Parka Post #2 - Pockets, Zippers, Velcro, and More!

My parka adventures continue.

In addition to the two lower "bellows" pockets I showed you in my last post (called "bellows" because they can expand) and which cover the two hand-warmer pockets, the front of the parka also has two upper zippered pockets.



Here's the bellows pocket, now attached to the coat front.  You can slide your hand into the handwarmer pocket along the curve.



The bellows pocket closes with velcro.



Now, I'd never made a zippered pocket before, but the construction is straightfoward:

First you stitch the rectangular shape of the opening (which is the exact length and width of the zipper) onto the pocketing and coat front.





You cut through the length of the rectangle and into the corners.  You pull the pocketing through to the wrong side of the coat front.  You're left with this window:



Next, you line up the zipper and edgestitch it onto the opening.





At this point, the other side of the pocket bag is attached.  (The pocket bag will be covered by the lining.)



An already-topstitched welt goes on top of the zipper.  It's attached along one side and folded over the zipper.  Then it gets stitched down at either end.












Today I also made the hood and attached it to the body of the coat.



So as you can see, this parka project is coming together.  I still have a few days to go, conservatively speaking.  I'll need to experiment with attaching snaps and grommets; I may save that for the weekend.

And that's it: slow and steady.

Oh, before I forget: I opted not to add the back cargo pocket.  I just couldn't see using it.  Eight pockets will have to suffice.

Have a great day, everybody!