The Linen Jacket

Still stitching the Linen Jacket, last week my tailoring class was cancelled due to the snow. I stayed home and got on, on my own.  I decided to stitch together the jacket lining and then put it into the jacket.  Sewing it in to the jacket by machine would have been easier, but I felt it needed to be hand stitch, as I want to use traditional tailoring methods for this jacket.

The pattern I've been using is not lined, therefore I had to make my own lining pattern first. Then I took the side front lining piece of pattern (left hand pattern piece as you look at the photo below) and designed my own inside  pockets.  Carefully designing it to prevent putting part of the pocket into the front facing piece, which is often seen on a commercially made gent's jacket. My pattern piece is divided into two, the top part extends down into the pocket area and the lower piece extends up and includes an allowance for folding over and down into the pocket area. It worked very effectively.

I spent the time hand finishing some of the hems too, putting in some canvas into the hem line to give the hems support and structure.  This canvas is cut on the bias and stitched down along the fold line of the hem. 

The photo above shows the hem pinned up and ready for stitching. I really enjoy the hand sewing it very relaxing.  I generally save my hand work for the evenings, when I can sit in the arm chair and listen to the TV as I sew.

The new planting season has started, I've planted my Garlic!

On Sunday morning I got the planting season off to an aromatic start by planting my garlic bulbs into modular trays as Carol Klein had suggested on her TV programme on Friday 25th. I generally do this for garlic and onions and I was wondering when the best time was to get started on this.  Then on Friday night, whilst stitching and viewing I saw Carol was doing exactly this, so I knew it was time for me to do it too. 

I really feel I need to get outside and start working in the garden, I plan to plant some seeds next week and give the green house a good clean ready for the start of the sowing year.  I need to put out the seed potatoes into trays for chitting too or they won't be ready to plant when the time comes.