Help! Could anyone make a Willy Wonka Coat?

[Blu]

Does anyone accept commissions? Ds (4) has set his heart on a plum velvet coat, like Willy Wonkas, for Christmas. He describes the wonder of this outfit to me on a daily basis. I think I can get hold of the top hat, green trousers, spotty bow-tie and 'nice shiny boots', but the plum velvet coat is defeating me.

Is there anyone who could accept a commission to make such a garment? It wouldn't need to be of real dressmaking standard - it is a dressing up item (though I am confident that Ds will expect to wear it wherever we go), and I expect it could be made of velour or velveteen or something.

Why can't he want a threadbare outgrown jumper, like Charlie Buckets??!

Anyone out there who can help me? I can see that it is quite a fiddly item to make, and realise I will have to pay realistic costs.

Desparate Bump!

Blu, if you have a look in your local paper, you may find a seamstress advertised (assuming you don't get any joy on here). If not - my SIL's mum is a dressmaker, I could perhaps ask if she could do it?

Definitely want to see a pic of your ds dressed up once completed!! Hehehe

sorry to state the obvious, but take it you've tried ebay?

really wish i could make such a thing.

Take a look in the local charity shops - that's where I found all the things needed to create DS1's willy wonka outfit for book week

Hang on, one of the local carnival clubs did this theme last week- I'll go find a link, then if you e-mail (mention my DH, Mark peach of rascals CC) they might have ideas to help (they're all community groups so helpful peeps)

back in a mo....

this is their contact address

and hang on.....

this was their float last week (dark pic though)

PEACHY....where have you been???? Ive been shouting you all week!!!!!

sorry for the highjack

Hijack agian sorry....Peach can you have a look at the challenge thread please

Oh wow, thanks all - that Willy Wonka float is amazing - DS would have gone delirious with excitement! Peachy - is that Bridgwater carnival?

I haven't tried ebay - I'm not v ebay literate - this seems a good moment to start!

Bubblerock - I'm impressed!

That was Ilminster Carnival... Bridgwater carnival /North petherton, Glastonbury, etc etc etc) are in November, Ilminster is a smaller version of, we put the kids float on that because it's Saturdays only, tho we do north petherton which is (I think) the biggest illuminated night time carnival in the world.

WWW.Rascals-cc.org.uk is our club it has the dates all on (I think, it certainly has links to 'proper' sites with the dates on!

Glad that you'd heard of the carnivals anyway.... hardly anybody has, such a shame

look at the price !

bridgewater had a float at the Notting Hill Carnival and they were advertising their bonfire night event there too. Where is North Petherton?

yes, Notting Hill came here too...amazing, we couldn't get there next year but REALLY want to next year (our carnival associations go back about 4 generations, it's an ingrained thing!)

North petherton is near Bridgwater, it's on the Saturday after Bridgwater, M5 Somerset. Glastonbury carnival is also a Saturday and has a fantastic family atmosphere. the reason north petherton is the biggest is simple: as wella stakingt he entire Bridgwater carnival, most of the Ilminster Cisrcuit 9and Wessex circuit) clubs go there too to end their season is style.
It's about 4 hours to watch, and I think is a great one for kids coz it's a straight through route, rarely any hold ups. Well worth a drive.

Some pics below, but to get the size you havre to know they are 100 ft long and have around 30K light bulbs in

the club that won Ilminster last week

first prize in feature

the last float Dh was on before we joined the kids club, won everything- their entry for 2005 secret until November

HIJACK AGAIN...sorry...Peachy I have emailed you and sent a CAT...are you getting your mail???

I need your address so that I can send out your details to your CC's.

Please maile me ASAP.

Thanks.

Jayz, not got any of it! Have cat'd you my student e-mail (can access from home) as may be more reliable.

PeachyClair... I'm so intrigued - it sounds totally fab! I've found this link

It looks like this carnival is on Saturday 5 November, which I can't make I'm disappointed!

peachy can you please email me at
my mn user name at yahoo dot co dot uk
tonight please.....the CAT takes to long

blu, I just bought some dressing up items on ebay from a lady with the ebay ID 'michellelh000'. She makes them herself and was very friendly and forthcoming. Maybe contact her?

Thanks ghoulgrrl - that sounds like a good lead....any alternative to the £89 in Whizz's link has to be!

Kiwibelle, there's Carnivals at Bridgwater, North petherton, Burnham On Sea, Wells, Shepton mallet, Glastonbury and Weston Super Mre so lots to choose from.

Jayz- have e-mailed you as finally got your CAT

I went to the Bridgwater one years and years ago. Fantastic - especially as there seemed to be a tradition of letting off HUGE fireworks in the crowd!!

And there was a big 'Klu Klux Klan' float, and clearly none of the enthusiastic members had any idea what the KKK really were! Willy Wonka MUCH better!

Yeah there were a few dodgy ones in the past, but they stopped all that! the fireworks were Squibs, you hold them on a lance (wearing safety gear) and the club's squib that burns the longest winds. They are, um a bit deadly- i wouldn't do it!