I’ve been busy, head buried in deadlines to the point where I’d forgotten what day it was until I came up for air. And lo, and behold, it’s Tuesday!
Now that I’m in editing, vs. writing madly mode, it means I have a chance to get ready for my upcoming steampunk events, namely Steamcon III, which will be in the Seattle area in mid Oct.
Ever since they announced the theme of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea last year, I’ve been dooling ideas for costumes. I’ve bought my yards upon yards of turquoise colored satin, some fabric that has a brass look to it for the “peek-a-boo” porthole I’m planning in the bodice and I’m working on how to make the glittering sheer fabric I have turn out like scales if I overlap it correctly.
But how to do you take a sketch or idea to a finished outfit? I usually start with a pattern and modify (as so many of steampunk ilk often do). I’ll take a bodice from one pattern, the sleeves from another, mish mash the skirt out of different bits depending on the effect. And, in the case of creating a fish-tail fan train, I might just have to make a pattern bit myself out of brown wrapping paper folded and messed with until it does what I think it should.
But if that seems overwhelming to you, do not dispair! Steampunk is finding it’s way into the mainstream pattern manufacturers. If you’ve been interested in creating your own steampunk-worthy clothing Simplicity now offers several patterns that are fantastic as a base (or to try all by themselves just as they are if this is your first run around sewing). I’ve acutally already bought both myself!
The first pattern has a fantastic jacket that’s bolero length in the front but has a wide, sweeping skirt-worthy train to the back of it. It also has a sort of mini-bustle pattern in it (perfect if you want to make two or three for different outfits). I also especially liked the crimped look to the hemline on the skirt. (may have to look at that more closely for creating the fish-tail in my planned project.)
The second pattern has a button shirt-waist with long sleeves, a skirt with nice ruffle detailing at the bottom and a kind of pseudo bustle that can be added to the skirt.
If you are into western steampunk, I’ve found this pattern to be a fantastic base for doing all kinds of things! The bustle on it is very useful and extremely simple to create.
Since I’m going to be starting my sewing projects shortly, I’ll start posting progress of the projects here on Tuesdays.
Until then, what kind of thing would you consider making for your next outfit?
I’m so excited that there are patterns for Steampunk outfits. I usually wear seperates — long skirt, ruffled button down shirt, leather cuffs, wide laced belt, hat (jaunty hat), and then loads of accessories. Can’t wait to look at these patterns more closely. Thanks!
And it looks like Butterick has a new one out, too, that could be adapted and/or embellished pretty easily:
http://butterick.mccall.com/b5696-products-14768.php?page_id=385