faux trouser cuffs

[Tomasso]

Never again.

 

[scotrace]

That's the first I've seen heel guards all the way round like that.

 

[thunderw21]

That's the first I've seen heel guards all the way round like that.

Here's another, from the late-'20s.

 

[filfoster]

Fo' cuffs

This thread is a great help for any of us who have bought a vintage suit and found that there isn't enough fabric to make a 'real' cuff and still have the desired inseam.

I am still not clear if these were done 'back in the day', but would expect so as the economy necessitated buying second hand clothing and improvising.

 

[Mr. Rover]

Fletch is right on this one- I've had this done to a few pants.
Basically, you let the seam out as far as you can or to the desired length, and then you sew a 1/8" pleat into the pant leg with a discrete/matching thread color at how big you want your cuff to look.

 

[Matt Deckard]

A pants gotta do what a pants gotta do.

 

[Dr Doran]

Fletch is right on this one- I've had this done to a few pants.
Basically, you let the seam out as far as you can or to the desired length, and then you sew a 1/8" pleat into the pant leg with a discrete/matching thread color at how big you want your cuff to look.

Yeah, my Mom has done this to some trousers. The only question is whether it looks good or not. Sometime it do, and sometime it don't.

 

[Geesie]

That's the first I've seen heel guards all the way round like that.

That's the first I've heard of heel guards. I need to find out more. And get some.

 

[Mario]

Anyone in here with some good, detailed photos of how those faux cuffs actually look like in person?

 

[Guttersnipe]

If you use this method to make a faux cuff, it's best to put a strip of backing material inside to cover-up the "guts" - it helps keep the "pleated" edge from getting caught on your shoes and adds a bit of weight so help keep a good drape.

Here's a pair of pants I added cuffs to using the above method:

 

[Mario]

Thanks, that's great. Was that sewn with a blind stitch?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

When done well, you won't be able to tell the difference between PTU and faux cuff finish.

Even I, with a 27.5" inseam, have been forced down the false cuff route.

bk

 

[Mario]

Even I, with a 27.5" inseam, have been forced down the false cuff route.

bk

You really need to have a seemingly endless supply of patience and love for 'The Look' if you want to collect - and dress in - vintage clothes.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It helps to live in the midwest for a while! Vintage abounds.

bk

 

[Tomasso]

When done well, you won't be able to tell the difference.

Eh, I can always tell. But then I'm cursed with a hawk eye.

 

[Tomasso]

It helps to live in the Midwest for a while! Vintage abounds.

Yep, there's still a warrant out on you for the rape, pillaging and looting of various charity shops in the fine state of Indiana. Don't you come back , now...[bad]

 

[thunderw21]

It helps to live in the midwest for a while! Vintage abounds.

bk

This.






Also, here are more photos of one I did:

As 'deep' as it goes:

 

[Mario]

It helps to live in the midwest for a while! Vintage abounds.

bk

I'm afraid that's out of bounds.

 

[Mario]

Perfect! That's just the kind of photo I was after. Thanks.

 

[Rey]

I have a pair of trousers that are too short, and I would like to try the method talked about here. I was wondering if I could get some more details on how exactly you do it. The picture shows the top pleat to be 3/8" inch, Mr. Rover says "then you sew a 1/8" pleat into the pant leg", so it can be smaller than 3/8"? How do you form this pleat, I can assume you use an iron to do this? Then how is the pleat sown, is it sown continually all the way around? Or only tacked at certain points like a regular cuff? Is it sown at the top or bottom of the pleat? As you can tell, I am new at this, but thanks for any insight.

-Rey