Black Silk Cravat

Since I am making myself an Inverness Cape, I thought it only proper to make myself a black silk cravat to go with it.

Looking at the ones Jon Pertwee wore, I can see the pattern is near identical to the one I use for my Six Cravats  (see left), so I am going to use this as my starting point.


I have looked around for some silk to use, and have chosen some Sapphire Satin. This is thicker than lining fabric, and it has a nice sheen to it  (see below).

First thing I need to do is draw a block for it. This will be the finished cut size of the cravat, and for the moment, all I need is one end.

The science of Who

I was having a little rummage around the net today, and came across some pictures that sparked a memory for me, long since hidden away.

Many, many years ago – 1972 to be precise, there was an exhibition of props and costumes at the Science Museum in London.
I don’t know for a fact, but I would have said this was quite possibly the first ever large public exhibition of Doctor Who props staged.

Now, I have particular memory of this because it was also the first time ever I got to see any of the monsters and props up-close, having only ever seen them on the tv.
I had a recollection that it was to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the programme (in 1973) but I guess my mind has good fuzzed since then.

From what I recall, the entrance to the exhibition was through the TARDIS doors, and you then went on a winding path through the exhibition, seeing Daleks, Sea Devils, Draconians and the like as you went (see left).

I can remember seeing the TARDIS console, which was awesome to view at close quarters (see right).

One thing I did see, but never understood, was something relating to the effect on The Daemons. It was a foot cubed glass box, inside which was a miniature UNIT jeep, and something that showed how the heat barrier effect was achieved. I couldn’t work it out at the time, and looking back still can’t!

Inverness Cape -construction is in the detail

Work has progressed really well with my Inverness Cape, and I now have all the individual parts made, ready for assembly.

The cape is made from essentially three pieces which are mirrored for left and right.

They are:

Front panels – with armhole allowance and outer pockets (see above, left)

Back panels – with bottom third split back (see above, right)

Wings – with faced leading edge (see right)

Post Office Tower destroyed by aliens!

Well, not actually destroyed as such, or even remotely damaged – but I just had to share these pictures with you.

click picture to enlarge

I was working in the West End today and was walking towards where the Post Office Tower (known these days as the BT Tower, but I prefer the original name) is. It was shrouded in mist and the upper half was totally obscured.

I had to take a quick picture.

As it happened, at lunchtime I passed the exact same spot, and had to take another AFTER pic.
Don’t know how I managed it, but there’s a taxi on the same spot in the road in both pics!

For those who don’t rememeber,
the (at the time recently finished) Post Office Tower appeared in the 1966 William Hartnell story The War Machines.

When Bob Mitsch was in London we took it in as part of our tour, though I didn’t post a picture in the write-up,
Remembrance Of The Locations.

Inverness Cape - A fresh start

Hum.
Well, I admitted defeat on my first attempt at making my Inverness Cape, having tried to make it from some wholly unsuitable fabric. These things happen from time to time.

It did throw my confidence and flow in getting it done though, so it’s been a good ten months before I’ve picked it up again.

My plan now is to make one of the other, and more commonly seen Inverness Capes worn by Jon Pertwee (see left).

This time round I am using a much better set of fabrics: a black gaberdine; and a red satin lining (see right) and I’m fired up to get it done – and done right!