The London Lounge

I have been away: it is particularly satisfying to catch-up on the many fine new posts here at London Lounge.

Gentlemen, have any among you determined a hard rule to follow regarding fabric requirements for jackets, trousers, and suits? I am 5'9, 190lbs, with the athletic build of an old soldier who still maintains a tiresome physical regimen. Assuming the fabric to be used for a single-breasted jacket is either 30-inch-wide Harris or 44-inch Donegal (both widths are approximations, obviously), how much yardage sounds right to you? A tailor with whom I have been corresponding just insisted that 4.5 yards of 44-inch cloth would be needed to make the rugged jacket in question. And because I will bring my own fabric for the first time in over two decades—a solid colour, not a check—it is particularly key to buy enough of the stuff to get the job done properly. But four-and-a-half yards sounds mighty excessive.... Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

that sounds about right for your build. Using a standard cloth (at 60 inches width) you would require typically 2m to tailor a jacket (of course you could get away with less, but you will get skimpier facings etc), on a harris tweed which is a single width cloth, you will need double that or a little more than 4 yards (using std mts to yard conversion), given that it is not a check, his suggestion of 4-4.5 is pretty much on the mark. If you like , perhaps you can ask him to do a layout for you and give you the exact yardage.

Jhudder wrote:that sounds about right for your build. Using a standard cloth (at 60 inches width) you would require typically 2m to tailor a jacket (of course you could get away with less, but you will get skimpier facings etc), on a harris tweed which is a single width cloth, you will need double that or a little more than 4 yards (using std mts to yard conversion), given that it is not a check, his suggestion of 4-4.5 is pretty much on the mark. If you like , perhaps you can ask him to do a layout for you and give you the exact yardage.

Thanks for the thoughtful answer, JH--your place in heaven is secure.