Simplicity Steampunk

My favorite of the "Big 3" pattern companies for costumes is Simplicity. I think they consistently have the most on-trend new costumes and have had some great historical costume patterns over the years. I hit up their pattern drawers whenever my local Joanns has a 99 cent sale.

Their recent steampunk patterns caught my eye, particularly Simplicity 2172, because the styling on the cover was great and it seemed like a fun outfit with pieces that could work in various combinations for different styles. I really liked the red taffeta look on the pattern cover, but since the pattern called for a lot of fabric I didn't think I had enough in my stash.

From the Stash:

• 3 yards green suedecloth with embroidery and metal sequins
• 1/2 yard synthetic organza
• 2.5 yards of synthetic brown polyester lining
• Interfacing
• 4 fancy clasps
• 1 yard embroidered rust colored taffeta for bustier (not finished yet)

Bought:

• 4 yards of embroidered brown taffeta (at $3 a yard)

Alexia Tarabotti Steampunk Ensemble

Friday night at Renovation (WorldCon) had a great Steampunk dance lead by the wonderful James and Cathleen Myers who run PEERS.

Having recently read and enjoyed the first 3 books of Gail Carringer's Parasol Protectorate Books, I decided I wanted to dress as the main character Alexia Tarabotti. These books are set in an alternate Victorian London with supernatural characters and some steampunk technology.
In Souless, in my opinion the best of the series, Alexia is described as wearing a green ballgown with a cuirass bodice and carrying a brass handled frilly black parasol with purple satin pansies. She also wears wood and silver hairsticks in her hair.

From the stash:

• silk organza curtain (dyed green, purchased from Goodwill at least 5 years ago)
• 3 yards green polyester lace (White Elephant Sale)
• purple satin ribbon (from The Hobby Shop when I took Candace Kling's class)
• brass sheets and metal findings (Pearl, before it closed)
• Chopsticks (takeout)
• aluminum tape

From the costume stash:

• long black brocade skirt
• black leather and "lizard skin" effect corset

• black polyester organza shirt