"Installing" Pleats..weird request?

[Marcus]

So I picked up a couple pairs of trousers that are at least 2" too big for me. They are flat front. I was wondering if asking a tailor to install pleats is a strange request. I figured with the extra room in the waist it could be done, but not sure if this is something that is commonly asked.

Thoughts?

 

[reetpleat]

Uncommon, but it could be done. Might not be worth the cost for slacks, but if it is a suit, and you want it bad enough, shouldn't be too much.

 

[Tomasso]

Don't waste your time or money. There are so few tailors who could pull it off successfully.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

You may be asking for a big disappointment. Are the pants new?

 

[Marcus]

One set is clearance rack linen trousers and the other are reproduction Officer "Pinks" that I want to be more screen accurate for Indy trousers. Wouldn't dream of it on vintage stuff.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Get an estimate ...

 

[Tomasso]

Get an estimate ...

In writing......

 

[Carlisle Blues]

In writing......

Then reconsider and buy pants that fit................

 

[tonyb]

Would you still want the pants if they kept their flat fronts? I ask because I've had seamstresses take in a couple of inches or more at the waist (and whatever amount was necessary at the seat as well) for not a whole lot of dough. Money well spent.

 

[Orgetorix]

I'm thinking you'd need more than 2" to get pleats of any substance. Remember that if a waistband is 2" too big for you, it's 2" all the way around, which means each of the four panels is half an inch too big at the waist.

I'm not wearing pleats today, so I can't check, buton a normal pair of pleated pants, I'd guess that the larger pleat is 3/4" to 1" deep, while the smaller one is around 1/2" deep. That means you'd need in the neighborhood of 1.5" in each of the front panels in order to create pleats, which means (if the pants started out with the right proportions) the pants would have to be 6" or more too big for you. And then you'd have lots of excess cloth in the back panels that would have to go somewhere or be cut away, in which case the pockets might end up out of place.

 

[Mary]

It's hard to find the right tread for my question but this could be close to it.

I've got some 30's styled pants like that are flat in the front but I've been thinking about making men's styled pants. The men's pants have small folds/ pleats on the front and pockets on the side. I guess you know a lot more about men's styles trousers.

Do you think it would suit a woman?
Do you know where to find patterns for them? I need patterns to sew them or to give to a seamstress.

It's the same style as on sebastian and charles, probably shows best on charles.