All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 4

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations Part 4

An easy blog this week if a bit wordy.

Add Glue

 

If you remember I said previously that when putting on the base layer a lot of Glue residue had come through. I have managed to cover most of it with the Cogs.

However there was still a considerable amount on the Brim. Therefore I am going to cover it with Ribbon. So I added Glue to the Brim bit by bit.

Cut and Curve

 

Adding the Ribbon was not as simple as it seems. Straight Lines have a tendency not to like going around Curves. The part of the Ribbon on top of the Brim was Fine but I have to Cut and Curve the Underneath bit by bit.

Add Badge

 

Now I do have to confess that I did not make the Badge. I’m not that clever! It was something that I got off my friend Laura.

I wanted to change the Shape of the Hat which isn’t an easy thing to do without making a mess of it. I wanted it to look more like a Ladies Riding Hat of Yesteryear. I had the idea of Sewing the Brim to one Side (after Laura had talked me out of both sides saying Steampunk is not symmetrical).

I bent up the Brim, held it and put through a few tacking stitches to hold it in place. I then positioned the Badge and Sewed that in Place. A little bit of Trimming on the Ribbon and it was all done.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Mad Hatter Preparations

Why do I do these things to myself? The Belt was pretty easy compared to what I have to do next.

Steampunk Hat Base

 

I had several Ideas regarding how to make the Hat including using card and Foam. However I decided it was far too much to accomplish in the given time just to get the Base.

I therefore went on a Hat Hunting expedition and found what apparently is called a Pork Pie Hat for £1 in a charity shop.

Pool of Glue

 

Once again I raided Laura’s for both decorations and advice. The latter I promptly ignored. She thought the material was fine as it was saying it looked like leather even though it was plastic she made me laugh by calling it ‘Pleather’.

However I couldn’t abide it as it was so remembering she said that Steampunk was an expression of oneself I decided that I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t cover it. Sorry Laura but you cannot alter a habit of 40 years that easily.

Cotton Cover

So after filling the Top part of the Hat with Glue I covered it with Black Cotton material and smoothed it down. I wanted to keep the Top Shape if I could.

Glue Beneath

 

It took a while for the Top to dry but once it had I spread the rest of the Hat with Glue. I then Covered it as best I could.

Fold Under

 

When selecting the material I cut a large piece so there would be enough to Fold Under the Hat.

Beneath Covered

 

The Front of the Hat was now Covered.

Wrap around

In order to do the Sides of the Hat I had to pull the material taut and do a little bit of Folding. I cut off the Excess and smoothed it down. I now had a fully Covered Hat Base.

All Steam Ahead 2021 – Belt Up Part 1

 All Steam Ahead 2021 – Belt Up Part 1

This is following on from my Out of Zone Series. I had my Mask and Jewellery but now I came up with another daft last minute idea. – A Belt and Hat.

I would like to point out to any Purists that this is not supposed to be Steam Punk but like my previous efforts it is Steam Punk Esque

Brown Belt

 

First I needed a Belt that I could Embellish. My boyfriend had bought a pair of jeans but he didn’t like the Belt. So hey presto one Belt ready to be Upcycled.

Permanent Marker

 

There was a slight snag. This Belt was Brown and I needed it to be Black. Using a Tip I got from my friend Laura I decided to colour it in using a Permanent Black Marker Pen.

I started Colouring the Belt. It was coming up pretty good. I then realised that doing the Front was not enough because when Fastened the Belt would Dangle and show the Back.

Black Belt

 

It took several Colourings until I was satisfied that the Belt was completely Covered both Back and Front. I nearly forgot to do the Buckle area.

One tip when doing this sort of thing. Make sure that you put it on some paper or cardboard before Colouring in. Otherwise you will have to try and shift Permanent Marker off your surfaces.

Out of Zone Accessories 2020 Part 4

Out of Zone Accessories 2020 Part 4

I am on the last stretch of my Accessories. I am going to make a Bracelet.

Pocket Chain

 

I have one Pocket Chain left. I linked it together to form the basis of my Bracelet.

Dirty Washer

I wanted a good selection of items to put on my Bracelet as Charms. I happened upon this one in the street.

Clean Washer

After a spot of scrubbing the Washer came up much cleaner. This is going to be the Centre Piece of the Bracelet.

Looped through Washer

 

I took a length of Copper Wire and Folded it and placed the Loop through the Washer.

Pull through Washer

 

I pulled the Wire through the Loop until it was tight.

1^st Washer Tied

 

 

Once the Washer was secure I Threaded the two Wires through the Bracelet. I Trimmed the Length and Wound the Wire back on itself to secure it.

I placed this particular Washer near to the join of the Pocket Chain. This Washer is both the largest and the heaviest so would anchor it underneath the Wrist when worn.

Completed Charms

 

I continued adding different sized and coloured Washers at intervals on the lower half of the Bracelet. I didn’t want them all the way around because the Copper wire would make it stiff and therefore uncomfortable.

Steampunk Set

 

In the above Photograph I have my completed Steampunk Set.