Our 10th Doctor suit tutorials are up and running!
We've uploaded both the brown and blue suit tutorials to our 10th Doctor suit blog, where you can read through the tutorial online as an instructional blog and/or download a PDF.
Those of you who don't know much about tailoring needn't worry; our tutorials are extremely thorough, and each tutorial has about 400 photos and diagrams as we walk you through every step of the process! Plus, we've recommended several books for reference and additional reading.
Photo by Thomas Dunn
We've also expanded our suit analyses a bit, with a few additional notes and examples here and there, and an examination of a pair of authentic GAP trousers, so be sure to give it another read-through!
Check out our 10th Doctor suit tutorial on our 10th Doctor suit blog:
It includes both the jacket AND trousers in sizes 34-50 and can be used to make both the brown and blue suits!
This pattern has been in the works for a long time, and we're excited to finally release it!
We spent over a year researching, analyzing, experimenting, drafting, and putting this pattern together (plus several weeks on the tutorials). Even just the research involved sifting through an average of 3,000 screencaps per episode! All so we could make sure our replica suit was as accurate in its construction as possible, and so yours could be, too.
You can also order the pattern from our Etsy shop, if you prefer:
Exciting news! Our 10th Doctor suit sewing pattern is now available for pre-order at a 10% discount! It includes both the jacket AND trousers in sizes 34-50 and can be used to make both the brown and blue suits!
Shipping will begin on Tuesday, July 26, and our in-depth sewing tutorials are coming soon!
We're also in the process of expanding our analyses slightly with some new findings and resources!
Here are some photos of the finished suits we made with this pattern:
We'll be sharing some photos of me (Alex) modeling the blue suit over the next few days, as well, so stay tuned!
The trousers turned out really well, if I say so myself:
The jacket's been slow going because I've been sort of burned out with all this tailoring lately and have had lots of other things clamoring for my attention, but it's been going well nevertheless!
I'm pleased with the roll and drape of the lapels; I pulled my padstitches a bit tighter this time and tried a different pressing/steaming technique.
Here's the jacket with the sleeves (plus sleeve heads and shoulder pads) and undercollar attached.
As with the brown suit, here's a peek at the front facing/lining assembly:
(The lining is actually more of a medieval or royal blue, but the flash makes it look more purple-y in photos.)
Aaaaand here's the jacket basically finished, except for the buttons/buttonholes and a good pressing! Also, check out how radically different Magnoli's replica fabric looks with and without flash:
Sewing pattern and tutorial coming VERY soon!
In the mean time, read all about 10's suits on our 10th Doctor suit analysis/tutorial blog:
Kate and I attended TimeGate about a week and a half ago, where I got to debut my finished 10th Doctor suit, and I was on four different panels!
We met lots of other cosplayers, which is always fun!
Right off the bat, while waiting in line for our tickets, I met this lad, who had a spoon he insisted needed to be more sonic.
I met a Lady 11, which was cool.
I met these handsome fellows while riding in the elevator.
Addressing each other ("Doctor," "Doctor," "Captain," "Doctor," etc.) back and forth until we were all finished reminded me of this amusing scene from Stargate: Atlantis:
There was a Nu-Who costuming panel, which naturally attracted lots of cosplayers.
I met this lovely couple, obviously cosplaying "The Idiot's Lantern" - and I have to give this guy props for his costume! From the natural-white shoes to the ThinkGeek sonic screwdriver, from the replica tie to the hair, he did it right!
I also met an awesome Missy cosplayer ... who naturally caught Captain Jack's attention ...
Doctor, Donna, friends!
I got to see my first "real-life" R2-D2, which was exciting! It was truly a splendid experience.
Dogs are truly a man's (or Time Lord's) best friend.
On Saturday, I barely made it in time for Paul McGann's first Q&A, which was, unsurprisingly, both entertaining and informative. (Kate wasn't with me on Saturday, and darting in at the last minute, I sat near the back and could only snap a lousy photo with my phone ...)
One of the amusing stories he told was how it was actually during the filming of The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot that he got the call about returning in "The Night of the Doctor" - talk about irony!
Later that afternoon, I was one of several panelists on a Star Trek 50th anniversary panel, which was fun. There was a nice turnout and we talked about all things Trek.
Although most of the audience favored TOS, four of the five panelists mentioned Deep Space Nine as our favorite Trek show, which was awesome! (I don't know about the fifth; he arrived after we'd already polled.)
I saw this awesome car out in the parking lot, and I'll let you guess what music it was playing!
I was on another panel that night, a 10-year retrospective look at season ("series") 2 of Doctor Who. It was late that night and not many people showed up, but it was a fun panel nevertheless. I shared the panel with Bill Wilson of the Coal Hill Teacher's Lounge podcast, who recorded it all, so hopefully you'll be able to listen to it soon.
Sunday was my big day!
First thing on Sunday morning was my 10th Doctor suit panel, which you can watch on YouTube:
Immediately following my panel was another panel on general Nu-Who costuming, which I shared with several other panelists, including one seriously badass U.N.I.T. soldier.
I met Moxie Ann Magnus, and she was a hoot!
I also got to get my picture taken with the last human being alive ...
Sunday afternoon, I attended another Paul McGann Q&A (and got a good seat this time!).
When it came time for audience questions, I was first in line!
I noted that the (Eighth) Doctor's costume was different in "The Night of the Doctor" than it was in the TV movie (duh) and asked how much creative input he had in the new costume, how much of it was others', and generally how the decisions were made.
He said that his involvement with the whole project was quite short - only a day of filming, and he was on his way! He basically showed up and the costume was ready for him, and ready for filming.
He also said that he preferred that costume to the TV movie costume, because it felt more like actual clothes a person might wear, and because many of the individual components of the costume were military garments from throughout history and it felt like something one could wear into battle.
And finally, he jokingly pointed out that he was very glad there wasn't a wig waiting for him this time.
As my favorite (half) Vulcan would say, "Fascinating ..."
Immediately after the Paul McGann Q&A was my friend Michael Cowart's panel on the Eighth Doctor's costumes.
It was a wonderful presentation. Michael's a brilliant man and an Eighth Doctor guru; he has literally spent years researching and perfecting his Eighth Doctor costume project(s)!
He's also the guy who first inspired me to take my sewing skills to the next level and encouraged me to learn about tailoring, and it's always a treat to get to see him.
Toward the end of the day, I also met this Time Lady:
At the con was this absolutely fantastic TARDIS, provided by Christopher Marney, Mad Man with a Workshop, and Kate grabbed some photos of me in my 10 suit.
I must say, too, that standing in the doorway of a fully lit, thrumming, throbbing TARDIS dressed as the Doctor is a thrilling, uplifting experience. Just standing there, relaxing, and letting my imagination run wild was one of the highlights of the trip for me!
Naturally, my lovely lady and I got a couple pictures together with the TARDIS, too.
Although many of the con attendees were teens and young adults, I was surprised to find that most of the costumes and cosplayers seemed to be from classic Who - a welcome surprise, sure, but a surprise nevertheless! It's nice to know that classic Who is still enjoyed by today's youth who want to express their enthusiasm and fandom.
Naturally, there were cosplays for nearly every Doctor, although the First, Fifth, and Ninth seemed to be the least popular at this event, and I only saw a couple Second and Sixth Doctors. I saw a handful of Fourth Doctors, some of them fantastic. There were a few other Tenth Doctors in addition to myself, but the most popular cosplays appeared to be the Seventh, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors.
12 fandom isn't that surprising, considering he's the current Doctor, and all the 11 cosplayers made me happy (since 11's my Doctor!). I found all the 7 cosplayers pretty surprising, though, as I didn't realize he had as big of a fan base as he did. (This was my first Who-themed con.)
Overall it was a fun weekend, both as a panelist and as an attendee!
I finished my 10th Doctor brown suit just in the nick of time for TimeGate!
I'm very happy with how it turned out, overall.
Kate grabbed some photos of me out in the street just so we'd have some of the finished suit in pristine condition before the con.
I like these two photos, although I'm not sure why (and I accidentally buttoned all four buttons - something of a faux-pas for a 10 costume!):
We also took some with the "swirly tie," which I'm very happy with, except for the fact that 10 never wore this color royal/medieval blue shirt - whoops!
And lastly, here's a photo of me at the con, with the awesome TARDIS provided by Christopher Marney, Mad Man with a Workshop:
Sewing pattern and tutorial coming soon, as well as photos from TimeGate!