Thanks for the encouragement, Andrew.
I do not actually have a mast, or mast step, or tabernacle yet. The boat is still in winter storage. It may be some time before I can actually hoist the sail. I would really like to be sailing under a junk rig before the end of this summer. I am not sure if that is a realistic goal.
I attached the last of the aft batten pockets yesterday. Next up is marking and cutting out the pockets that will go near the mast.
I may have been running my butane hot knife too hot, or pushing on it too much, or maybe it is just not intended to last forever. The hot knife tip bent and tore apart at the threads. I thought I would need to use a reverse drill bit to remove the threads. Fortunately after it cooled down I was able to unscrew it normally.
Not shown in the photos: I have a big jar full of used basting staples. I spilled the whole thing all over the carpet. I am not sure I will ever find all of them. Always an adventure.