One of the things I’ve discovered about steampunk fans is a very strong do-it-yourself ethic. When you go to a steampunk event, the first thing you hear is often, “Oh, I love that! Did you make it yourself?”
My answer is usually, “I’m afraid not.” I’m not particularly crafty and I can’t sew for beans. But I love handcrafted and unique items. The raven pendant I’m wearing here is cast bronze by one of my favorite jewlers, Randy of Knotty Jewels. This gorgeous skirt was made by a very talented man named Peter, of Shoptroll. I suppose, with a pattern and the right tools, I *could* have made a reasonable facsimile myself. Maybe. Probably not.
Honestly, I’d much rather patronize a great local craftsman, doing what he does best, than to make a bad imitation on my own. I’m also a huge fan of thrift shops and I’m not bad at adaptive reuse. But…I do feel a little weird about having NOTHING in my steampunk garb that I made myself. So do I need to take up leather working or welding? Probably not. Maybe I’ll find a craft that suits me and run with it. Or I might just stick to crafting stories and practicing creative shopping. 
Well, my friends who make things — I’m uncrafty, too — say they appreciate having patrons, who allow them to make more. I feel ideologically a bit guilty not being more of a diy-er, and I have gone so far as to hunt up my mom’s old portable sewing machine, though I can’t say I’ve used it . . . yet.
Wonderful post. I love this so much. I don’t feel so alone in my own lack of sewing and craftiness. I’m only crafty with decoupage which I haven’t done in years. When people ask me if I made my dress, I tell them no but I got it on sale for only $__and I just share my skills at bargain and resale store shopping and they always tell me that’s great. Steampunk people are always very nice. I tried my hand at making steampunjk jewelry once but I didn’t really know what I was doing. I may started wearing some of those – strange pieces – at lest I can say I made them but then they aren’t very good. I figure we write steampunk books, that’s making something. I plan to go to the local Steampunk group’s show and tell this Friday. I thought I’d bring one of my books and the Steampunk doll I bought my granddaughter for Christmas. Matel has a steampunk doll, Robecca Seam one of the Monster High Dolls. The group may think I’m kind of weird with my show and tell choices but then again, they’d be right.