These instructions are for fitting your Jas. Townsend & Son Gaiters [GA-986] or Spatterdashes [SB-984] that you have already purchased. If you have not ordered your Gaiters or Spatterdashes, and you need to be measured for proper sizing, please see the measuring videos for Spatterdashes and Gaiters.
Thank you for your purchase! We want you to be completely satisfied with this product. Your satisfaction, however, is largely dependent on how well these garments are fitted to your legs.
PLEASE NOTE:
- READ THROUGH THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST prior to attempting any steps.
- ALSO, be sure to have on the breeches, stockings, and shoes or moccasins you intend to wear with these garments when you do this fitting process.
- DO NOT attempt to fit these garments to your legs while wearing modern jeans or trousers.
- DO NOT attempt to fit these garments to your legs by yourself. An assistant is necessary to insure a proper fit.
KIT INCLUDES:
- One pair of Spatterdashes or Gaiters
- The appropriate number of flat black horn buttons (
- One chalk marking pencil
- Instruction Sheet
YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE:
- Needle and Thread
- 4 to 6 Straight Pins
- Masking or Painter’s Tape (1/2″ to 1″ wide)
- An Assistant*
* An assistant is absolutely necessary to insure a proper fit. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own.
TERMINOLOGY:
DIRECTIONS:
Step 1: Determining Right from Left
Our garment tag is attached to the inside cotton lining of each Spatterdash or Gaiter. You should also find either a chalk mark near each tag, or an indelible ink mark on each tag indicating which garment is for your left leg and which is for your right.
Step 2: Securing Your Garment for a Proper Fit
A. Aligning the Toe Cap
Located on the bottom edge of each garment is a semi-circular toe cap. The tip of this toe cap will align to the top center of your foot as shown.
B. Wrapping the Inside Edge Around & Securing it to Your Leg
While you remain in a standing position with your legs held straight, you need to hold the tip of the toe cap in place while holding the top edge of the garment up against your leg. If you are fitting spatterdashes, this top edge will reach about half-way up your shin. If you are fitting Gaiters, the top edge should reach a few inches above your knee.
The outside edge of your garment (the side with the buttonholes) should be toward the outside of your leg, while the inside edge of your garment (the side where the buttons will go) should be on the inside of your leg.
You need to align the outside edge of your garment with the outermost side of your leg as you hold it in place.
Your assistant should then wrap the inside edge around the inside and back of your leg until it fits snugly. Your assistant then should hold the inside edge in place while you move the top corner of the outside edge away revealing your shin. Keep holding the toe cap in place.
Your assistant should then secure the top corner of the inside edge directly to your breeches or stocking with a 6” piece of masking or painter’s tape. The inside edge should align somewhere between the outermost side of your leg and the front of your shin.
Using 6” pieces of tape, your assistant should proceed to secure the inside edge directly to your stocking and shoe in 3” to 4” increments.
C. Securing the Outside Edge to your Leg
Once the inside edge is secured in place, you and your assistant should wrap the outside edge back around to the outermost side of your leg.
Be sure to align the top corners of both the inside and outside edges. The outside edge will overlap the inside edge.
Work together to pull the outer edge snug. Hold it in place, and, being careful that you do not cover any buttonholes, secure it with 6” pieces of tape.
Step 3: Marking the Button Locations
Have your assistant insert the tip of the chalk pencil through the first buttonhole. The pencil should be inserted at the end of the buttonhole that is closest to the back of your leg. Make a dot mark on the fabric beneath by gently pushing the pencil and giving it a slight twist. Repeat for each buttonhole. If the underlying tape is marked instead of the garment’s fabric, continue to mark the other button locations. You can fill in the missing button location in step 5.
Step 4: Marking the Location of the Stirrup Strap
Before you remove the garment from your leg, be sure to wrap the stirrup strap beneath and up the side of your foot. You should align it slightly behind the seam of the toe cap.
Your assistant should place a mark on the strap as well as on the outer surface of the garment.
Step 5: Removing the Garment from Your Leg
Remove the outer layer of tape used to secure the outer edge, and then begin to remove the underlying layer of tape that secures the inside edge. If any button location marks were made on the underlying tape instead of on the fabric, or if any of the marks are obviously out of place, mark the fabric where the button location mark should be.
Step 6: Attaching the Stirrup Strap
While the stirrup strap location mark was placed on the outside surface of the garment, the strap will actually be attached to the inside surface. Transfer the stirrup strap location mark onto the inside of the garment. Align that mark to the mark made on the strap.
Pin the strap to the inside surface of the garment and sew it in place. Trim the strap, leaving about an inch of excess material on the strap end.
PLEASE NOTE: If you intend to wear moccasins with your Gaiters or Spatterdashes, you may choose to remove the stirrup straps altogether.
Step 7: Attaching the Buttons
Because a snug fit is important in the performance of these garments, we suggest that you adjust all button locations slightly away from the inside edge, moving them about 1/4” toward the back of your leg. Sew each button on in its adjusted location.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are fitting Gaiters (not Spatterdashes), the top buttonhole on the outside edge is matched with a buttonhole on the inside edge. No button is needed here. Instead, the two buttonholes are meant to be secured to one of the buttons on the knee of your breeches.
PUTTING ON YOUR SPATTERDASHES OR GAITERS
Make sure you match the left garment with your left leg and the right garment with your right leg. Insert your toe through the stirrup strap and align the tip of the toe cap to the top center of your foot. If possible, you may also wish to secure the bottom one or two buttons before inserting your toe.
Secure the buttons starting at the top. Give yourself plenty of time to do this. It may be quicker to ask for your assistant’s help. Be careful to match each button to its corresponding buttonhole.
You may find a buttonhook to be especially helpful in this process. If you do not have a buttonhook, one can be fashioned from heavy wire.
If you are wearing Gaiters (not Spatterdashes), you may find the use of garters immediately below the knees to be helpful in keeping the garments in place.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you find your Spatterdashes or Gaiters are too loose or too tight,
go back to STEP 7 and adjust the location of the buttons appropriately.
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