can't atm!!! 😫 Fingers crossed I'll be back soon 😀

[@JA-jm8bk]

Please do a video for linings that are folded over, with the stitching to the outer fabric being out of sight.

[@SlewLiving]

Thanks for the suggestion! It will be a bit trickier but I'll keep it in mind for future videos 😀

[@janethill2411]

Thank you as this is perfect for what I want to do in shortening a lined raincoat. I need to shorten the coat by 8.5 inches! I can't see anyway around making one or 2 darts in the new hem. Does this seem correct?

[@janethill2411]

I think I just answered my own question. After cutting and leaving the 2 inch new hem, the dart issue should be all but resolved.

[@SlewLiving]

@@janethill2411 Excellent! All the best with the alteration :)

[@revenantpneuma3636]

Can you tailor the waist for the wool coat? I’ve yet to find a video on how to do so

[@SlewLiving]

Coats can be very tricky to alter but it is possible. The difficulty depends on the style of the coat of course, but if you can access the seams that connect around the waist you can take them in to fit. I'll pop this down in my suggestions notes for future videos 🙂

[@Scrimblescromble]

I’m mega struggling with folding the lining to pin it, it’s super fiddly. Do you have any tips? :)

[@SlewLiving]

It is fiddly! You can lay the coat flat instead of hanging it up, or if the lining is quite long you can fold it twice? (Fold it once and iron it, then fold it again so that the bulk is folded neatly away). You can also trim away some of the lining if there's too much - but be careful not to trim too much because most lining will fray like crazy. Good luck!

[@vaniaaaB]

Could we do this on a leather coat? Thanks!

[@SlewLiving]

Ooh leather is a bit different to sew with... Unfortunately I don't think you could achieve this stitching with leather as you have to pierce it completely for the stitches to stay! I will try to do a different video about it 🙂

[@vaniaaaB]

@@SlewLiving Thank you so much!

[@user-nz6sw8qb1j]

Where are you located do you tailor coats

[@SlewLiving]

Nope, I don't tailor coats :)

[@TM12719]

How do you eliminate the puckering at the hem?

[@SlewLiving]

Is it puckering because there's too much fabric or because of the stitches?

[@TM12719]

Like in the video, there is puckering and wrinkling in the bottom of your coat. How do you eliminate this?

[@SlewLiving]

@@TM12719 I may not have ironed it well enough

[@ginarios9442]

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your deliverance always say, "Hayah be exalted (Psalm 40:16)!" // SHLM & HaB (peace & love). The Name of the Creator is Hayah asher Hayah, as what He told Moshah (Exodus 3:14), preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures. There is a curse to the G-o-d name (Isaiah 65:11-12), preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures. All followers of the Messiah are to do the 7 appointed times (Leviticus 23), but no more animal sacrifices, following the Crucifixion of the Messiah. We are now of the order of MLK TSDQ (King, righteous), to Whom ABRaHM tithed. Ask the Messiah to be your personal Savior. He said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Hayah (Romans 3:23). The wages for sin is death but the gift of ALaHYM is Everlasting Life through Messiah Yahushgh our Master (Romans 6:23). That if you confess with your mouth the Master Yahushgh and believe in your heart that ALaHYM raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9). He Himself is an Atoning Offering for our sins, and not for ours only but also for all the world (1 John 2:2). The Messiah died on the cross, & Resurrected three days later (presenting Himself as First Fruits to the Father). Please ask Him to be your Savior. He is the ONLY way to Everlasting Life.

[@SoydeCubaCompay]

it's still long.

[@static_kitten]

ok ??thts not even the point of the vid they just showing u how 2 do it lmao

[@SoydeCubaCompay]

@@static_kitten that is true 🥂