But a handshake deal used to be all you needed... overdoing the paperwork can kill the good faith in a deal.

Whole motor blew? That's insane.

Oh man, that line about the layers not lying flat when flipped is the realest thing. I've been there, fighting with what feels like fabric that's actively fighting back. What finally worked for me on a similar project was using those small binder clips from an office supply store instead of pins when basting the layers together. Pins just let things shift too much, but the clips hold everything in a death grip so you can sew it without the bottom layer crawling away. It sounds stupid but it was a total game changer. That feeling when it finally works and both sides look good is the best, like you just solved a puzzle. Congrats on pushing through, that's a huge win.