correct trouser hemming

[pvtRB_4thOVI]

What are the most correct ways to hem the cuffs of Federal trousers? Right now i have them rolled, and they are not hemmed at all.

[flattop32355]

What are the most correct ways to hem the cuffs of Federal trousers? Right now i have them rolled, and they are not hemmed at all.

Text Deleted by Moderator due to factual inaccuracy. In the future, please be sure that your facts are correct before answering such questions. Don't guess. Thank you,

John Wickett,
Forum NCO

[Jefferson Guards]

Check out this website for good pictures on how federal issue trouser cuffs were finished:

http://www2.inxpress.net/jwedeward/original_trousers.htm

[Brian Baird]

Federal trousers were issued hemmed and in 4 sizes
No 1 32 waist 31 inseam
No 2 34 do 32 do
No 3 36 do 33 do
No 4 38 do 34 do

I have view 10 pair of Federal trousers up close and view others on displays and none of them were not hemmed in some fashion. Several had been shorten with a hem turned in and whipped stitched.
If you want to know how to correctly make the hem, I suggest buying Past Patterns Federal Trousers pattern. It has good historic notes and well written and illustrated instructions

Brian Baird

[flattop32355]

I have view 10 pair of Federal trousers up close and view others on displays and none of them were not hemmed in some fashion. Several had been shorten with a hem turned in and whipped stitched.
If you want to know how to correctly make the hem, I suggest buying Past Patterns Federal Trousers pattern. It has good historic notes and well written and illustrated instructions
Brian Baird

Apparently, I stand corrected. My apologies.

[Yellowhammer]

Check out the pics in Brian's post.

All the original Federal trousers I've seen have a vented cuff.

It has been hypothesized that this feature was to facilitate rolling the cuffs. With only a few issue sizes, rolling was often necessary for short men. There is a good illustration of this on the same website Brian references.

[TheFenian]

Check out the pics in Brian's post.

All the original Federal trousers I've seen have a vented cuff.

It has been hypothesized that this feature was to facilitate rolling the cuffs. With only a few issue sizes, rolling was often necessary for short men. There is a good illustration of this on the same website Brian references.


Gentlemen,

I beleive that the reason for the vent in the Federal issue trousers was to ensure a proper drape of the trouser over the shoe. Only really important for dress parade, inspections and the like.

Bill Eiff

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden!

Just an added "clarification" of sorts...

I see two concepts at work in this question:

1. What was the "hem treatment" or "vent reinforcement" methods commonly done by arsenals and contractors at the point of manufacture" And,
2. What were some of the ways and methods soldiers dealt with excessive length of their trousers in terms of "field" modifying or "tailoring" garments for better fit once they were received.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[Yellowhammer]

Actually Curt, I think you are ready too much into it. :wink_smil

[fedhead]

I must agree with Curt on this and center in on his point about how men in the field delt with this ,i think this question is very important due to the issue sizes on trowser length. Can any one answer this and list evidence, As examples of this must exist (i hope ) ?

M Goddard

Dear Mr. Goddard. Welcome to the AC Forum. It is a Forum requirement that full names be used in signatures. Thank you. CHS, Moderator

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hi John!

Indeed, I am...

I keep getting confused by the title wording at the top of the page:

"The Authentic Campaigner: A Website for the Authentic Civil War Living Historian."

:wink_smil

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[pvtRB_4thOVI]

Was the hemming done with a machine in factories?