Artificer...if you find a good source of a bias waistcoat, please share your maker! I know that Lady Chrystel will do them...anybody know of anyone else? I made a 5 button one of 11 oz tartan and it turned out great...or it was turning out great...until I got to the buttonholes and totally messed it up!!! The tartan stretched out of square, the first buttonhole ended up too long, etc...so I scrapped the project. I was very disappointed...the feeling I imagine you had with sporran number 12 when it ripped...all that work, time, and money down the tubes.