A Seam Left Unrepaired on Purpose
Preservation Objectives
- Keep the opening from lengthening.
- Preserve the option to repair, which is lost if the cloth at the opening degrades.
- Make the reversal criterion a measurement rather than a judgement.
Current Condition
Open seam, measured at eighty-one millimetres. Cloth on both sides sound with no thinning at the edge. Thread ends stable and not unravelling further into the seam. No distortion of the panels on either side.
The measurement has been taken eleven times over eleven years and has moved by less than the tolerance of the measurement itself.
Preservation Methods
Stored flat with the opening supported so the two edges are not held apart under their own weight. No stitching, no adhesive, no consolidation of the thread ends. Displayed with the same support.
Risk Assessment
| Risk | Likelihood | Consequence | Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening lengthens | Low; unchanged in 11 years | Repair becomes structural | Measured annually; repair triggered at 90mm |
| Edge cloth thins | Low | Repair option lost | Inspected annually with the measurement |
| Thread ends unravel | Low | Cosmetic, then structural | Ends supported in storage and display |
| Handling stress | Moderate on display changes | Sudden lengthening | Support required for all movement |
Monitoring Schedule
| Interval | Check |
|---|---|
| Annually | Opening measured to the millimetre and logged |
| Annually | Edge cloth inspected for thinning |
| On movement | Condition noted before and after every display change |
| At 90mm | Repair, without further review |
Recommendations
Continue as recorded. The repair threshold is fixed at ninety millimetres and is not to be revisited case by case — the value of the threshold is that it removes the decision from whoever happens to be holding the object on the day it moves.
- Object type
- Worn garment, single panel seam open
- Material
- Selvedge cotton shell, bonded core thread
- Measurement
- Opening 81mm; recorded 11 times over 11 years
- Housing
- Flat, opening supported
- Display
- Permitted with the same support
- Repair trigger
- Fixed at 90mm, not subject to review