Linen Summer Jacket part 3 - Collar, Lapels and sleeves

Now, I enjoy the challenge and hopefully can show you my process. I do deviate from the pattern instructions here but not too much.

OK front facings and neck facing are stitched together RST and seams pressed open.

The collar is made up of Upper and under (cut on fold) and 2 collar stands. I intend the under collar to be made from the patterned material I used inside the pockets.

Pin and stitch the upper collar to a collar stand matching seam markings RST. This can be a little tricky as you need to join 2 curved seams so take your time. 

After stitching clip the curved seam and trim. Press open and top stitch either side of the seam line.

Now repeat for the under collar. This time I have interfacing applied to the pieces (That's why collar stand looks white). 

That's the collar pieces finished.

Now we attach the upper collar to the facings RST. Again take time as you are trying to get two curves to fit together Measure and ensure that each end of the collar is the same distance from the end of the facings!. Stitch. The pattern clearly indicates the end of this line of stitching.

Completed upper collar and facings. Seam clipped and pressed open.

Now repeat  for under collar but attach to the jacket.

Clip seams and press open.

Right that was the easy bit! Now comes the time to attach the 2 collar pieces. Put the collar pieces RST and baste.




Stitch the two collar pieces together but stop exactly on the ends where the collar meets the lapel. Clip the corners of the collar close to the stitch. The upper collar is slightly larger than the lower, so gather carefully as you stitch.




Now clip the lapel (on the jacket and facing) to meet the end of the seams you just stitched. Fold the seam up to match, pin, baste and stitch the facing to the jacket (RST). This is from where the end of the collar stitching all along the front to the bottom.




Clip corners and trim seams. Fold the facings and collar right way out (Facings in the inside!) and carefully press. You should now have something that really does resemble a jacket!




Now carefully hand-stitch through the collar stand (on the seam) joining front to back. CAUTION! Make sure everything lines up!




OK! If you were paying close attention you will see I missed something out! Yes, of course there was no interlining between the facings and jacket. Well here is my little trick.

I use lightweight hessian for the interlining and add it to the jacket after affixing the front facings. The reason, I hear you cry.... Well attaching the interlining when joining the facing can leave a large, bulky edge along the front of the jacket.



Cut as directed in pattern.



Add some bias binding to the edge that would normally be stitched along with the facings.




Slip the interlining into the jacket between the facing and front. Make sure the bias bound edge sits flush to the stitch line inside the facings.




Now topstitch the facing/fronts. This catches the bias bound interlining securing it in place. Now the jacket really does hang well.

Press the collar/lapel and stitch with long loose stitches to keep the lapels in place.

Sleeves are very easy. (This jacket has no sleeve vents, buttons or anything fancy. Just 2 pieces, per sleeve. Pin and stitch the long edges RST. 




Press seam open and  run 2 close stitches as marked on the pattern (normally marked with 2 dots)




Stitch short sides together and press. Pull on the stitching to gather the head of the sleeve and turn up cuffs.


 Press the cuff hems and turn the sleeves right sides out.

Now set the sleeves into the jacket RST, baste and stitch carefully. The gathering stitches help to get the sleeve set in correctly.




When the seams have been stitched, clip the seams and press. you should now have a jacket with sleeves. 



Well done if you have got this far. Time for a drink. We are nearly done, just the lining left to add and the finishing touches. 

So until the next and final instalment.....Happy sewing.