Thanks everyone, some really helpful advice there.
I don't have an overlocker, so that's out for now. I am tempted though, if only for the shallow rush I'd get from having a new toy
French seams are an interesting suggestion, though I've never tried one.
The Dave Coffin book looks great, so that's ordered.
@Mocarroll your YouTube link is excellent, easily the clearest demonstration of what's going on. Probably requires more precise machine work than I'm really capable of at this point, but I won't let that stop me
I have metres of cheap muslin to practice with.
As a completely incidental question, how is armscye pronounced?
bm