Fantastical and LARP Costuming 2015-2018: Steampunk Ensemble

March 2017 Steampunk Ensemble: After the arrival of Young Sir, the entire costume collection fit a little bit... differently. I still had one corset that fit alright nearly two years after the baby, so I set to work on an 1880s inspired Steampunk suit for a LARP event, and for vending at Steampunk events.

The jacket is Truly Victorian's Jacket Bodice pattern (TV428), and the fabric is a polyester Fashion Poly Spandex Suiting Fabric in brown and navy.  The skirt is the tried and true Truly Victorian TV261 Four Gore Underskirt

 The mask was made by Forbidden Identity.  I perched it on top of a brown derby hat.

In working on this piece, I *gasp* actually followed the fitting instructions in the pattern before cutting out my pieces, and lo and behold, it worked.  I only had to take it in in one small spot at the waist.

I wore it again to vend at Roseland Cottage's Victorian Fair in September, 2017.  The lovely photo in front of the pink house was taken by photographer, Amanda Manso from A. J. shaw Studios in Eastford, CT.

If I had been planning ahead, and not just thinking "oooh, the pretty fabric," I would have gone with natural fibers.  While exactly the professorial daywear vibe I was going for, it is brutal outside in the sun.  This one may have to be relegated to indoor use only.

In other news, the TV 1887 Imperial Tournure is everything I ever wanted in a lobster tail bustle and more.  I of course, had to make mine in deep red cotton twill.

September, 2017: Vending at the "Steam Rollin' " Steampunk themed Imagine Main St. Event in Manchester, CT.  This was the second trip out for this ensemble, and my first time actually selling stuff I made in person without Ian and Royal Blue Traders.

I did alright selling fabric flower fascinators, feather cockades, and other accessories.

Vending at the Victorian Fair at Roseland Cottage September 2017

I also had occasion at Roseland Cottage to do a quick pencil portrait of my fellow sutler, Bear.  I've been working on a second teacher certification in art - yet another explanation for my lengthy absence from costume blogging.

Steampunk Mermaid Skirt

It began with a simple pencil skirt pattern that I cut a triangle shape out of the back, just under the curve of the booty.  Then followed a 9-inch ruffle.  I despise zippers with a passion, so I planned to use a button back closure.

Of course, somewhere around the time I was stitching the last bit of ruffle into place, I realized I should have put the wider, longer ruffle on first.

I went back and corrected this issue.  Heavy upholstery tassel trim will hide the rough edges on the ruffle.

The next issue to tackle was the lining.  I ended up making a mini pencil skirt out of the same fabric and using it as an extra wide waistband on the inside.  I figured it was easier than trying to do facings on the buttonholes.

This got tacked on the inside, and buttons fudged onto it.  This skirt is an exercise in approximations and guess work. I knocked it together in about 24 hours.

Tentacles in New Orleans

The finished product! Fancy dyed lace, ruffles, sleeves on the bodice. Packing the stuffed tentacles into a suitcase was less than awesome. It took up half the space. The Lovecraftian masquerade costume was a big hit.

If at first you don't succeed...

...dye, dye again. I know. I know. It's bad, but I couldn't resist. I hunted everywhere on the internet for hunter green venise lace and other trims. I found absolutely nothing, so I turned to dye. My first attempt on a bit of ivory venise lace came out very dark. I used 2 tablespoons of Rit's "dark green" dye, and a tablespoon of salt in very hot water for about 45 minutes. I think with some teal and less cooking time it would be a fine match to my fabric. The second go around I cooked for a lot less time, used 1/2 teaspoon less dye, and cooked for a a quarter of the time. The result was much paler. I guess I'll have to throw it in again.

I tried dyeing a small piece of one of my favorite tassel trims from JoAnn's in white. It took the dye beautifully, except for the threads it was bound together with. Those were still white while the trim itself was almost black. I tried again with an old scrap of sage green, and it took the dye much better.

I knew this would be a process of trial and error, and I hope it yields gorgeous results.

Tentacles Progress

I added copious amounts of bullion fringe to the pannier overskirt as well as the bodice. I think it adds texture and a level of interest that it lacked before. Finding trim in hunter green has been difficult. I may end up experimenting with dye. I'm going to try it with some venise lace I had lying around and a bottle of Rit from JoAnn's.

The bag is for my hotel key card, wallet and cell phone. The little green jeweled embellishments I took from a pair of fancy flip flops that I destroyed through wear a few years ago. Something told me I would find a project for them.

Tentacle Hat with Gator Claws

In Louisiana last year, I acquired a few gator claw keychains that I intended to make hat decorations out of. I took apart the hat from the Ruby 1880s Ensemble that got taken apart and re-invented for this costume. The gator claws are delightfully creepy. I hot glued a pin back to one of them, along with a shank button and small cloak clasp in brass. I may have to attach matching buttons to the bodice now that I see the color combination.

Click the picture to take you to my actual website, and you will find a fully clickable image map with links to full size high resolution photos.

Tentacles Pannier Overskirt

Penelope had some more green taffeta lying around from a nearly 5 year old early attempt at late bustle. I cut it up and tried to approximate the Truly Victorian 1880 Pannier Overskirt pattern as best I could. I didn't have nearly enough fabric, but what came out was pretty darned close. I'm not 100% happy with it, but I have a few ideas. The pattern calls for a line of gathering where I just matched two dots. I may un-do it and go a bit closer to what the pattern dictates. Any thoughts?

Update Saturday July 2, 2011. I re-did the overskirt to look more like what the pattern actually calls for, and I must say I am happy with the side view, but not the back entirely. I think I may have to add that balloon effect and more than a little green 3-inch bullion trim to weigh it down.

Tentacles! - Revisited.

I had a little bit more of the dark green acetate taffeta lying around, and I thought the Tentacles looked a little bare and in need of embellishment. Step one was a gathered ruffle about 7 inches wide before hemming. I used three lines of stitching for a nice tight gather, and zigzag stitched it to the 1878 fantail skirt, hanging down about two inches lower than the hem. The skirt was just a bit too short upon examination of last year's Halloween pictures.

I'm looking out for some dark green venise lace about 3 or 4 inches wide. So far, all I found was an esty seller who seemed to be all out. I wonder if I buy just plain white, some bridal shop can dye it for me. I might also need some velvet ribbon or an inch-wide row of ruching out of the same taffeta to hide the edge of the ruffle. To me, Victorian-inspired Lovecraftian creature costumes look better with heavy embellishment.

Steampunk Tea at the Mark Twain House

Back on October 30, I attended a Steampunk Tea at the Mark Twain House. Janel was kind enough to snap a few pictures for me, and I thought I would share. Click the image to see a few more over at my main website.

Tentacle Dress, at long last

Not the greatest pictures in the world, and not quite as alien sea creature as I originally intended, but still a bizarre little twist on the 1870s. I ended up using Norwegian clasps on the front because I didn't have a machine I could use to put buttonholes in it. I think it worked. There are cable ties stiffening the center front.

A Steampunk Suit

January 2010

Fabric: Synthetic brown and gold Sari bought off e-bay
Pattern: Based on TV four-gore skirt pattern, modified to be worn without a bustle, and a doublet-esque bodice draped by me.

I am still not entirely sure where I was going with this or what I was doing, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. At one point I had an idea to go to a rennaissance faire dressed as a neo-victorian time traveller who was aiming for the actual renaissance and missed. Call it boredom, call it distraction - but certainly don't call it period.