The edges of sections that have to be sewn together have to be skived or reduced in thickness in order to avoid discomfort for the wearer. The skill was to leave the finished edge as near as possible to the original and enough substance to withstand the strain of stitching.
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Drawing illustrating the purpose of skiving
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Two machines were used for skiving:
- The Fortuna, which had a cylindrical knife rotating at right angles to the feed, adjustable for shape and depth of skive. It was used for heavy work.
- The Marvel, which was a flat circular knife rotating at a tangent to the feed. This was also adjustable.
