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virginiadear December 14 2013, 07:24:11 UTC
The Imperial Cloak does look amaaazzziinnnggg!

I can appreciate the vexation with the ermine tail tips; I was fiddling about with fake fur and ermine tail tips earlier this year---maddening! (That project has yet to be completed.)

I can also appreciate all the plotting and scheming to squeeze such a garment out of so little yardage. A former client, taller than you by four inches when wearing a flat heel (it matters: he wasn't going about barefooted) used to bring me four yards of 44"/45" fabric, usually something with nap or pile, and expect me to get the most elaborate, fabulously full pieces of costume from it, and it was never more than four yards. If I'm recalling correctly, once it was 3.5 for a Landsknecht doublet.
Pull this particular rabbit out of a hat a couple of times, and you get a reputation for being able to work magic, you know. ;->

Seven needles, sewing on the gold trim to cover the hem seam? Dang. That's a lot of broken needles.
Did you change your needle size before beginning? For that kind of sewing, I think you'd need a 16 or an 18, just to handle the stress of punching through the fabric plus the trim.

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starlightmasque December 14 2013, 18:05:45 UTC
Thank you! I started with a regular 11 needle, and soon moved to the 16 (the thickest I had) Still broke! Ah well. It was worth it!

I bet youtr client looks fabulous! I love pulling rabbits from hats.

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virginiadear December 14 2013, 18:20:01 UTC
"I bet youtr client looks fabulous!"

H'eh. He probably did---for a while, if we're talking about that Landsknecht thing. His intention was to wear it under his armor at demos so he would look all spiff when he stripped the armor off in front of the audience. (Yeah, right: like all the sweat, and armor stains, and general grunge you get from heavy weapons combat didn't put paid to that idea really quickly!)
He may still have and use a bat-wing tunic and a sleeveless surcoat or cyclas which were made to be worn together, and---I was rather proud of myself for managing this one---it had to be a complete and total surprise, and as it was the first bit of costuming I ever made for that particular body, I didn't have any measurements recorded.

"I love pulling rabbits from hats."
I used to love it, for the sense of accomplishment and of competence it used to give me.
Then I realized other people were presuming too often and far too far, too much, expecting to be rescued.

Do you have any 18 needles? If you're going to sew upholstery fabric, or sometimes even home dec stuff for costuming, an 18 can be your machine's best friend. Ball point, of course, to avoid snags.

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starlightmasque December 16 2013, 04:28:48 UTC
I blow through needles like crazy-- in my next buying batch I'll pick up some 18's for sure!

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