As outlined in yesterday’s post, the Doctor Who Mind Robber’s latest challenge is to make both a Second and a Fourth Doctor Cosplay outfit in the 16 days remaining before Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary. Just to add to the challenge I will be using only fabric which I’ve previously hoarded.

As luck would have it Spotlight, an Australian chain of fabric and manchester stores, currently has all Simplicity Patterns on special for $5.00 each.  Present your VIP card and you receive a further 10% off the patterns. How fortuitous then that the very patterns chosen for the Troughton frock coat and the Tom Baker jacket should be by Simplicity.

Simplicity pattern #2895 is being used for the Troughton Frock Coat. Presently on special for $4.50 at Spotlight its purchase was a real bargain.  The coat will be intentionally made large to capture the spirit of our “Cosmic Hobo”

A quick perusal through some of my many crates of fabric quickly yielded success when at least a 10 metre cut of black broadcloth (otherwise known as poplin) was found. Whilst certainly not suiting material, it’s the right colour and meets the “free” fabric criteria perfectly.  Being lightweight I’ll also use it for the lining. If the challenge should fail, and the frock coat is a dud, at least some fine fabric hasn’t been wasted 🙂

Finding the relevant pattern pieces and wrestling with the wafer thin paper has been completed and a beginning made to the rather onerous task of cutting. The photographs document the challenge so far.

The fun starts when you need to wrestle with the wafer thin pattern paper. Watching Doctor Who whilst sewing is highly recommended, although having Jamie McCrimmon laugh at your endeavours can at times be unnerving!

I’ve little doubt that the lovely Mary Peach from The Enemy of the World would be more skilled than me at refolding paper patterns

10 metres or more of broadcloth awaits ironing and torture by dressmaking pins. The Doctor and Jamie appear disinterested

At last some pattern pieces are pinned to the fabric

The first pieces of the Frock Coat to be cut out have tailor’s tacks

Vivien Fleming

©Vivien Fleming, 2013.