Making the First Coat.

[Levi Kornelsen]

So, my GF and I are making some Dogs coats as costume for taking our game Live.

...Yes, real ones.

For the first one (kind of a prototype dry-run), we bought a cheap quilt, which we're going to dissassemble ito strips, rebuild, and then darken with a few rinses - store bought quilts tend to be kind of bright and flowery, and that just won't do.

Anyone ever try anything like this before?

Anyone want to hear about it as we build it?

[Adam Biltcliffe]

I'd very much like to see how this turns out. I've wondered about doing this myself on occasion, not because of wanting to play any kind of live Dogs, but just because it would look cool.

[Vaxalon]

I have a big black frock coat that I forgot to wear to GM my first FTF session, because that's what a Steward would wear.

[Andrew Morris]

Levi, that's funny. My GF and I are planning on putting together some Dogs coats, as well....not for a live game, but for Halloween costumes. I'm interested in hearing your results.

[Levi Kornelsen]

So.  Cheap quilt bought.

Sadly, said cheap quilt will not cut easily into strips.  But it does look like we'll get a nice back piece, nice sleeves, and a patterned front.  Cheap quilt has been cut up according to the pattern for a 'pirate coat'.  We'll be sewing it together tonight, and darkening it in the next couple of days.  Chances are, it'll be a mediocre assemblage. 

However.

This time out, the point is to learn about how it works, so that it'll all go smoothly when we put real cash into it - as in, more than $35 for a crap quilt.

I'll have more details on the it soon, along with a handy list of things to do and not do, and two or three pictures.

[Adam Biltcliffe]

Too late for this, I guess, but "pirate coat" doesn't seem like the right pattern. I'd have thought what you want is more like somewhere between "cassock" and "horse duster".

[rrr]

It's a very cool idea!

I trust you will post photos of the final result?


Drew

[Levi Kornelsen]

Too late for this, I guess, but "pirate coat" doesn't seem like the right pattern. I'd have thought what you want is more like somewhere between "cassock" and "horse duster".

I know.  Remember, this first one is mostly just "testing the techniques".

This pattern, we had on hand.  Once we get a look at it, finished, we'll know what to change - in a lot of ways, including general fit, cut, and so on.

First piece of certain advice: If using actual quilted material as a base, go up a size.  The 'puffiness' of the material makes a larger difference in tightness of fit than we'd thought (we thought it would make some, but not as much as it did).

And yes, there will be pictures.

[TheHappyAnarchist]

Oh yes. We must see the coolness.

[Levi Kornelsen]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/finaira/sets/72057594050549114/

Some pictures of folks working on it.

And, uh, not working on it.

Also, goofing off in it.

...Yeah.

[Lance D. Allen]

That's not too shabby, considering it's your first effort. Something with a little bit more earth-tones and a duster cut rather than that high-neck pirates coat would look better, but this is not at all anything to be ashamed of. Add a gun, a wide-brimmed hat and a big ol' book, and I think you'd have yourself a pretty respectable looking Dog.

[Levi Kornelsen]

Oh, it hasn't been dyed yet.  We'll be using coffee.

And yeah, the next ones will have more of a duster-look, and be built of horizontal bands.  More like the cover art.  But still, I'm pretty pleased at how it's coming along, for a cheap little trail run.

[lumpley]

No kidding. That's excellent.

-Vincent

[TheHappyAnarchist]

Can't wait to see it darkened up.

[Levi Kornelsen]

Gotta get the edging on first, which takes time - unlike the rest of the stuff so far, the edging (to keep the cotton from coming out the sides) needs to be hand-sewn (it was on the original quilt, and what we add should match).

Then, darkening.

Then, we'll see what we've got, and I'll ramble for a bit with 'what we learned'.  And we start planning out the next three.