Steam Ingenious is holding a contest: The idea is to use Simplicity Pattern 2172 in a unique way. I've ordered the pattern (why is post from the USA so expensive?!). I was thinking of making a sleeveless coat, something like this: For the skirt, I was thinking of making a high-low hem skirt with a bunch of ruffles, something like these designs: I'm not sure how I'm going to achieve all the cascading ruffles, but I have figured out the base skirt. You will need: a long skirt bias tape thread sewing machine pins 1. The base skirt should be quite long. Mine is ankle length. 2. Fold the skirt in half and sketch a curve from the centre of the skirt to the side seam. Make sure that you don't make the skirt too high in front: use an existing skirt as a guide if you need to. Pin along the line that you marked. 3. Carefully cut the skirt, a few centimetres below the line you drew, to allow for mistakes. If your skirt has lining, cut the lining separately from the main skirt material. Cutting too many layers of fabric can result in jagged cuts. 4. If you need to take the skirt in, do it now. To avoid bulk, take in the lining layer and the outer layer separately. I unpicked the waistband, took in the skirt, then resewed the waistband. It is tedious, but it reduces bulk. 5. Finish the seams. You can use bias tape, or sew a zigzag stitch along the edge. 6. Here are my finished edges. This will stop any fraying. I used bias tape on the lining, and a zigzag stitch on the main material. Part 2: Making the ruffles.

Best unique festivals from the Steampunk World’s Fair, Endless Night Vampire Ball, & Whitby Goth Weekend to Boryeong Mud Festival, anime expo, & Fantasy Fest.

For all you Weird West fans, here the Jame's Gang. Illustration by Didier Graffet, http://www.didiergraffet.com/images.php?idthemes=3&idsousthemes=34&Page=1

More than 2,000 fans of the anachronistic, sci-fi subculture known as Steampunk will take to the dusty streets of Old Tucson this weekend for the Wild, Wild West Steampunk Convention

More than 2,000 fans of the anachronistic, sci-fi subculture known as Steampunk will take to the dusty streets of Old Tucson this weekend for the Wild, Wild West Steampunk Convention

A guide to Steampunk fashion: costume tutorials, Steampunk clothing guide, cosplay photo gallery, updated calendar of Steampunk events, and more.