Chris' Anime Coat

started - March 7th, 2007

cost - $107.45

12th March - Yes I know I have Costuming ADD of the worst kind. I am suppose to be drafting the over dress for the Regency gown so that I can finish up that project and start on the Autumn dress. But I chose not to. I decided I had to throw a Anime coat into the mix. I don't see this project taking me to long, but I am throwing in a lot of extras so who knows.

I had the black material in my stash. I got it about 3 years ago when the Jo-Anns near me was going out of business. It was labeled as a moleskin and was on sale for $9.99. I had been eyeing it for some time before that so I quickly swooped it up. It had been intended for a cloak or doublet of some sorts but those plans never went through. So now it has a new life as an anime coat for my hubby. The thread was also in my stash, (Thank goodness! They don't sell Gutterman thread here and I would have hated to have to wait on a shipment to start this coat. The red cord and Red fabric is going to be the piping for this coat. It was something that just came to me that I wanted to try.

Finding the fabric though was a pain in the butt! I didn't find any trim at first but really wasn't expecting to. So I decided I would get cord and fabric and make my own. Can't be that hard. The cord was easy, because it could of been any color. They just happened to have red so I went with it.  The fabric on the other hand wasn't so easy. I was looking for something sturdy, and BRIGHT BOLD 'Stop Light' Red. Not some pansy pinky red, or purply red. I needed I am a Ninja, Assassin, just a plan Bad A$$ Red. Because that is what he is going to be playing when he is wearing this. I just couldn't find any. Nothing was up to par. Then I found this... It is like drill/broadcloth on one side and fleece on the other. Perfect. And the color is Yummy. Maybe a hint of orange but I can deal with it. It is Bold and Manly. 1800 Yen a yard. Translation just under $18.00 a yard. ACK! But we got it anyway. I lost about a foot in the wash :( but I am hoping I still have enough. I need 72 ft of piping and had bought two yards at 36" wide. We will see if my calculations work out.

15th March -  I have the shell of the coat done. I  think it is coming together quite nicely. My one gripe is the piping is a little big, but it doesn't look bad in the pictures so maybe it is just me. Later the same day - I didn't get much done today. I just attached the collar. My first time using interfacing. I think I should have added another piece to the other side of the collar. I want it to be able to stand up and it feels like it might not do that.... Hrmmmm.....

19th March - I didn't get any sewing done this weekend which is a bummer because I probably could of been done with the basic coat.  We did find a new craft store though. Their fabric selection was beyond bad but they had 'D' rings!!! Now I won't have to order them online and wait for them to get here. YEA!!!

26th March - Not a lot to update on but I have some extra time before my interview. I guess I over estimated the time I would need to get ready. Dang... I could of been sleeping. Oh well. I now have piping going down the front of the coat. Sleeves and Two pairs of snaps sewn on. Exciting huh! Well I do think it is starting to look really cool. I need to get the hubby to model the coat so I can put pics up here. I am hoping to get the straps for the sleeves done today. I have the concept all worked out I just need to do it.

27th March - Yesterday sucked for sewing. I felt horrible most the day so I vegged out and didn't touch the Coat. About the time my hubby got home I was feeling a tad bit better. So while he played video games I fussed with the straps. They took much longer then I was hoping. It took me about two hours to sew it, turn it, and attach it to the coat. AHHHHH!!!  Then he said he may want it higher when before he was adamant about it being on the lower part of the sleeve. Part of the problem is the thread keeps slipping out of the bobbin causing my tension to go to H@!!. Bleh! Then because it was such a small strap with piping attached it took awhile to turn it. Caused my fingers to cramp up a little but it wasn't as bad as sewing it.  I am hoping to get the rest done today. Not all of them will have piping so hopefully they won't take as long. I do still feel a little bleh with the headache still hanging around but its better then yesterday. So after I can coax the kitty to get off my lap, take a shower, and run to the Commissary, I can start sewing! I hope you like the pics!

Later that day- So. I really didn't get a whole lot done because I am also working on another project. A commission piece, or Jewelry to go with a Ren Dress that  Avien is making. I worked on that all day and when hubby got home I started working on the coat. Made a strap that was suppose to go around the waist and stuff. Not really a belt... just a showy strap. Sewed the first one decided it wasn't wide enough so I measured out and cut a second one. Sewed it, turned it, prettied up the edges then asked hubby to put on coat so I can pin it in place to make sure it looked good before I attached it.  Now I am a slow sewer and that had taken me about an hour and a half. He didn't like that idea. He wants it to be like Trigun. What the heck is Trigun?!?!?!?! Yes now I know because I looked it up, but a little warning would of been great! UGH! I may set this aside for a wee little bit... at least until tomorrow. If I touch it again tonight I may burn it.

29th March - I was able to bring myself to touch it again last night. I pinned the strap/belt piece I had first to see if it was long enough. Lucky for my hubby it was so I didn't have to start from scratch. I just had to make another one the same size. This bummed me out a little because before this I was only using scraps now I am cutting into the remaining fabric :( I was hoping this fabric could have two lives. Hubby tried on the coat and after a little fussing we had the straps even and where he wanted them. The rest of the night was spent hand sewing. I love hand sewing, it can be so calming. But I sure am flying through the buttonhole thread. I sewed two more pairs of snaps to the front and three of the four snaps required for the Trigun belt thingie. We decided on putting snaps on it in case he wants to remove it. This now causes a small dilemma, because I have the piping going down the middle. I can't put a snap there.... I am hoping when everything is said and done it will just happen to hang right. But in case it doesn't I am trying to think up other ways of temporarily securing it. The back looks better when its on him because it doesn't sag as much as it does in this picture.

8th April - I have been doing A LOT of hand sewing. All of the snaps are on. The Back-x-crossing-belt-thingie now has red buttons on all 5 points. I tried to put a secret pocket on the inside. It was going to be a slash pocket... But I messed it up. I didn't understand it all the way when I started and ended up sewing the pieces together wrong. I didn't realise this though until I had made the cuts into the fabric. BAH! So I Mickey Moused it from there.  Not pretty at all, good thing it is on the inside. I have also been sewing down the inside front pieces. The pattern instructions said to fold the side over and make a hem. I chose not to because that would leave two raw edges that didn't need to be. If I sewed the inside front piece to the outside front piece along the seam it would be have a nice finished edge. Of course this added a lot of hand sewing to my plate. I have been sewing all weekend while we watched movies and I still have a foot to go. *le sigh* Almost done. Just have the bottom hem and the sleeves.

13th April - This coat is done except for the bottom hem. It is hanging now so if anything is going to drop it will do it before the hemming is started. That should be done today so I can get back the Regency gown. Good pictures to come later.  Hubby has agreed to model the coat for me. Poses and all! 

16th April - Are projects ever really done when you say they are??? The bottom is all done and pretty. I turned over the bottom hem twice and just sewed a straight line/seam where there was no lining. On the front pieces where there is one I turned the pieces in on themselves and whipped stitched them together real quick. Quick and painless with the bobbin tension only slipping once. But now Hubby wants cuffs on the sleeves. This shouldn't be to hard..... I think. Playing with ideas on how to do this and not foul it up like I did the pocket.

22nd April - I finished up the coat today. I added the cuffs like he wanted. Chris like them and I was able to use the buttons I had got in the beginning. We had changed the game plan to the red buttons for contrast so I didn't think I would be using them but they worked themselves back into the plan. Hubby is being deployed for awhile so the nice pics will be put on hold. He did pose for a few quick shots today though.