Coat of Plates: Patterning
It's been a long time since I've had anything to post here. Almost a year, it looks like. I never got any further on the trunk hose I was working on when last I was sewing, but maybe I'll get back to them later. My current project is new body armor for my wife, which I have been promising her for years. I've decided to make a coat of plates, as it's quite simple construction-wise, protective, and comfortable. I got on a roll last night and drafted the pattern, cut all the fabric, and patterned, cut, filed, and drilled all the plates. While not exactly a period design, I think this should come close enough. It will buckle up the front for convenience, with laces at the side back for adjustment. The outer layer is the orange cotton velveteen I dyed way back when. The inner layer is a turquoise cotton denim. I plan to put the two layers together, topstitch them enough to keep them from sliding around when I'm riveting the plates, and bind the edges in red. I haven't decided if I'm going to get bias tape or just cut a straight strip of something from the fabric stash. I'm leaning toward the latter, just because I'm cheap. The shoulder seams will be butted together, which means I will be able to attach all the plates on flat pieces, then sew up the shoulders and lace the back. The lacing holes will be reinforced with metal rings. I'm going to be using the machine for everything but the lacing holes, which will be done by hand because big grommets are ugly. My main concern so far is that the whole thing will end up being too small once the plates go in. I'm expecting a sizeable gap at the laces, but that will allow for weight fluctuation without running out af adjustment space. I'll be using galvanized roofing nails with washers to attach the plates. The plates themselves are aluminum, and I was pleasantly surprised that I could cut them all from the one intact street sign I had in the garage.
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