Aunt Norie’s Sewing Room
Today it may be the seat of one’s trousers: That seam, that one thread, one tug, one pull and out goes the seat of one’s pants.
In olden days that same seam closed those bags of sugar, flour, seed, feed, grain — a seam so strong yet so quick and easy to open
However frustrating it may be to have the seat of your pants let go with seemingly one big r-I-I-I-p, I’m sure that stitch is here to stay.
I can see why it’s used in that particular seam. To alter the waistline, a tailor must rip out the seat of the trousers, when he is either letting it out or taking it in. So it is a very good seam for that reason alone.
Now when you need to open one of those seams — and you will if you need to open a jean leg to patch the knee or as above let out the waist or take it in — there is a very quick and easy way to purposely take it out.
We old-timers learned as kids to open those bags. Try one end then the other. Try first on the plain-looking stitch side; lift out one or two of the stitches with your seam ripper point then on the other side pull the crinkled-up looking thread it leaves. Out goes that seam like a zipper.
If the first try doesn’t go, try the other end of the seam.
When they put that seam in, they go right on off the garment into space so to speak, leaving a tassel-like looking end to keep it from coming out. But cut that string or tassel bit off next to the cloth, and there’s no guarantee that seam will stay in.
Likewise when the seat of one’s trousers is under stress and strain, that one stitch on the plain side can break and out goes the seat of your britches.
More help on another problem seam week. Now until next week, pray for our world leaders. God Bless you all.
— Aunt Norie can be reached at P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086 or via e-mail at auntnorie@bdc.net.