Figure 1.--Here we have a 1920s Butterick pattern (No. 4875) for knickers with an optional back buttoning underwaist. It was for an 8-year old. Butterick called the bodice and underwaist. The knickers could be done with elastic or buckles. Notice that when the bidice is not attached, a self-belt is used.

We knew that bodices were used to hold up kilts and skirts. We think if not extensive as fairly common. We did not at first realize that bodices were used to hold up boys' pants. We do not think it was fail commonm. But there is no way of telling for the most pat from the photographic rcord that we rely on in building HBC. Bloomer knickers worn by younger boys. Many boys wearing the popular tunic suits at the turn of the 20th century apparently had bloomer knickers with attached bodices. This is not apparent in the photographic record. Nut we note pattern. We seed a McCalls pattern from the early 1900s clearly showing this. We also notice a Butterick pattern for regular knickers done with a back buttoning bodice. We have not noticed this in the mail order catalogs for ready-made clothes, only these patterns for home sewing. As far as we know thse were only done for youngr boys. The Butterick pattern was for boys up to 8-years. Butterick called the bodice an underwaist. It was optional. The home sewer could make the knickers with or without them.