Thank you all for your lovely comments, you are too kind (except you, Miss Smith, you are too funny). When I saw how the coat looked in the photos I knew I really had a pressing issue with the puckers. When I solicited help from the PR board, I loved Em Summer's response - "unpick it and redo it, I wouldn't wear it out like that." It was exactly what I was thinking too. I certainly didn't want to enter it into a competition under my name, even one I was counting on losing.

Thank goodness for the wonder of a google search then, when I found the cure was simply a thickly tufted towel away. You can steam press velveteen on a towel, whose tufting protects the fibres from being flattened by the iron. I then covered my pressing ham with a thick tea towel, likewise the sleeve board and voila, the worst of the puckering has been dealt too. For a really good finish, I should have nicked the seam allowances every three inches to allow the fabric to lie completely flat. But I do not have time to resew a coat.

I have 10 weeks and nine garments.

Doesn't the back look so much better? (I forgot to do up the button again, it's there under the flap)



Now you can see the flowers on the button better:



Ok I'll put my name to this:



Crack! Crack ! The sound of the whip telling me to move onto the next project,

Pattern: Simplicity 2508