Will knit for Steampunk
If you attended the RWA National Conference, you may be aware that Steampunk is in. Still don’t know what it is? It’s already to late to get on the writing bandwagon. Steampunk is Victorian romanticism mixed with futuristic steam powered technology. Steampunk events coming to Seattle:
August 9: The Steampunk band Abney Park presents The Circus at the End of the World
October 23-25: Seattle Steamcon
Now that you have an event you need a costume. This is my favorite part! (Not that I personally own a steampunk-inspired costume. I just like looking at them on the internet.) You can find lots of ready made ones online, but part of the thrust of the movement is a do-it-yourself initiative. Get ready to let your imagination fly and create. Since I’m a knitter, I’ve been perusing the perfect knitted costumes on Ravelry. This is the costume that, if I weren’t writing and traveling and had a lot more time on my hands, I would make myself. You won’t be able to look at the patterns unless you’re a Ravelry member. It’s free. Sign up and friend me.
left: Edwardian Collar by Zehava Jacobs (available for $5 on etsy)
right: Miniature Top Hat by Lara Breese (available for download for $5)
left: Corset Cover by Veronik Avery from “Knitting Classic Style: 35 Modern Designs Inspired by Fashion’s Archives”
right: Lacy Skirt with Bows by Kat Coyle from Greetings from the Knit Cafe
left: The Point About Cuffs by Vicki Square from “Lace Style”
right: Spatz by Zoe Bogner (available as a free ravelry download!)
To complete the outfit I’ll need a long sleeved blouse and a pair of black laced boots, which technically I could make, but as the white rabbit said “no time! no time! no time!”
Another thing to remember is that Steampunk costumes are inspired from a time that never was. You do NOT have to be historically accurate to a certain part of the Victorian Era. Borrow from your favorite time periods throughout history. Mix and match. As the organizer for Seattle Steamcon, Diana Vick, wrote on the website, “Steampunk needs historical accuracy like a dirigible needs a goldfish.”
Tags: Abney Park, knitting steampunk, Seattle Steamcon, Seattle Steampunk, steampunk, steampunk costumes, writing steampunk
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August 11, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I just found out about Steampunk and I love it. I was looking for jewelry on Esty.com this weekend and I found several really cool Steampunk pieces. But I had no idea what it stood for until I read your blog entry. Neat!
October 4, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I posted a link to this on my Facebook page since my friends and I are also Steampunks.
Gary Watts
aka: Professor Wilfred Singleton Fate