Steam Punk Costume

Joseph drew it.  Patiently waiting to get to the top of my "To Do List," it finally came to the typical dilemna.  It is for tomorrow.  So, for the first time in many years (I think I have only done this one other time), I pulled an all nighter.  It was not that it was so hard.  Mostly, it was getting the idea from drawing to fabric. 

Joseph - trying on the costume for the first time.

It began long ago.  But it did not have this in mind when it began.  I think we decided it was eight or more years ago when Joseph and Deb cut out this black coat.   This was before any of the three of us were gluten free.  I had my priorities and Joseph had his.  I did not have time to start another project.  Back then, I was working . . . . Anyhow, although the coat was cut out, it never got really started.  It ended up in the pile of Good Intentions.

When Joseph started talking to me about this coat, I had just come across this original project and decided we would see if it could be adapted for this coat.  It was cut out as XS.  Well, Joseph is no longer XS.  He measured a Large.  First Challenge.  Is there enough fabric to make it fit?

And, Second Challenge, they kind of followed the pattern when they cut it out, making a few changes to the sleeves and collar. 

Seam allowances are all down to 1/4 inch.  It looks like it should fit.  It is a much more fitted style than the original pattern.

So, we added a cape-like piece like Shelock Holmes.  He called it something else, but you get the idea.  Of course, with no pattern piece . . . Third Challenge.

Zip off sleeves and gold topstiching.
The cape is filled up to show the sleeves.

 Next, there were zip off sleeves.  I had never done this before but, using separating zippers, a pretty easy step.  And the gold zippers were a nice design line.  On the front tabs, there are three gold stitching lines for design.  I used two threads through the same needle to get a nice dark gold line. 

The buttons were a great find.  We stole them off another coat.  Could not find what we wanted to purchase and it sure was economical to find the right buttons on an unused coat. 

Like any great project, there was a lot of talk back and forth on this one. Challenge Four.  So, do we want buttons on both ends of the tabs?  We had enough buttons to do it.  Yes, The final decision on Wednesday was to do the double breasted look.  By Thursday, I decided that it did not make sense to change what we were doing.  We loved the original look, and this change was not it.  So, back to the drawing board of the original design - And so much better!

You can see that we also cut away the front piece below the waist/belt and added zipper trim.  It actually could zip but for no purpose. 






Then, there was the glove project.  Joseph wanted one fingerless glove and this "leather" wrap that connected with straps.  Challenge Five.  How do you do this???  Trial one glove was too small.  So, how big do you cut a glove pattern out of ribbing to be able to sew it, turn it, and get it on the hand when it is done. 

The sleeves were supposed to have large hook and eyes to connect the straps.  Not for today!  That is hand work that will have to wait.  There is a second glove, waiting to be finished and the second sleeve, too.  They were not needed for the debut of the costume, so they will go on next week's list.

Then there are spats.  Challenge Six.  This was not the most fun, and yet . . . we will probably make more.  This is made from pleather, and has Bachelor Buttons down the side.  Joe put the snaps on in the morning as I was sewing the buttons on the coat. 

As you can see in the pictures above, Joe's part of the costume was more complex than mine as he created the armor for the left arm.

The goggles add just the right touch - almost like a bowtie on the tux shirt. 

 Loved the total look!  My son is very creative.  Now it is time to teach him to sew!!!