The Blind Cuff Tale

Here is a once upon a time tale from the early 1940s

Times were hard back then with the country having just come through the great depression and on the heels of that- WW2. There was no extra money as a rule but my Dad enjoyed his toddy and with frequency utilized part of his pay to satisfy his desire. That of course not only created further hardship but a crisp air between him and my Mother.

After one such incident he came home with a present for himself of a new wool surge suit. I suspect it was a rack piece so the pants were too long and would need shortening. He dared not ask Mom to alter them so asked me if I could. Now I had never shortened a pair of pants and probably had never sewed anything other than a seam or a button but with such a air of confidence said I could, I would and I did. He showed me the length, I marked them and immediately cut both legs off right on those marks. Frantic panic struck as I realized what I had done.

Here was probably the first new suit in many years and now he was set for high water pants. I couldn't let anyone know of my dilemma (especially him) and wanting to be spared a fate worse than death I quickly reattached those cut off legs to the pants and wondered how I could ever conceal the damage. I knew that the seam would show if left straight legged and no doubt due to the amount I had removed and then lost in sewing them back on it was going to be visible even cuffed.

It was then that ingenuity took hold of my frantic fearful being and I divised what I have since referred to as a blind cuff. It had all the appearances of a conventional cuff but was just a unique folding of the material which hid the damaged goods and gave the correct length. Fortunately cuffed slacks were in vogue back then and I stitched the side seams in place so that those cuffs would never come undone. When pressed Dad never knew how close he came to having to wear ankle high pants. It remained my well kept secret and I never did do any more sewing for him until I altered the suit that he was to be laid to rest in.

CPH 12-02-04

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