That 'seam' that you complained about, and shown in McMurdo's excellent photos is called a dart.

Darts are used to eliminate extra fabric at areas that need to be more fitted. I don't even have to see that jacket to tell you exactly where it is and what it's there for. It's goes somewhere from the neck area down to just above the chest - or it should anyway. Since necks are smaller than chests, the tailor needs a dart in that area to fit the jacket closer to the neck and fitting the jacket smoothly up to the neck from the chest.

Quote Originally Posted by MacLowlife View Post
I have commissioned my dear sainted mother to build me a velvet Montrose based on that Civil War uniform pattern. I complained loudly about the seam running down the middle of the chest piece, but noticed on another ( store bought) one that it is there, too. Seems / seams out of place to me, but what do I know?

MacLowlife