Club Obi Wan

Let me get this straight from the start. I am not advocating this in any way, but I am curious. With that disclaimer out of the way...

Has anybody cut the stitching that holds the action pleats closed at the strap on their Wested? It was my understanding that the original jacket did not have this reinforcement and there have been only a few jackets made (Chris King mannequin jacket is one) that do not have this.

My memory says that Peter said the jacket would not recommend omitting this stitching since the seam would split. Chris never did furnish pictures of this... I am assuming the "side vent" means the same thing as "action pleats." Here are some excerpts:

Chris_King wrote:

Side vents: These are great - they open out in the classic "V" shape without any effort. Some stitching has been omitted so that they work in the same way as Ford's did.

Chris_King wrote:

All that I know about the vent is that it's not been sewn in the places that they normally sew them. Because of the lack of stitching, the sides open up better, forming that "V" shape. However, Peter said that if they did this on a jacket that was going to be worn day in and day out, the seam would split after a small amount of time.

Chris_King wrote:

Regarding the side vent, it's actually the way the straps are attached to the jacket, not the extent of the vent. Sorry for any misleading comments earlier. The stitching above the vent seems to start in the same place as my previous Wested, but way the straps are attached obviously allows more movement and the vent opens up more.

Chris.

It appears that the actual function of the side straps would be restored by cutting the stitching. Has anybody tried it? What is meant by the seam would split? Does this mean the action pleat seam itself where the two pieces that make it up are connected? I am so confused... Peter? Peter? Where are you?

P.S. Does the Flightsuits Jacket also have this?

I am here!
That stitching is there to reduce the length of the action pleat and therefore reduce any action pleat problems.
It does not affect the side straps pulling in to tighten but does mean that it cannot be made bigger if you see what I mean.
It does not in any way effect the strength of the garment or spliting.
Cheers
Peter

Hey I just noticed my face on that posting.
Who did that?
Cheers
Peter

PETER wrote:Hey I just noticed my face on that posting.
Who did that?
Cheers
Peter

Whomever did it, thanks!
It's nice to be able to put a face with the voice and the name.

PETER wrote:Who did that?

It's a mystery to me too, Peter. Unless Abner was in playing around in the vaults of IndyGear. It had been showing the "x" notifying that it was missing. But then a few days ago, it reappeared. Welcome back.

Mike

Hey I just noticed my face on that posting.
Who did that?

I would give the credit to your mom and dad!! I think mine had
something to do with my face too...

Flathead