Q: pajama construction.

Hello. I noticed a difference between the construction of
mens' shirts and pajama tops. The yoke of a man's shirt
extends the width of the shoulders. It connects the back
panel, the front panels, and the sleves. A man's pajama
top has the back panel extending to the seam across the
shoulders, sewn to the front panels, and the sleeves. Then
there is an oval panel sewn to the back panel, extending
on both sides of the center line half way to the sleeves,
and sewn to the seam that connects the back and the front
panels. Why is a pajama top constructed this way?

--
Michael Press

"Michael Press" wrote in message
...
Hello. I noticed a difference between the construction of
mens' shirts and pajama tops. The yoke of a man's shirt
extends the width of the shoulders. It connects the back
panel, the front panels, and the sleves. A man's pajama
top has the back panel extending to the seam across the
shoulders, sewn to the front panels, and the sleeves. Then
there is an oval panel sewn to the back panel, extending
on both sides of the center line half way to the sleeves,
and sewn to the seam that connects the back and the front
panels. Why is a pajama top constructed this way?

This is just a guess, but I think what you are describing is the
back-neck facing, which is extra large in commercially made men's (and
women's) pajamas in order to make them look good when folded, and
lying on the shelf at the store. If the extra large facing were not
there, you would see the "wrong" side of the fabric below the
collar/neckline.

The yoke in the back of a man's shirt actually does serve a purpose,
and the same type of yoke *could* be used for a pajama top if you
desired it.

HTH,

Beverly

In article ,
"BEI Design"
wrote:

"Michael Press" wrote in message
...
Hello. I noticed a difference between the construction of
mens' shirts and pajama tops. The yoke of a man's shirt
extends the width of the shoulders. It connects the back
panel, the front panels, and the sleves. A man's pajama
top has the back panel extending to the seam across the
shoulders, sewn to the front panels, and the sleeves. Then
there is an oval panel sewn to the back panel, extending
on both sides of the center line half way to the sleeves,
and sewn to the seam that connects the back and the front
panels. Why is a pajama top constructed this way?

This is just a guess, but I think what you are describing is the
back-neck facing, which is extra large in commercially made men's (and
women's) pajamas in order to make them look good when folded, and
lying on the shelf at the store. If the extra large facing were not
there, you would see the "wrong" side of the fabric below the
collar/neckline.

Oh ho. I did not see that it is sewn inside the jammies,
and faces into the inside. No structural function.

The yoke in the back of a man's shirt actually does serve a purpose,
and the same type of yoke *could* be used for a pajama top if you
desired it.

I can see the function of a yoke. It is analogous to the
function of the clavicles that connect the sternum,
humerus bones, and scapula bones. It allows a garment to
take shape by orienting other panels, and flexing
differently because of the reorientation of warp and woof.

Thanks.

--
Michael Press

"Michael Press" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"BEI Design"
wrote:


This is just a guess, but I think what you are describing is the
back-neck facing, which is extra large in commercially made men's
(and
women's) pajamas in order to make them look good when folded, and
lying on the shelf at the store. If the extra large facing were not
there, you would see the "wrong" side of the fabric below the
collar/neckline.

Oh ho. I did not see that it is sewn inside the jammies,
and faces into the inside. No structural function.

Yes, I really think it's primarily cosmetic, although *some* sort of
facing is usually needed to finish off the neckline. If there is a
collar, however, the facing becomes superfluous...except as it
provides cosmetic cover for the *wrong* side of the fabric. ;-)

The yoke in the back of a man's shirt actually does serve a
purpose,
and the same type of yoke *could* be used for a pajama top if you
desired it.

I can see the function of a yoke. It is analogous to the
function of the clavicles that connect the sternum,
humerus bones, and scapula bones. It allows a garment to
take shape by orienting other panels, and flexing
differently because of the reorientation of warp and woof.

What a delightful analogy! Not one I would have thought of, are you a
physician by any chance?

Thanks.

You're welcome!

Beverly

BEI Design wrote:
"Michael Press" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"BEI Design"
wrote:


This is just a guess, but I think what you are describing is the
back-neck facing, which is extra large in commercially made men's
(and
women's) pajamas in order to make them look good when folded, and
lying on the shelf at the store. If the extra large facing were not
there, you would see the "wrong" side of the fabric below the
collar/neckline.

Oh ho. I did not see that it is sewn inside the jammies,
and faces into the inside. No structural function.


Yes, I really think it's primarily cosmetic, although *some* sort of
facing is usually needed to finish off the neckline. If there is a
collar, however, the facing becomes superfluous...except as it
provides cosmetic cover for the *wrong* side of the fabric. ;-)


The yoke in the back of a man's shirt actually does serve a
purpose,
and the same type of yoke *could* be used for a pajama top if you
desired it.

I can see the function of a yoke. It is analogous to the
function of the clavicles that connect the sternum,
humerus bones, and scapula bones. It allows a garment to
take shape by orienting other panels, and flexing
differently because of the reorientation of warp and woof.


What a delightful analogy! Not one I would have thought of, are you a
physician by any chance?

A good reason for NOT putting the yoke in pj's is comfort: I wouldn't
like to try to sleep with that seam across by back!

Shirts were not always constructed thus. I'll have to have a hunt about
and see if I can find out when the yoke first appeared and when it
became the norm. I suspect when hard tailoring developed in the early
19th C...


--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

In article
,
"BEI Design"
wrote:

"Michael Press" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"BEI Design"
wrote:


This is just a guess, but I think what you are describing is the
back-neck facing, which is extra large in commercially made men's
(and
women's) pajamas in order to make them look good when folded, and
lying on the shelf at the store. If the extra large facing were not
there, you would see the "wrong" side of the fabric below the
collar/neckline.

Oh ho. I did not see that it is sewn inside the jammies,
and faces into the inside. No structural function.

Yes, I really think it's primarily cosmetic, although *some* sort of
facing is usually needed to finish off the neckline. If there is a
collar, however, the facing becomes superfluous...except as it
provides cosmetic cover for the *wrong* side of the fabric. ;-)

The yoke in the back of a man's shirt actually does serve a
purpose,
and the same type of yoke *could* be used for a pajama top if you
desired it.

I can see the function of a yoke. It is analogous to the
function of the clavicles that connect the sternum,
humerus bones, and scapula bones. It allows a garment to
take shape by orienting other panels, and flexing
differently because of the reorientation of warp and woof.

What a delightful analogy! Not one I would have thought of, are you a
physician by any chance?

No, but I do have the anatomy coloring book.
Software engineer by trade, mathematics by avocation.

--
Michael Press