Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I will stick with the Simplicity pattern as I know they have it up at the fabric store a stone's throw from my apartment. I am usually one to stick to patterns, but my wife encourages me to step out of the box a bit and I have added my own ideas to things in the past. The fact that my best friend is a professional tailor who is always open to my questions helps, as well.

Thanks again...now I just have to finish the box pleated MacDougall and THEN start and finish the X Marks before I can even think of making anything else. She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed has so ordered.