You will need:- (Depending on the size you are making) 6-7 yards of orange trigger fabric in "seville orange" or similar bright orange color.
- About 3 spools of matching orange thread
- Black thread
- Approx. 36" black zipper
- Black 1" Velcro
- Optional white or orange Velcro for Comm pad.
- Interfacing
First, you need to prep the pockets. Zig zag or surge the raw edges, turn them under 1/2" (unless otherwise noted) and press. Double top-stitch the tops/hand openings of all the pockets. Attach the Velcro to one half of the pocket flaps and then sew the pocket flaps together, trim, turn, press, and double top stitch the sides and bottom edges (leave the top of the flap for now).
You will also need to attach the Velcro for the sleeve cuffs & collar, then sew the two pieces together. You will need to take into account that you will be taking up a seam allowance, as well as the top stitching, so be sure to inset the Velcro far enough to be free of those things. Also, be sure to use interfacing on the collar. Once the pockets, flaps, cuffs, and collar are prepped and ready, you can move on to the suit.
You can begin by sewing the pockets to each sleeve. If desired, now is the time to sew Velcro in the center of the comm pad pocket window (on the sleeve, not the pocket) to hold your comm pad.Next, sew the lower two pieces of each front "shirt" section together, then sew on the yoke. [*Be sure to zig zag or surge all seams, press, and top stitch (where applicable) after every step.] Once you have the fronts sewn, you can add the scoop pockets.
Next, sew the front pants sections together, following the Kwik Sew guidelines. Sew the waist band sections to the pants sections (the waist band only gets a single top-stitch). Then, attach the leg pockets and pocket flaps. You will need to sew the scoop pockets in place first, then the first set of cargo pocket flaps. Then, use the placement of the Velcro on the flap to determine where the Velcro needs to be placed on the pocket. Sew the Velcro to the pocket, then attach the pocket to the pant legs. Repeat for the second set of pockets.
After the pants pockets are attached, you can sew the shirt front to the pants front at the waistband. Attach zipper according to Kwik Sew directions. Note that you will not be putting a snap at the neck, your zipper should be long enough to reach all the way to the collar.
Sew the shirt back and front sections together at the shoulder. Be sure to carefully fold the extra fabric to create the proper tuck in the shirt back.
Sew the sleeves in place. (I thought I had gotten a picture of it, but it must have gotten lost/deleted from the camera...) Be sure to sew the raw edge of the tuck to the sleeve, keeping the folded edge free. This is a tricky step, and can bunch, so be prepared to pick out your stitches and redo this until you get it right.
Sew the pants back sections together, then attach the waistband. Attach the pants back to the shirt back at the waistband.
Sew together at underarm, sides, and crotch seams. Be sure to leave an opening at the end of the sleeve seam, where marked, at the wrist. Turn under the hem at the wrist opening twice and top stitch. Also, be sure to leave an opening at the waist band on each side seam to insert elastic into the casing in the waistband at the back of the suit. Insert elastic, pin in place, and stitch the rest of the seam.
Attach the sleeve cuffs and collar. Clip, turn, and press cuffs and collar, double top stitch. Attach the corresponding Velcro on the opposite ends of the cuffs and collar.
Hem the pant legs.
That's it, you're done!
