Analysis, part 5 - Topstitching

In addition to the quilt lines and ⅜" bias trim, a major stylistic element of the DS9/NEM jumpsuit yoke was precision topstitching in two key areas. 

The first was a ⅛" topstitch on each side of and parallel to the shoulder seam.

First Contact

The second was a corresponding ⅛" topstitch on each side of and parallel to the armscye seam.

Nemesis

Note that the body portion of the armscye topstitch also conformed to the quilt line/mid-quilt line paradigm, in that it either "landed" (or "began," if you prefer) at the bottom of the yoke on a quilt line or mid-quilt line and curved upward with the armscye, intersected a quilt line or mid-quilt line at the shoulder seam, and "landed" likewise at the bottom of the back yoke. 

In other words, although the shape of the armscye varied amongst the cast (likely due to varying physiques), the bottoms and high point (shoulder seam) of the armscye topstitching all intersected quilt lines or mid-quilt lines!

Quilt line to quilt line
Nemesis

Quilt line to quilt line DS9, 6x10 "The Magnificent Ferengi"

Quilt line to quilt line DS9, 6x13 "One Little Ship"

Mid-quilt line to quilt line Nemesis

Mid-quilt line to quilt line Nemesis

Quilt line to mid-quilt line Nemesis

Quilt line to quilt line DS9, 5x19 "Ties of Blood and Water"

Note also that in Nemesis, the armscye topstitching did NOT extend onto (or begin on, if you prefer) the bottom yoke/shoulder point trim!

We mention this specifically because there was an inconsistent trend in later years (before Nemesis) to extend the armscye topstitching onto the yoke/shoulder point trim. (See our "Misc. Observations and Errors, part 10" for more information on this.)


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