sewing a yoke

I've just put up the newest post editor for blogger and its image editing is throwing me through a loop.  Hopefully I can get through this with the illustrations in the right place.  Bear with me.

Last post was about creating a yoke by modiifying a bodice sloper or pattern.  Assembling the yoke is slightly more involved.  The instructions here are for front and back yoke pieces and corresponding linings.

Depending on how your yoke is closed will affect the yoke assembly.  I am going to assume that you are using a yoke with snaps on one shoulder, but if you have a back closure with buttons or zipper, you can just stitch together the front and back yoke pieces at the shoulder, skip the shoulder snap info, and then jump back in where the yoke and the lining are joined together.

Begin by stitching the front to back at the shoulders, if your design calls for it, of the yoke and the yoke lining.

Stitch at the seam allowance all the way round the yoke lining.  This is to be a guide when sewing the yoke to the lining. 

Clip along the curve by making a small vertical cut from the raw edge to almost where the seam allowance is to facilitate a smooth curve when sewn.  Put aside the lining for now.   

Attach the bodice front and back to the yoke piece in the appropriate postions.  Continue the stitching around the arc from the one bodice piece around across any attached shoulders to the other bodice piece.  This stitching will serve as a guide to pressing the curved edge.

Align the yoke with the lining, right sides together, and stitch together around the center arc, around any ends intended for closures and around the outside of the outside arc edge, stopping when the bodice is attached.  Clip curves.

Turn the yoke right sides out and press seams.  Use the stitching as a guide on the lining and the yoke to turn under and press any portions not attached to the bodice pieces.

Pin together the yoke and lining and top stitch all around the edges.  Attach snap or button closures on shoulder.

I hope that was reasonably clear.  Questions are welcome, of course :)

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