Patches

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Patches

Hallo!

"I have seen about 50 pairs of trousers over the last 30 years, and the repairs with "patches" were not the "hillbilly" style and I didn't mean to imply that. The patches I have seen are well done, the one in FT Worth appears to blend in well with the color of the main material. Rebs and Yanks both appear handy with needle and thread. Obviously, a "patch" on a bright new garment would look quite farby."\

Thanks Joe for sharing your experience and expertise...

IMHO, we can usually always post the image(s) of the exception or the exceptional.
Such as posting the image of the two federals that are dressed in what was left of their uniforms that best could be described as tatters and rags- and making a universal out of it.

Curt

[Charles Heath]

Re: Patches

...and the repairs with "patches" were not the "hillbilly" style and I didn't mean to imply that.

Now we're talking.

Post some more images, and if there is a good one or two of the type of clothing repair similar to sock darning (like the one in the Hessian Barracks here in MD), post it for a nice change of pace.

Jason posted a real winner, and that image leads to a few jokes about the fellow in the photo's filemate's ability to stack arms.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Patches

Hallo!

Here is one sample of two patches on Federal Harkness trousers...



Curt

[tsgalloway]

Re: Patches

I was perusing Thomas Arliskas' book, Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown this morning and came across a reference to patches on uniforms. “ One member of the 21st Virginia Infantry described the ANV...'Some of the men patched their clothing and it was usually done with any material they could get; one man having the seat of his pants patched bright red, his knees patched in black, another with a piece of gray or brown blanket, in fact with anything they could get.” This was on the retreat from Gettysburg.

It should be noted that this was after a campaign. Patching your uniforms should be unit and scenario/time dependant.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Patches

We probably lost a really good thread on this in the crash. If anyone saved any of the imges from it I'd be greatful. Someone posted some pics of extant originals with patches that you had to really look for to see. They were expertly stitched of nearly identical cloth, one if I recall had taken the time to line up the twill to match.

Patches such as those would be nearly impossible to find in a photograph, but would be there none the less.

All have posted some good stuff here. I think the jumping on the anti patch bandwagon has more to do with the feel of the original query. Whether it was intended or not, it sounded like the orignal poster wanted to turn his pants into something akin to a Sanitary Commission quilt just for giggles.

[Bill Fean]

Re: Patches

Randy,

There is a good article in the Columbia Rifles Research Compendium on clothing maintenance. If you dont own the book yet get it as fast as possible. It answers questions that I hadn't even thought of yet!




Most Respectfully

Bill Fean

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Patches

I guess one question that would need to be answered is "Where did the guy get the material to patch with?"

Soldiers didn't walk around with anything extra they didn't have to. And they certainly wouldn't destroy a new garment to fix a damaged one.

I suspect most of the field repairs were of the sew the hole closed type (almost like they were stiching a wound together) and then the clothes were replaced as soon as possible from supplies.

If the hole was big enough I suppose they could cut up a corpse's clothes to make patches. But then that involves foraging among the dead and then ... well you get the picture.

It certainly happened but I don't think it would be the first repair effort to be made.

[tsgalloway]

Re: Patches

More info for those who care to read:

Another account of patching clothes was in the diary of Miss Mary Sophia Hill, whose brother was in the 6th LA Inf. In Virginia, recorded in her diary that after only two months, her brother's company had already begun to “patch their uniforms.”

Many soldiers felt that “it did not pay to carry clean clothes while waiting for the time to use them. The better way to dress out and out, and wear that outfit until the enemies' knapsacks or the folks back home supplied a change.” Under the C.S. Quartermaster Department system, soldiers were supplied with clothing twice a year. But according to accounts, jackets would last 2 or 3 months and trousers may only last one. In order for clothing to last, patching and repairing had to be done.

As stated in my previous post, blankets and scraps could be used (and have documented use). Functionality was of the most importance, rather than style.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Patches

All have posted some good stuff here. I think the jumping on the anti patch bandwagon has more to do with the feel of the original query. Whether it was intended or not, it sounded like the orignal poster wanted to turn his pants into something akin to a Sanitary Commission quilt just for giggles.

Justin,

You are absolutely correct. My initial assumption was that the fellow just wanted to put patches on perfectly good clothing in a misguided attempt to look "authentic". Therfore, my response was that I did not think hillbilly patches were authentic.

I do not deny that clothes were patched and I am sure there were some pretty noticeable and colorful ones on occassion but I also remember that lost thread you mentioned and it was quite informational. What I remember from that thread was the impression that while the look and skill of a patch job could be quite varied, many of the patches were as well done as possible with an attempt being made to blend them in to the garment and not make them stand out.

[toptimlrd]

Re: Patches

I would also add that if you have been reenacting for any length of time you have probably had to sew up a seam or two that pulled or patch a small hole at some point. One thing I always carry is a small sewing kit (not really a "houswife" but I have a small tin that I keep a couple of needles, pins, a few lengths of thread, and a couple of small pices of fabric (wool and cotton), and a few extra buttons in. It's just about the size of a match safe so takes up little room and weighs even less. I don't know how many times that little tin has saved me problems at an event, from a popped suspender button to a pulled seam.

One sewing lesson that seems to have held true for as long as we have been sewing is that the patch goes inside the article of clothing. My mom used to patch my knees that way when I would tear them as a young child. You could tell they were patched but only on a close inspection. This is the way she was taught by her mother who was taught by her mother, and so on. Most people today have no clue how to sew or how to properly patch. About the only thing I can think of that MIGHT require and external patch might be a situation where you slept a little too close to the fire and burned a large hole in your clothes and the fabric is simply gone so that you can not close it and patch from the rear.

[lambrew]

Re: Patches

Hello all....


This thread makes me wonder, how clean does everybody keep their uniform? I know it is a little off topic for the question asked, but as another member stated, the men were expected to look soldierly. Does it depend on the type of impression one is doing? In the middle of a campaign vs. garrison duty, etc.... I have seen quite a few people let their brass get very dull, and their uniforms almost stand on their own. I realize in some cases this would be fine, but in a lot of the diaries and such I have read they state they were cleaning, and polishing their gear. Just my 2 cents, and idle banter.:D


Your obedient servant....

[toptimlrd]

Re: Patches

Me personally, Ilike to keep that soldierly appearance. I regularly polish my brass, blacken my shoes and accoutrements, and brush my uniforms. I have evn been known to have something cleaned when it started to look a little too campaign worn (gasp). Of course there are those spots that are impossible to get completely out like small powder stains and dirt around the cuffs of the pants, etc.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Patches

About the only thing I can think of that MIGHT require and external patch might be a situation where you slept a little too close to the fire and burned a large hole in your clothes and the fabric is simply gone so that you can not close it and patch from the rear.

I dunno. The traditional way of patching, as shown on that photo of the shirt higher up, can cover about any size of hole from the inside. You just turn under the edges of the hole and sew them to the patch, while you turn under the edges of the patch and sew them to the garment, which is what I think I'm seeing happening on the shirt, with the 1-2" square in the center of the patch being where the hole was. Of course, you can put the patch on the outside, like the boy's jacket, but I don't think it would be from necessity.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[toptimlrd]

Re: Patches

I dunno. The traditional way of patching, as shown on that photo of the shirt higher up, can cover about any size of hole from the inside. You just turn under the edges of the hole and sew them to the patch, while you turn under the edges of the patch and sew them to the garment, which is what I think I'm seeing happening on the shirt, with the 1-2" square in the center of the patch being where the hole was. Of course, you can put the patch on the outside, like the boy's jacket, but I don't think it would be from necessity.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Hank,
You're right. When I looked at the shirt the first time it appeared to me that they had simply cut the hole square and inset a piece of patch material but on closer look it does appear the patch is larger than the hole behind the fabric of the shirt.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Patches

Gentlemen,

I have a concern over some of the recent posting of images. It is important that when posting pictures, we have the permission of the owner of the collections in which items reside.

The shirt in this thread is on display at the MoC and they have specific rules/guidelines with regards to the posting of items in their collections. While they do not bar anyone from taking pictures, their rules explicitely state that these pictures are for the sole use of the individual taking the picture; and that under no circumstances may the image be posting out on the web, without their explicite concent.

I find the use of many of these images being of great help to us all, but lets not break any rules (especially legal matters) when doing so. If we as a community want to enjoy the privelage of visiting collections and taking pictures, then it is imperitive that we follow their rules.

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04
23rd VA Regt.