Freebie Friday - Free Steampunk Tutorials and Patterns

What is Steampunk?  Wikipedia says that, "Steampunk is a sub-genre of speculative fiction which came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era when steam power was still widely used -- usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian England -- but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. It is often associated with cyberpunk and shares a similar fan-base but developed as a separate movement (though both have considerable influence on each other)."

Steampunk affords crafters a chance to indulge a love of history with geeky tech and it is just plain fun.  It also gives you great ideas for doll making.  Here are some great tutorials to inspire:

Threadbanger explains the Steampunk look and shows you in the following video how to create the look for yourself:

Learn how to make some steampunk spats with this video from Threadbanger.  You could do this for you or for dolls:

To make a polymer clay steampunk bunny with polymer clay artist Christi Friesen, check out this video.

Christi Friesen also gives you the chance to download a free tutorial on how to make a steampunk bug here.

Make a steampunk bobbi pin with Barbe St. John.  This would also make a great embellishment for various other crafts.  Check out the video how-to:

I love this tutorial from Mary Sew on how to make your own steampunk fascinator hat.

Dress a doll up Steampunk style with this free pattern for a Steampunk bride's going away outfit.

So if you've never made anything steampunk in style before, gear up and get crafting!

Comments

[Colleen]

Hi Patricia,

I'm glad you liked my blog and my Freebie Friday Steampunk post. I don't actually use pattern weights myself. The links that I collect on Freebie Friday posts, including the video you watched are ones that I handpick from across the web from all different makers, so the video you watched was not mine.

However, on another Freebie Friday post (there is a different theme every week) I did link to a pattern/tutorial to make your own. Here is the link to my round up of links: http://themagicbean.typepad.com/the_magic_bean/2011/07/freebie-friday-sew-projects-to-organise-your-sewing-stuff.html and here is the link directly to the pattern weights project: http://www.sewdaily.com/media/p/2360.aspx

I hope that helps you,

Colleen

[Patricia Hall]

Wow, just found this site. Can I ask what kind of weights do you use as I have only just watched the spat video and like that idea instead of pinning down a pattern.

[g.stanley]

great site! and super tutorials! My daughter and I are going to a cosplay convention next year, in which we will dress as steampunk characters. Thanks for the inspiration!