Jacobean jacket muslin
There’s no point even considering hand-sewing something when the pattern you’re using (Jacobean Jacket by Dawn Anderson Designs) isn’t terribly accurate to begin with. It’s not horribly inaccurate — I can see exactly why the designer chose to put a seam there and that *is* accurate for doublet bodices in the era, even though it’s not found in the little jackets. But it’s an obvious enough inaccuracy that anyone who might be impressed by hand-sewing would be automatically bothered by the seam placement.
(Looking at pix of extant jackets and the one in Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion, they don’t have a (essentially a shallow princess) seam down the front. But an Elizabethan doublet bodice could use this kind of seam, afaik; so I can see why it’s there. Also, the pattern does claim it’s a “modern fit, ” and the front seam makes for easier fitting than having a far-more-curved front edge and angled side piece.)
Furthermore, when you’re making the whole thing in an entirely (well, not entirely, it’s the right fiber content and style, just wrong color) inaccurate fabric, there’s even less point in doing something silly like hand-sewing. Or worrying about the inaccurate seams. FFS.
If I really gave a crap about that much vaunted “accuracy,” I wouldn’t be doing it my way to begin with. Bonus point: the muslin looks adorable and fit in the first try (note for Great Pattern Review: this one runs small; good thing I made it two sizes bigger “just in case”). I’m modifying the neckline just for the heck of it (prettier), though I want to see if any of my lace will fit first.
Honestly, what I care about and what most of us really care about is looking good. If historical accuracy were foremost, more folks would be making a lot more lower class stuff instead of strutting about in silks and jewels. Because most people in the past didn’t wear high fashion. It’s like reenactors the year 3000 only dressing in what Paris Hilton wore in 2008, even though most people in 21st century America wore stuff from Target and Old Navy.