Trystan's Costume Closet

The lady artisan’s apron is harder to make than one might think. At least if you’re me. Because (a) I’m slow in general and (b) it involves pattern drafting, which is not a fine skill o’ mine.

The skirt went together easy-peasy. Skirts usually do. But I tried three different bodice ideas before I got one to work. Two kinds of darts, then I gave up and dug out a princess-seamed elf gown bodice, hacked off the shoulder area and back, and turned it into a bustier. That actually fit me (because, well, it was a gown I knew already fit me).

Then I got a little fancy with some binding and trim. Put the buckle on too. Everything fits, just need to add the straps, which I have overall strap doohickeys, and that should take an hour to figure out tomorrow (or *maybe* later tonight).

Then it’s just all the fancy bits — pockets, hooks, holders, plus the cool Victorian-novel and Dr. Who inspired patches I’ve been designing and plan to print out on ink-jet transfer paper, apply to scraps of cotton, and baste onto the apron, along with watch parts when those arrive from my eBay buys. But all that’s gravy.

It kinda looks like a prom dress from the front, but really, it’s an apron.

Clearly, I’m stuck on steampunk, So much so that I dashed off to Jo-Ann’s after the BBQ yesterday! Found some dark dusty rose twill-ish bottomweight cotton-poly blend stuff with a great drape for the Lady Artisan’s Apron, plus black cotton belting for the straps, gunmetal-colored D rings, a gunmetal-colored plastic parachute-style buckle for the back closure, silver overall buckles for the front (didn’t have gunmetal — wonder if I can paint those or sand / distress them a bit?), and a black plastic swivel clip that just looked inviting (keyring? purse clip? I’ll figure out something, especially since I don’t have carabiners on hand for the D rings, so the swivel clip might be easier, though I should go down to Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods and check for clips there too).

I was very tempted by rivets and anorak snaps for decoration, but I’d have had to buy the tools to apply them. The additional cost for just one project would have been kind of silly — suuuuuuuuure, I might have used the rivet / snap tools for something else in the future, where have I heard that one before? Somewhere in The Stash I have a Bedazzler, which I think can apply studs, so if I get a yen for further surface decoration, there ya go. Plus, I have a small eyelet setter that my mom gave me, which could add more textural interest, if warranted.

Yes, it would be fun to own every possible tool in the world, but we can’t always afford it. Still need to get a Dremel tool and buy all the junk for the light saber class at Costume College, so don’t go nuts on this apron project which is a last-minute add-on.

Anyway, I want to sew this weekend. Let’s see how long that feeling lasts.

later that day…

Discovering an eBay seller’s supply of watch parts and clock keys gave me the wicked idea of making my apron into a Time Lady’s artisan apron. Clock keys, watch gears, Time Lords, get it? Ye old Key to Time series. Har har. Also, I’ve always loved keys.

(Can you tell I’m distracted and not wanting to work today? Silly mid-week holiday!)

and again later that day…

I *should* have gotten snaps and the snap tool-setter — then I could make an adjustable strap for holding a pen or sonic screwdriver or magic wand or other tools. Because they’re all different widths, y’know.

Could use velcro, but that’s just not as cool-looking on the outside.

I really want to make a steampunky lady’s artisan apron now, especially after seeing Jade’s in person. It looked fab, plus comfortable, and I’ve had a yen for steampunk since seeing all those delicious Dark Industry clothes at C13 (that’s one of the reasons I bought those Quidditch goggles, when I bought my Madame Hooch hat :-).

Maybe I will actually sew this weekend (if it’s not terribly hot). I need to start on some Costume College stuff anyway. And all the fabric stores are having sales. Maybe I could whip up an apron. Hahahaha, me “whip up” something. So funny.