Sunday Sewing on the Silver Trench!

** Warning, picture heavy and long post!**

Ok, so this is not going to be a weekend project !! :-) But then, you probably all knew that long before I did - right??

I don't mind, I haven't sewn as much this weekend as I thought I would, but I have had a really relaxing time, done a bit of reading, a bit of knitting and watched a bit of tv. I didn't really get stuck in to the sewing until this morning - maybe I was putting it off a bit as it has been a very long time since I had a challenging project. I had totally forgotten just how much I love the process! How can that have happened? Anyway, I took some progress shots as I went along....

Stitched inner sleeve seam, made loops and stitched them in place.

Made tabs for sleeves. Whenever I have to stitch a point like this (also at the tip of a collar) I always take one stitch across the tip of the point. when it is turned through it is far less bulky and, surprisingly, still a perfect point! It was a tip I read years ago and have used ever since - my points are never as good if I forget! You can just make it out in the photo above.

The tabs were turned through and top stitched very close to the edge. They are then stitched in the outer seam of the sleeve.

Both sleeves done!

Here you can see the tab stitched into the outer sleeve seam...

.....and this is how it will look when it is finished. I will have to get some buckles. The tab goes through the loop which is attached to the inner seam.

Darts and side front seams stitched.

Pocket welts made. I read a couple of my reference books for a bit more info on a welt pocket as it has been sooooo long since I last made one! One thing suggested was to cut the welt on the same grainline as the angle of the pocket. I am not sure of the exact angle but this is approx 45 deg across the side front seam, so I cut the welt on the bias along with the interfacing.

Front and back pocket bags, the welt is underneath the lining piece. (It's all coming back to me now!!)

Not bad............of course the second one was so much better!

The burda instructions tell you to hand stitch the welt down from the inside. I decided to top stitch the ends from the outside but I didn't want any reverse stitching to show. In the end I left very long thread tails at the start and finish of my seam, pulled both threads through to the back and then back stitched the welt right next to the machine stitching. It should be plenty strong enough now!

All in all I am happy with what I have achieved. I am a fairly impatient sewist and am quite proud of myself that I have taken my time, thought everything through and loved every minute of it! I am keen to get the trench finished but not so desperate that I want to rush it. I will continue to work on it during the week and continue to take progress photos.

I am also very glad that I made the decision to line it - I would not have been at all happy to have all the pocket 'stuff' showing, I would probably have had to leave the pockets off or do an inseam pocket to keep it neater.

More later :-)