Overcoat Pattern?

[galaxyexplorer42]

Does anyone have a pattern for an overcoat like the one that the Spectre Toys Barnabas Collins comes with? Or anything like it? I'm trying to make Sherlock Holmes & Watson customs. I have some pretty cool fabric to make Holmes' overcoat and hat. I'm just holding the fabric up against Barnabas Collins' overcoat, eyeballing it, marking the fabric and cutting it. But if someone knows where I can get a pattern or a similar pattern to make the overcoat/cape combination, it'd probably help a lot. I'm halfway done with my first attempt. I'm OK with how its turning out, but if I had a pattern, it'd probably turn out a bunch better. I have plenty more fabric so I'm gonna make at least another one, and hopefully with a pattern. Thanks
-Will

[thunderbolt]

you have a pattern worked out for the hat? I would love to do a Detective CHimp custom.

[galaxyexplorer42]

I don't have a pattern for any of it. I'm gonna wing it on the hat. With the coat, at least I can put down Barnabas' coat onto the fabric and outline the fabric with a marker before I cut the new fabric. That's what I've been doing... I have no idea who detective chimp is...

[jessica]

Best way to make a pattern is to plop your naked figure on a paper towel and trace around it. Add 1/8 or more to that tracing, and those will be your cut lines. It may take a few tries, but that's the best way to do it. If you don't want to mess up your fabric, practice with some fabric that has the same weight/weave as the one you want to use. If the coat is still too big, turn your coat inside out, and put it on your figure and pin it closer to the body to get a better fit. Or, do what you have been doing...trace the outline of the coat and cut the new fabric...just make sure you leave extra fabric so that there is enough fabric to make a proper seam.

[galaxyexplorer42]

Thanks Jessica. Here's my progress so far. I've got the cape and sleeves done, with the seams sewn, and i'm happy with it so far. The sleeves look smaller (& better) when turned inside out, like they will be when worn by the figure.


As you can see, there's some curvature in the sleeves to the coat where the arms meet the torso, in the underarm/shoulder area.


The way i am tracing Barnabas' coat is fine, and its turning out good enough. But I used to work at a clothing manufacturer, and I always had the luxury of patterns to use when cutting fabric. But that was full size patterns & clothes. I was just hoping that someone knew about a website that had patterns for doll cloths, or had patterns themselves that I could see. Thanks again-
-Will

[johnmiic]

How about a Trenchcoat?

Mego Madhouse

[jessica]

Many of the patterns out there are Barbie scale I think...so it's easier to just make your own, because not only do you have to shorten the length, you also have to adjust the curvatures of the areas like the arms, as you had mentioned. And since you already have worked first hand with the manufacture of clothing, all of that translates into 1:9 scale.

[galaxyexplorer42]

John- Thanks. I didn't know about the Mego Madhouse. I have plenty of fabric, so I will incorporate that pattern into the next one I do. It's probably gonna take me a few tries to get to where I'm comfortable making these. I've done some kitbashes before, and painted a few heads, but this is my first coat.
Jessica- got your message- and sent you one back. Thanks a bunch for the tips! I should have messaged you before I started! It would have saved me some struggle...

[jessica]

I didn't know about the Mego Madhouse! Very cool...

[magyar1964]

I think the patterns at Mego Madhouse are the same as the ones on the Museum site in the Customego section http://www.megomuseum.com/custom/patterns.shtml