Girlpower

This great project was proposed on Kickstarter earlier this year, with a target of $4000 to publish the first in a series of steampunk detective fiction novels for girls. As the funds raised exceeded the budget and eventually reached an amazing $90,000, the author has promised a series of four books, with all sorts of extras thrown in. Check out the proposal video below, and see if–like me–you can't wait for them to be published.

Friday fashion parade

American Gothic goes steampunk. This T-shirt is a bit of fun from the Threadless collection. Click on the picture to go to the website, or check out some of their other steampunk style offerings.

In the round

I'm knitting the second of the pair of frilly wrist warmers and checking the pattern I've written for them as I go. They are knitted all in one piece (yes, even the frill) so I'm using a set of four double-pointed needles. Remember, if you need to learn how to knit (or how to knit in the round like this), my book Knitting Basics is available to help.

Object of desire

Got a spare five grand? If you have, why not spend it on this marvellous nineteenth century hatbox (from Yale R. Burge Antiques)? It would be perfect for storing your top hat or bowler, or just as useful to rest a delicate porcelain tea cup on. I'm so inspired by the brass details and studwork: I wonder how difficult it would be to recreate this piece in modern materials? I think a trip to the craft and hardware stores is in order...

Frills

My wrist warmers are coming along nicely, as you can see in the picture. I've almost completed the lacy frill! It won't be long now until I've finished writing and checking the pattern, so please keep coming back to this blog to see the progress I'm making, or sign up for the newsletter using the form at right and I'll let you know when the pattern is available.

Knitting basics

If you like the frilly wrist warmers I'm currently knitting, but you don't know how to knit, I have a solution. *Shameless self-promotion* My book, Knitting Basics, is designed for beginners and even pre-beginners and has all the information you need to start knitting, including step-by-step photographs showing how it's done. It's published by Murdoch Books in 2012, and is available in many bookstores or from your favourite online bookseller.

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....