Alteration Question Re: Shoulder Pads

[Warbaby]

I have two jackets that have shoulder pad problems. One is a summerweight linen with pads that are too thick and puffy; the other is a washable dinner jacket in which one of the pads is all bunched up and out of shape. I don't think either jacket is worth spending a lot of money on a professional tailor.

How difficult is it to change the shoulder pads in a jacket? Is this something that can be attempted by an amateur? My sewing skills are nothing exceptional, but I can do basic stuff. If it's not too difficult, which lining seam should I open - the one running across the shoulder from collar to sleeve or the one where the sleeve is attached, or both?

 

[CharlestonBows]

... Is this something that can be attempted by an amateur? ...

No, not really with any measurable success - unless you're willing to sacrifice the garment.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

The second one sounds like a possibility as long as you're willing to live with any screwups you might make - just open the lining and replace the pad (better replace both for symmetry). Make sure it's the same size, thickness & type.

The linen suit sounds more difficult. In order to put in a smaller pad, you have to change the shoulder slope at the seam (tapering to the neckline). This, in turn, affects the entire sleeve cap, and with my own limited skills I don't know if it's possible to do without re-cutting the sleeve. At a minimum, you'd have a slightly gathered sleeve cap.

Offhand, I'd say to open up both the shoulder seam and the top of the sleeve cap seam just to replace a shoulder pad.

 

[Warbaby]

Thanks to you both for the information. I can live with the too-thick pads on the linen jacket - heck, they'll give me more manly shoulders...lol...but I think I'll have a go at replacing the pads in the dinner jacket. It's no use at all the way it is and it only cost me a couple of bucks at a thrift shop so it won't matter if I destroy it in the process. And who knows - I might actually pull it off. At least, I'll learn a few things in the process.

 

[CharlestonBows]

Thanks to you both for the information. I can live with the too-thick pads on the linen jacket - heck, they'll give me more manly shoulders...lol...but I think I'll have a go at replacing the pads in the dinner jacket. It's no use at all the way it is and it only cost me a couple of bucks at a thrift shop so it won't matter if I destroy it in the process. And who knows - I might actually pull it off. At least, I'll learn a few things in the process.

That's the right way to go into it -- and that's how you learn.

On a side note, go in from the inside seam, where the seam across the top of the shoulder and the sleeve lining make a "T".