The knitting is done, ends are woven in, Swirl blocked, and now it is time to put it all together. If you're still unsure of how that funny shaped thing actually becomes a jacket, not to worry. It will make all make sense very soon. Find yourself a nice big flat working space and gather up the tools you'll need: a couple of packages of locking stitch markers, a tapestry needle, scissors and scissors and matching yarn. Let's get started.
First, you will need to identify and mark two points: center back of neck and the center of the inner collar edge. To find these points, I often start by folding the Swirl in half down the center back. I check carefully to see that I've matched up landmarks like decrease points, beginning and end of neck bind-off, etc., and then use locking stitch markers to mark my points. If you look carefully, you can see a turquoise marker at center back of neck and an orange maker at center inner collar edge.
Now spread your Swirl out flat with "right side" up. Pin center back of neck to center inner collar edge.
Pin cuffs together at cuff edge and then at top of cuff trim, if there is any. Next identify the V-shaped notches (lower arrow) formed on each side of the back bodice when you began adding stitches to create the sleeves . Now locate the tips of the front bodice on each side (upper arrow).
Pin those front bodice tips to the deepest point of the V-shaped notch. (Note: in the Depth of Field and Forest Fiesta pattern, your last front bodice stitches create a straight wide tab rather than the narrow front bodice tips you see here. That tab will become a gusset at the bust line. The outside corners of those tabs fit into the the V-shaped notch, and a portion of the inner collar edge is pinned so that it travels straight across the bottom of the tab and is then eased around the inside corners of the tabs. Not to worry--you have enough inner collar edge to make this work.)
Next pin outside edges of back of neck to inner collar edge.
At this point, all the key points have been pinned together with locking stitch markers. Continue to place locking stitch markers every inch or so in between these points until entire seam is pinned together. As you do this, pay attention to lining up edges of welts wherever possible (arrows show locations where I've aligned welt edges.)
When you've got it all well pinned, it is time to sew!
I start by sewing the back neck seam. If I'm sewing up a Swirl with a collar deep enough to be worn as a hood, then I put the public side of the seam on the outside, so when the hood is up you see a nice finished seam. If the Swirl collar cannot be worn as a hood, I like to put the finished seam on the inside. Decide which side your neck seam will be on and arrange your Swirl so that the side you want the finished seam to show on is up. Seam that section using matching yarn and mattress stitch.
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