Steampunk Coat

I spent $140 at Joann's, man!  I bought lining and taffeta at 5 yards each, I bought white fabric for a shirt, a cheap pattern, lacing, and that's about it, all fit in one bag.  Okay, so I've been working on this coat for 4 days.  I got to the part where you put the coat and lining together and I didn't understand one of the steps at all.  I've been making clothes for like 20 years, I had my neighbor come over, and she didn't understand either so I did it my way.  The other thing that was wrong is the designer wanted me to leave an opening in the bottom of the curved section for turning.  I took out a seam in the lining and stitched it back in place.
THEN~~~~  I'm almost done and I put the sleeves on.  My arms won't go in, I was so pissed off!!  I don't enough fabric to redo the sleeves, either.  I did extend the front piece by an inch on each side where it buttons but I never thought about the sleeves.  I had to take them off which includes lining and caps, did I mention the whole thing is BLACK?  Talk about a pain, I had to sit and have a light right over it so I could even see, and I had topstitched it all into place including the lace on the wrists.  I had to completely remake the caps because they didn't survive.  I cut the armhole out another inch down, I redid the caps and got all back into place but the sleeves and I did a thin stitch around the armholes to hold all in place while it waits.
I ordered stretchy lace from Amazon which will be here tomorrow.  I wasn't driving the 35 miles back to Joann's, I still have a week and a  half before I need it done.  While I wait, I did the button holes and got the button sewed on, and all of them are upside down, they are old buttons with anchors on them, they are now parasols.  I then did a fancy stitch on the front of the pocket flaps in red and I liked it so well that I went around the whole outside of the edging with it.  Now to wait for the stretchy elastic.  I think it will look good and I won't have to worry about it being too tight.