Totally agree, that's exactly it. My cuts got way cleaner once I could actually see where I was messing up.

Guess the squirrel was the one who really needed that inspection.

Ever notice how the best local info is never on a screen?

That "last-ditch effort" feeling is so real. I wonder if the heat wave played a part. Maybe the mites were already stressed and the garlic water was the final push, where in cooler weather it wouldn't have worked as well.

Have to disagree on the usefulness of hidden pockets. They seem great until you're in a rush and forget which layer has your boarding pass. I've missed flights fumbling through too many zippers. A good outside pocket you can reach in one motion beats a secret compartment every time. For a pattern, I'd just add a welt pocket with a zip to a standard jacket draft. Keep it simple so you don't lose things.