DIY Inverness cape

[kilted2000]

I've heard tell there may be some jackets marketed with just that sort of alteration pre-made. I've not been in the market to look for one and haven't seen any 'in the wild'.

You mean something like this. https://www.usakilts.com/piper-flex-jacket.html

[EagleJCS]

You mean something like this. https://www.usakilts.com/piper-flex-jacket.html

Yup. Pretty much. That one incorporates changes that wouldn't be possible with a pre-existing jacket (adding an inch to the back width, using a wool/lycra blend, etc.), but a similar idea - make it easier to play the pipes without impairing arm/shoulder comfort and movement.

[Panache]

The amazing Bernadette Banner made one and put up a video on its construction.

Might be worth a watch before you start your own project.

https://www.google.com/search?client...id:5lEWuWAh_3I



Cheers

Jamie

[piperalpha]

I did see it. A German sounding fellow made a similar one and they did a video together wearing the clothes they made. There’s some very talented people on YouTube.That’s what got me thinking hey I could probably get some help from my mum and end up an Inverness cape that would keep me warm.

[Verity]

I made an Inverness cape for my husband some years ago, from a 10yd length of Harris tweed I got in a thrift store for $1/yd. I used the synthetic one from his pipe band uniform as a pattern. It worked just fine. I scrounged leather knotted buttons, small for the body and large for the cape.

The only thing I would do differently is use 18th century tailoring methods rather than modern 'bag' construction. It doesn't sit well with the lining being a whole separate component. And it really needs topstitching around the collar, the center front of the body, and the hem of the cape.

If the 18th century method is something you want to know about, let me know and I'll prep a series of pics to post to the thread, so you can see what I mean. I like the way it causes shell and lining to handle as one.

Verity

[piperalpha]

I made an Inverness cape for my husband some years ago, from a 10yd length of Harris tweed I got in a thrift store for $1/yd. I used the synthetic one from his pipe band uniform as a pattern. It worked just fine. I scrounged leather knotted buttons, small for the body and large for the cape.

The only thing I would do differently is use 18th century tailoring methods rather than modern 'bag' construction. It doesn't sit well with the lining being a whole separate component. And it really needs topstitching around the collar, the center front of the body, and the hem of the cape.

If the 18th century method is something you want to know about, let me know and I'll prep a series of pics to post to the thread, so you can see what I mean. I like the way it causes shell and lining to handle as one.

Verity

I would love to see that

[Verity]

Okay, this is my first time posting attachments, so let's hope it works.
And I hope this makes sense to you.

This is how lined garments were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Place shell fabric and lining fabric (shell is dark brown in the pics) of one panel wrong sides together. Place next panel's shell fabric right sides together with first panel's shell fabric, and same next panel's lining fabric right sides together with first panel's lining fabric. Make sure you align the edge where they are supposed to be seamed together. Stitch that seam, omitting the last inch of the seam at each end.

Press panel 2 fabrics towards each other and away from panel 1. Add any subsequent panels in the same way.

Slip stitch the lining fabric panels to each other at the ends of the seams you just did, and slip stitch the shell fabric panels in the same way.

Now press the hem edge of the shell under. Press the hem edge of the lining under, just a smidge deeper than the shell hem.

Stitch the lining to the shell. The needle should go all the way through to the right side of the shell fabric, so the hem functions as a top stitch. This is called prick stitching. Keep the prick-stitches small so they are not obvious from the outside.

Final pic is of a wool waistcoat lined with midweight linen, and sewn with a fairly coarse linen thread.

[Verity]

Sigh. I don't see my pics. What did I do wrong?

[Verity]

Okay, this is my first time posting attachments, so let's hope it works.
And I hope this makes sense to you.

This is how lined garments were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Place shell fabric and lining fabric (shell is dark brown in the pics) of one panel wrong sides together. Place next panel's shell fabric right sides together with first panel's shell fabric, and same next panel's lining fabric right sides together with first panel's lining fabric. Make sure you align the edge where they are supposed to be seamed together. Stitch that seam, omitting the last inch of the seam at each end.

IMG_20230401_151518.jpg

Press panel 2 fabrics towards each other and away from panel 1. Add any subsequent panels in the same way.

IMG_20230401_151946.jpgIMG_20230401_152744.jpg

Slip stitch the lining fabric panels to each other at the ends of the seams you just did, and slip stitch the shell fabric panels in the same way.

IMG_20230401_153008.jpg

Now press the hem edge of the shell under. Press the hem edge of the lining under, just a smidge deeper than the shell hem.

IMG_20230401_153217.jpg

Stitch the lining to the shell. The needle should go all the way through to the right side of the shell fabric, so the hem functions as a top stitch. This is called prick stitching. Keep the prick-stitches small so they are not obvious from the outside.

IMG_20230401_153327.jpgIMG_20230401_153453.jpg

Final pic is of a wool waistcoat lined with midweight linen, and sewn with a fairly coarse linen thread.

IMG_20230401_153854.jpg

And here is the bossfella himself in the Inverness cape IMG_20230401_143000.jpg