How much cloth is required to make a suit?

[Rudie]

Tenorclef, what weight are these tweeds? Thanks a bunch.

 

[Tenorclef]

Tenorclef, what weight are these tweeds? Thanks a bunch.

Hi Rudie, Harris Tweed is a heavy weight, this cloth being no exception at about 19/20 oz. Not a problem for North Yorkshire.

 

[Edward]

...and ideal for Berlin in mid-Winter, I should have thought! I've never been over there later in the year than September, but I am reliable informed that December / January can be exceedingly cold. If I'm not wrong, an area like Unter Den Linden (my favourite part of the city... one day I'll have dinner at the Adlon) could be like a wind tunnel in the cold!

 

[Rudie]

I was asking because there are Harris tweeds that weigh in at only 13oz.

It's certainly a source to be remembered. But first come a 15-16oz. mid-grey flannel by J&J Minnis and a 19-20oz. Thornproof Donegal tweed by Harrison's of Edinburgh that are waiting to transformed into trousers. Too bad I still haven't found a decent tailor I can afford to have the jackets made. You have a much better choice in the UK and the US. I wish Joe Hemrajani was visiting Berlin, too.

 

[Tenorclef]

The 4 metres of cloth from the Isle of Harris arrived today.......its quite heavy and tomorrow i'm taking it to the tailors to begin its transformation into a 3 piece suit

 

[Oldsarge]

Oh lovely! Here's another vote for a gold lining.

 

[Tenorclef]

I'm looking at these tonight as possible lining choices-

Egg Yolk Yellow

Golden Yellow

Sunshine Yellow

 

[Oldsarge]

Oh the Egg Yolk, no question in my mind. The Sunshine is a summer color, suitable for Hawai'i or the Caribbean. The Golden is better but the Egg Yolk is best.

 

[Tenorclef]

Oh the Egg Yolk, no question in my mind. The Sunshine is a summer color, suitable for Hawai'i or the Caribbean. The Golden is better but the Egg Yolk is best.

Yes that was my favourite too. Ordered 2 metres of said lining today.

 

[Oldsarge]

You will look smashing!

 

[Nick D]

My fabric guy recently took delivery of several bolts of Harris tweed, so I got 8.5 meters for myself (single width, so length must be doubled). I also got 2 meters for a skirt for my wife of a different colour, and a friend got more for a waistcoat I'm going to make her. It's all in the 16oz range, lovely stuff.

For myself, I'm thinking single breasted with 3 buttons, patch pockets, 4 pocket waistcoat, and very wide '30s pattern trousers with a fishtail back. I'm pretty sure I have the fabric, but if it's too much of a squeeze I'll go for the slightly narrower '40s trousers.

 

[Tenorclef]

The leather buttons arrived today. I was quite surprised to find none of my local haberdashery shops stocked leather buttons so these were ordered online.

 

[Hal]

The leather buttons arrived today. I was quite surprised to find none of my local haberdashery shops stocked leather buttons so these were ordered online.

The best source I know for all kinds of buttons is quite near to you - "Duttons for Buttons" right in the centre of York. I'd be surprised if they didn't have what you required.

 

[Mario]

I particularly like the second sample (more so having seen how good it looked on Mario's '50s suit)

Now that just made me smile, Alan. I thought I caught you glancing at my tweed jacket a couple of times when we were doing...eh...our little tour of the area that night. BTW: machine's up 'n runnin'...

 

[avedwards]

Now that just made me smile, Alan. I thought I caught you glancing at my tweed jacket a couple of times when we were doing...eh...our little tour of the area that night. BTW: machine's up 'n runnin'...

Well it is a fantastic suit, even if I only saw half of it . It looked good in the pictures you posted on here but the pattern can only really be appreciated in person. I mentioned it in this thread because the fabric Tenorclef posted looks similar to your suit although yours looked a bit more brown/beige if I recall correctly. In six years I may be able to have one tailored in a similar style (assuming of course I get through my three year degree, one year postgraduate course, gain an internship with a law firm and then get enough business to afford a good tailor once I'm a solicitor).

 

[Tenorclef]

The tailor rang me today to say that the suit is ready so finger crossed its all gone to plan. photo's to follow.

 

[Tenorclef]

Well gents here is the finished suit. I'm quite pleased with it. I did ask the tailor to change one button on the waistcoat and to alter the trouser length but other than that I'm quite over the moon with the finished result.

 

[Tomasso]

Trousers and sleeves are both a touch too long, otherwise kudos to you and your tailor.

 

[Tenorclef]

Trousers and sleeves are both a touch too long, otherwise kudos to you and your tailor.

Yes a few others have mentioned the arms are to long so i'm going to get them taken up an inch but as for the trousers i'm somewhat happy with the length. Is there a way to tell if they are to long.....how do you know what is just right regarding trouser length? Genuinely interested here.

 

[Rudie]

The trousers should either fall in a straight unbroken line in both the front and back (barely touching the shoes) or in a straight unbroken line in the back and with a slight break in the front.