Every hatbox has a lining

I've sent you to Marinni's LiveJournal page before, for gorgeous vintage hat and hatbox images. That's where I got this inspirational pic for a hatbox lining. Mine will perhaps not be quite so fancy because I have to allow for the fitting of the lid on my papier mâché box.

For my lining, I'm going to recycle some crinkly silk-look fabric from an old favourite skirt whose seams have passed their use-by date. This will be applied to a cardboard insert cut to fit inside the lid and base of the box, as well as inside the barrel of the box. I'll use paper inside the rim of the lid, to save thickness and make sure that the lid still fits on the box!

Finally, a map of the future!

If you have been patiently waiting to see the finished Map of the Future visual journal cover, please accept my apologies. I've been unable to sit at my computer for several weeks now due to a compressed disc in my spine – ouch! The project is now finished, and I've been scribbling away in the journal with more ideas for designs and patterns while I've been ill, so please come back to this blog soon to see what's next. 

After completing the embroidery of the map I had fun finding and adding the brass embellishments shown here, including the compass of cogs and watch parts, the ornate brass hinges and the hasp-and-staple lock to keep it safe.

The pattern and full step-by-step instructions are available from my etsy store, if you would like to make your own visual journal cover. And please add your email address to my mailing list using the form in the sidebar if you'd like to know when new patterns and designs are available.

Decorating the landscape

The embroidery for the Map of the Future visual journal cover is almost done. I've used fairly simple embroidery stitches, and kept details to a minimum: waterways, major roads, parks and bushland. I'm tempted to add signposts to my favourite cafés, bookshops and cinemas, but I might find that the map is complicated enough by the time I've finished all the little French knot trees.

There will be instructions in the pattern detailing which colours and stitches I used, including photographs showing how to do the embroidery stitches. Keep an eye out here on my blog, or sign up in the sidebar to receive an email when the pattern is available in my etsy store.

Visual journal cover

I've decided that the next project I want to make is a cover for my visual journal, which is an A5-size, spiral-bound visual art diary. I looked for some inspiring examples and stuck the images in the very visual journal, as you can see at left.

Inspired by the book of historic maps I read this week, I decided to make a linen cover with an embroidered map design. I like the idea of an inset compass or clock, as in the third image. I also really, really want to keep my ideas and thoughts private with a solid lock (which was what triggered yesterday's image search).

Please keep coming back to this blog over the next week or two to see the progress I'm making on my journal cover and, of course, I'll write a pattern and instructions so that you can make one for yourself. If you sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar, I'll make sure you don't miss out on a copy of the pattern when it's ready.

Friday fashion parade

Today I'm thinking about corsets, and scribbling in my visual journal. I've stuck in a couple of fabric swatches as suggestions for the corset and lining.

Which do you prefer: over- or underbust? Does bust size matter?

Leather or silk brocade? There are so many choices....

Urban explorer's kit bag

 

The Urban Explorer's Kit Bag is complete. Made of faux suede fabric with a cotton ticking lining, the bag is approximately 40 cm (16 in) tall with a base diameter of 21 cm (8¼ in). There is one internal pocket that's just the right size for a smartphone, while a draw-cord closure and a cotton shoulder strap to make it easy to carry. 

You can make this bag for yourself: the pattern and instructions are available from my Etsy store for $5.00 (no shipping costs: online delivery). For readers of this blog only, you can get a free copy of the pattern by signing up to the Steampunk Style newsletter in the panel at right. The newsletter will let you know when other steampunk-style patterns are available, and will not be used for any other marketing.

If you like the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag, please visit again soon to see what interesting steampunk style projects I'll be making next.

Finishing touches: kit bag

The Urban Explorer's Kit Bag is almost finished. Today I've created the casing and buttonholes for the top closure of the bag and added a shoulder strap. I've used a spring toggle to hold the cord, but if you can't find a spring toggle at your local haberdashery store you can simply tie the cord in a bow to close the bag when you draw the top together. Lastly, I added small brass bells to the ends of the cord as a nod to the bell that the boy finds attached to The Lost Thing in the book and animated movie.

If you would like the pattern and complete instructions for making this bag, please come back to this blog on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, to see photos of the finished project and get the instructions for how to download the free PDF.

Making the urban explorer's bag

Today I am sewing the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag together. Step one is to sew the rectangles of fabric into tubes, then step two is to pin and stitch the circular bases into one end. Finish the edges with a zigzag stitch, then turn the lining bag right side out and slip it inside the outer bag, so that the right sides are together.

Stitch the two pieces together around the top edge, leaving a small opening near the seam so that you can turn the whole thing right side out before sewing up the opening by hand. Next, I'll be adding the finishing touches to the bag, including carrying straps and a cord to close the top opening and keep your things safe. Remember, I'll give you a link to download all of the instructions and templates, including the measurements for the bag, at the end of the project, so please keep checking in to find out how you can download the PDF.

Urban explorer's kit bag, again

 This picture shows the placement of the embroidered patches on the outer fabric for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag. Instructions for making the patches and the bag will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the project, so please keep coming back to this blog to find out where you can download it.

The next feature of the kit bag is a small pocket in the lining of the bag. The boy in The Lost Thing keeps his notebook and pen in the internal pocket, and you can too, unless you prefer to keep your smartphone or music player in it instead. This pocket is simply stitched into position on the lining fabric while it is still flat, with a hand-stitched hem along the top edge.

Urban explorer's patches II

Scrabbled through my fabric stash and picked out a few fabrics for the patches of the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag. There's some beige linen, spotted red cotton, a piece of faded chambray and a scrap of yellow cotton print.

 First step is to use fusible interfacing as a stabiliser and iron it onto the back of the fabrics, then cut out the shapes roughly.

 I'm using a water-soluble fabric marker to trace design features onto the fabric before embroidering the details.

It's important to remove the marker using a damp cloth before you press the patches. Apart from that, these are ready to be stitched onto the bag. Templates and full instructions for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag will be available as a PDF download when the project is finished, so please keep reading the blog to find out where you can get it.

Urban explorer's patches

The first step in creating the kit bag is to make up some of the cool patches that adorn the outside of the bag. Templates and instructions for the ones I'm making will be included in the downloadable instruction sheets at the end of the project.

If you're not keen on making your own patches and doing your own embroidery, you could collect vintage patches from charity shops; or you might already have a collection of souvenir patches from a recent holiday that you could use.

The patch at left, for example, is one I bought at the Buffalo Naval Park in western New York state. I chose it as my souvenir because the open book, pen and keys mean it's the insignia for a media officer on a ship (the closest I could get to a writer and editor—my day job).

The patches I'm designing for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag are more cartoonish than this one. There's a groovy "peace" symbol; a rectangle that has a date on it (Shaun uses 1974 in the illustrations—maybe because that's the year he was born—I've picked 2012); a label with a short message or name and address; and a wiggly arrow like the ones in The Lost Thing.

Urban explorer's kit bag

This week's project is partly based on a sailor's kit bag, and will be similar to the one the boy is carrying in the film trailer for The Lost Thing in my previous post. I'll show you pictures of it as I make it, and at the end of the project I'll give you a link to download a free PDF of the full pattern and instructions.

Today I'm starting to gather some of the bits and pieces I think I'll need for the project, and drawing up some sketches and plans in my visual journal. I've started a fresh journal just for this Steampunk Style blog, and I'll be sharing some of the pages from it in these posts.

A visual journal is a great tool for a crafty person: you can paste in pictures, draw sketches of your ideas and even tape swatches of fabric and other materials in it. As well as helping you work out what you want to do next, it makes a great record of the project when you're finished, or an aide memoire if you ever want to make it again.

If you'd like to learn more about using a visual journal, check out my friend Sharon's online class.