Vetran DIYers: help!!

[Coemgen]

So, basically, every year, I have a little Christmas party with my good friends.

This year, however, I am doing something a bit different. I am making it formal, in terms of dress. I mean, I like to dress up all fancy, but I hardly ever get the chance!

Anyway, as the host of this party, I will naturally want to look impressive. To this end, I have purchased a Black Mandarin Eton Jacket from Uniformalwearhouse, which I plan to convert into a single-breasted doublet (I believe that somewhere around here there is a picture of Hamish wearing one).

One its-bitsy problem:

I have never sewn a stitch in my life.

Any help from you veteran DIYers would be greatly appreciated.

I'll post a pic of the jacket once it arrives (the website says it should take 4 days).

[slohairt]

The best way I can think of to convert a Mandarin Eton into a simple doublet is this:

1) Shorten the jacket so that the bottom rests a couple of inches below the top of your kilt. Judging from the picture this would be somewhere in between the 5th and 6th button.

2) Buy 7 diamond shape thistle buttons from threefeatherspewter.com. They're 60 cents each, I believe. (5 buttons for the front; 2 for the epaulettes.)

3) Make or buy braided epaulettes. Highland Xpress sells braided epaulettes form $8.00 a pair. I think there's a link somewhere here about someone making braided epaulettes. I couldn't find it, though.

4) Since a belt is worn over a doublet, make 2 or 3 belt loops around the bottom of the jacket. Say, 2 at the sides and 1 at the back.

Hope this helps!

[BEEDEE]

Here's a link to the PC conversion that I have.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=28067

Brian

[Thebes]

One its-bitsy problem:

I have never sewn a stitch in my life.

Any help from you veteran DIYers would be greatly appreciated.

I have not sewn a jacket. But I have done a fair bit of sewing and some alterations. My wife makes many of her own clothes.

I suggest you find someone to help you with the skills you will need. Barring that, get a sewing book from the library and a practice garment from a thrift store. That way you can learn without fear of making a disastrous mistake. Sewing is not hard, but in my experience is a skill that involves hands on learning and occasional confusion.

[Coemgen]

Well, the jacket has finally arrived. Here are some photos.

I am wearing my SWK Saffron Heavyweight, belt and silver buckle, and SWK Brown Fur Daywear Sporran, which is held on by a thin leather belt I got at a thrift store. You will need to imagine the jabot and cuffs.







As you can see, there will be a lot of material that I will cut off, and which I can use (if I so desire) to make epaulettes, and to practice on before i begin the actual modifications.

The jacket itself is made of a thinish polyester and is quite comfortable. A medium-thin long-sleeved shirt with the cuffs and jabot attached ought to be sufficient to keep myself warm (well, that and the MacLaren Box Pleat Great Kilt I'm going to order from Celtic Croft).

Now, a question: When I remove the fabric, should the bottom of the jacket be left at the bottom of where I would wear my belt, or more towards the middle?

Besides removing the cloth from the bottom, I just need to change the buttons, remove some labels and white threads from the outside, add epaulettes, and it will be complete.

[Pleater]

You might need to narrow the jacket down to the waist a little using either darts or altering the side seams in order to make it look right when shorter.

It would take out some of the folds under the belt at the back.

Don't overdo it, leave enough for free movement, but a couple of inches less should improve the look at lettle effort.

[Captain]

I've been thinking about the same thing with this same jacket... now that I see it though it seems almost too thin to look nice... I dunno. Keep us posted, If it turns out nice, I might try my hand one myself.

[Chef]

I think this is the picture you are looking for.



I own the double breasted version of the doublet. My concern would be twofold for the conversion. First as Captain said the material looks quite a bit thinner than the material used for a real doublet so it will get sloppy looking when you wear it quite quickly. You might be able to help this with a good dose of starch when ironing the jacket. I'm not a tailor, just a suggestion.

Second, a doublet is really a fitted garment. I'm sure they sell off-the-rack but I don't know anyone who has done that. Maybe someone here has done it and can give you advice. They tend to be made to measure. While I know you want a DIY project you might want to consider the help of a tailor for part of it. I think you can easily handle the shortening and addition of the belt loops, but you might want to have a tailor help "fit" the jacket for you.

I'm sure that might effect your budget, but in the long run it would probably be worth it.