The worst seamstress ever?

[Baron Kurtz]

Okay, i realise that the depression era was a time of "make do" home economics. You didn't buy a new suit, you fixed up the old one to your new waist measurements etc. But this takes the cake. This is a pair of trousers from an NRA suit i recently picked up. The chap has clearly put on some weight, necessitating the increase of the waist size.

I think that noone would argue that this is a good job. Now, the waistband would be covered by the waistcoat. but why on earth use white thread on a black fabric?

And where did the patch come from? Why, of course!! All this seamstress needed to do was cut the bottom off one of the legs and sew it into the waistband! I doubt this gent had also lost 4 inches off one of his legs.

Fortunately i need to shorten the legs significantly and will be able to have cuffs even with the shortened leg.

bk

 

[Hemingway Jones]

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Baron,
That looks like a true Depression Era fix, but I realized recently that many of the vintage clothes in the Boston area have survived via the theater and their wardrobes. These pants could also be a product of this.

What's a NRA suit?

 

[Salv]

What's a NRA suit?

One made under the terms of the National Recovery Administration.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

As Salv said, made under the codes decreed by the national recovery act, FDR's first major piece of legislation. The clothing codes were in place from 1933-36. They (intact 3-piece suits) are very hard to find pieces of clothing.

They bear the tag below (actually this one comes from an overcoat) to show that they were "doing their part".

 

[Micawber]

Perhaps they were just basting stitches to check fit prior to proper finishing.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That's what i was thinking.

Still doesn't explain the chopping of the legs.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I think that Hemingway Jones hit the nail on the head. I've done costuming for theatre, and these are the kinds of alterations that time-pressed (and stressed!) costumers make, white thread and all. "What the eye doesn't see, the costumer gets away with."


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[Baron Kurtz]

Other than this the suit has survived unmolested.

And the issues with the trousers are easily dealt with. I'm 'appy with it.

bk

 

[LizzieMaine]

Yep, it's definitely a theatre-group costume alteration. In the group I used to be in,we'd do white-thread bastes exactly like that so that after the show finished its run, we could just clip it out and put the suit back on the rack, ready to be used again in some later production.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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Which means that BK's suit may have 'treaded the boards' in community theatre productions of 42nd Street, Me and My Gal, On Your Toes, Chicago, etc.




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[Baron Kurtz]

This one came to me from Pine Bush, NY. Maybe they have a theatre group? Certainly the seller had no idea what she had.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Believe me, every town in America has a community theatre group.


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[scotrace]

Any stick makeup 'round the collar or cuffs?

Clothes that have done theatrical duty are often rather cursed with The Funk, as the wearers sweat so much under the lighting.

If that isn't a quickie costume alteration, it surely does qualify for worst seamstress ever.








v

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Clothes that have done theatrical duty are often rather cursed with The Funk, as the wearers sweat so much under the lighting.

You said what I was thinking -- or remembering lol


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[Baron Kurtz]

Surprisingly, there is no real funk on this suit from what i can see (and smell).

There is a bit of fraying at the cuff of the arms, but i need to take the arms up anyway, so that's not a problem. And the fabric is a little thin at the tips of the waistcoat, but not so visible.

This suit (after i've completed the alterations) will appear in the Show us Your Suits.

I reiterate: I can see past the nature of the sewing job. But to cut the leg off is abominable.

bk

 

[nightandthecity]

my wife has done a lot of theatre wardrobe work.....you should see some of the things she's cobbled together! (or maybe you shouldn't)

The worst vandalism she ever had to commit was turning an 18th century nightdress into a Victorian shirt.......aaaagggh!!!

yep, those pants have "theatre" written all over them. In white thread.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Feel free, everyone, to post pics of other "alterations" disasters.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Seen some doozies, haven't taken photos. I try to forget ...


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[jake_fink]

Has anyone ever seen a community theatre production of Moby Dick? That might explain the leg trimming.

AAAAARRRRRR!

 

[Salv]

A bit O/T but talking about NRA clothing, the LVC 1933 Levi 501XX repros have a NRA tag on them. From the German vintagedenim.de site: