Once the pockets for the coat were ready, the front of the jacket needed darts, and then pocket placement. I attached the jacket pockets with a fell stitch, in order to disrupt the jacket front the least amount possible. Here we see the backside of the top pocket as applied:
The pocket from the front looks thus:
Note in both pictures above you can see, at upper right, the tailor tack marking sleeve positioning. I use a DMC embroidery floss to transfer pattern markings to the garment. In a fabric with less potential to ravel I might use scissor snips at the seam allowance markings, bit I did not want to do so for this loose-weave linen.
It is essential with this weight of linen that proper underlining and / or interfacing are applied; there is no way the fabric alone could support a sturdy, straight-looking pocket without it.
I kept the brown silk basting in the jacket seam allowances throughout construction:
Here we see from lower left to upper right: center back seam (serged and pressed open), Raw edge of armscye shoulder, and the collar (not yet pressed and topstitched).
After the shell of the coat was finished, it was time to construct the sleeves. I made a small sleeve head to support the sleeve at the shoulder, using wool:
The sleeves were then finished and pressed carefully:
I join set-in sleeves by handbasting them. It is so much easier to then spread out any ease and machine baste – or, if I’m sewing a rather heavy coat, I simply stitch them in by hand. I then trim, grade and press. Next up: sewing the lining, applying it to the shell, constructing buttonholes and buttons, and handsewing at sleeve and jacket hems.
Despite all the work that lays ahead, the garment is starting to take shape!
