Eighth Doctor - Tumblr Posts

And… it’s done!

Took just over a week and the seam ripper got a workout but the Dark Eyes coat mark II is finished:

I had to make a few more adjustments/corrections as I went along:

The day after I set in the sleeves I noticed that the right shoulder dart was slightly too far forwards, which meant the sleeve head and shoulder pad had to come out so I could unpick the top of the seam and move it to the right place, something that helpfully removed the one little tuck I’d ended up with at the same time. Unpicking resulted in the fabric tearing so I had to take some extra on the seam when I restitched it, but this actually hid some of the holes from where I’d taken out the topstitching the day before which was a plus so I won’t complain! I also took the sleeves up by 3/4 of an inch when they proved too long even for someone with gibbon arms, an adjustment I must have made before but didn’t make a note of on the pattern.

Because I’m never satisfied I changed the collar again, rounding the ends slightly as it still looked too pointed. It was too high as well but I think I may have taken a bit too much off when I cut it down; not much I can do about it now. After I’d attached everything and topstitched I realised that it wasn’t meeting the lapel on the left side by about a centimetre which meant yet more unpicking to put it right. The edges aren’t sitting completely flat, something that’s annoying but that’s my fault for not rolling them over far enough when doing the topstitching.

The front edges were sticking out at an angle towards the bottom so I took some more off the seam to level them out.

When I made my first version, not knowing what the lining looked like I used up some ladybird satin I had left from a coat I’d made a few weeks before but this time I went for plain navy lining fabric which I think is probably more accurate (I could be wrong, of course; for all I know Paul’s hiding a funky lining in there. I know I would!):

I thought I’d put some photos of the two versions side by side so you can see the differences. The major changes were: returning the back side panels and creating the belt; shortening and shaping the collar; adding the pocket detail and the false bound holes behind the second row of buttons; topstitching round all eight buttonholes. I also felt when wearing it that the first coat was too short so I increased the length by a couple of inches. With hindsight I wish I’d narrowed the lapels a bit as they’re a lot wider than the collar but by the time I noticed it was too late to change as I’d already made the bound buttonholes. Never mind!

For comparison, old coat on the left, new on the right:

Overall, I’m really pleased with the way it’s turned out. It looks much more like the original, which is what I wanted, and though there may be tweaks I’d make if I was able I always feel that way; I’m never 100% happy with anything I make as I can always see room for improvement.

Obligatory dodgy mirror selfies to finish; I’ll try and get some better pics if I manage to wear it out somewhere in the next few weeks. You’ll probably have noticed that my version buttons up the opposite way round and that’s because - apart from the frock coat where it didn’t matter - I’ve never worked with mens’ patterns and changing the crossover would just confuse me. The shirt and waistcoat for my NotD cosplay both button this way and I wear my watch chain on the other side as well; I think that’s probably partly what Paul was referring to when he said upon seeing me in May that it was like looking in a mirror!

Photos from The Stuff of Legend Live final dress rehearsal from Steven Ricks on Instagram.

A couple of screengrabs from the Instagram video.

For posterity and everyone who doesn’t have an Instagram because I haven’t seen this on here yet :]

Doom Coalition crew, but make them villains!

Bliss?

Can anyone who's into Big Finish tell me what happened to Bliss? Did I miss a Thing somewhere, or did she just vanish after the Davros one?

There’s video, folks…

A couple of gorgeous photos of Paul from last weekend from the official DW Twitter.

Also I will never stop being normal about Them.

Came up with this while trying to work out where the doctor should fit in emotionally with a fic wip. Basically, Helen can reflect on and accept her emotions, but struggles to act on them (see: Connections), Liv can reflect on and act on her emotions, but otherwise struggles to accept them (see: Absent Friends, Escape from Kaldor), and the Doctor can accept and act on his emotions, but really struggles when he has to reflect on them (see: Stranded).

They all balance each other out quite well methinks.

Eighth Doctor out there collecting wlw companions like some kind of sticker book and honestly? Good for him!

Can you explain BF The Next Life to me cos I got lost?

Sorry, I was pretty fuzzy by that point in the story myself! I've listened to it many times, but mainly just to enjoy all the great actors involved. I've never felt that I missed out on anything by failing to completely grasp The Next Life. It's meant to be more than a bit dreamscape-y.

Overly-cautious cut for Big Finish main range sp*ilers:

Note the story's C'rizz bits (for reasons) and move on, is my advice. The Eight and Charley character arcs get left behind on the crucible world more or less as if it never happened, along with the whole "the infected Doctor can never return to our universe or Romana will have to destroy him" Zagreus one, with the storyline and character arcs taking a screeching 180 degree turn at the very start of Terror Firma. I still have the skid marks burned into my brain 20 years later. (Ow.)

the night of the doctor minisode

The Doctor and Charley, The Stuff of Legend Live.

And more! (x) (x)

Literally obsessed with "Withnail and I" and that cute ass of Paul Mcgann ☠️

Wooo I can also post my animations here :D

OH ALSO THIS IS NOT A LOOP THERE’S MORE DOCTOR WHO AFTER THE INTRO

but I love you

[ID: A detailed digital painting of the Eighth Doctor and Charley Pollard in the audio Scherzo, drawing against a stark white background. The Doctor is wearing a green coat over a vest and tan pants, Charley is wearing a striped long-sleeved shirt under dark overalls. They are holding hands, standing apart, and looking at eachother with worry. End ID.]

Or not.