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I actually made this a while ago to wear for Steampunk World’s Fair, which was May 17-19th. I didn’t get any pictures of my costumes, but they weren’t very good anyway. I mostly just wore clothes. It was fun though.
Pattern: Handsfree Handbag/Look, No Hands from The Knitter’s Bible: Knitted Bags
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta (Regia) Extra, a DK superwash wool
Needles: US 3
Full disclosure: I got this book out from the library and liked this pattern (and several others) so much that I immediately bought the book off of Amazon. Including shipping, it was only about six bucks, but still. Then I waited for the book to arrive before I could start the project even though I had the yarn all picked out and everything.
I’m kind of in love with this bag. The zipper is a little sticky because my hand sewing is only so-so (sew-sew? Ha, I’m hilarious), but I like it. I even put in a lining:
I ended up carrying it around all weekend. It was the perfect size for my phone, money, gum, chapsticks, and little purchases along the way. Including some buttons with sheep on them.
Anyway, I just slung the bag on a belt, which I wore around my waist. Perfect. It definitely fit in with my outfits and general steaminess.
Oh, and I did take one (terrible photo) while I was there. Not of me, but of someone’s amazing cosplay/costume:
Steampunk Tigger. Because why not.
In the time between finishing those knee socks and starting more WWFY socks, I managed to finish knitting a thing for ME ME ME! They are spats:
Pattern: Spiffy Spats, located further down this post and also ravel-able here
Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool, about 50g
Needles: US 9/5.5 mm
These spats are great for A. keeping your ankles warm and B. looking awesome while piloting your airship. They are named for my friend Spiffy, who is the most steampunk-eriffic person I know and also likes knitting and ruffles. They come in one size (but the ribbing is quite stretchy) and knit up in just a couple of hours and are SUPER easy to make. They would look awesome in a variety of colors, but I made mine in grey to match things.
You will need:
– About 50g heavy worsted weight/light bulky yarn
– A set of 5.5 mm dpns or a long circular for magic loop
– A stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round
– An iron with a steam setting (trust me on this)
Things you should probably know:
– Knit, purl, increase (kfb), cast on, bind off, knit in the round
Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off
KFB: Knit into the front and back of the stitch
SPATS (knit two):
CO 36. Place marker for beginning of round and work in 2×2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) around for each row), slipping the marker as you come to it for 20 rows or until desired length.
Increase row: KFB around.
Continue knitting ruffle: Knit in stockinette (knit every row) for 8 rows or until ruffle reaches desired row.
Work two rows of seed stitch:
row one: k1, p1 around
row two: p1, k1 around
BO in seed stitch.
Finishing: Weave in ends. Block the crap out of the spats (seriously, this step is important to getting them to lie flat). You could wet block too, but unless you were knitting them in mud, steam is sufficient. Sew on cute buttons, rock your spats.
That’s seriously it! I told you they were quick and easy!
OMGWTFBBQ it’s a finished thing that isn’t shark mittens!!!
Pattern: Kitty Hawk (the mitts; I’m still working on the hat)
Yarn: Sanguine Gryffon Bugga! in Oak Timberworm and Oleander Hawk Moth.
Needles: US 2/2.75 mm dpns
Mods: None. Knit as written.
So these mitts? Super freakin’ cute and steampunk-errific. Yes. I love how they came out and am sad I do not get to keep them (they’re for a WWFY swap). However? PITA to knit. There’s a bunch of rounds of reverse stockinette, and reverse stockinette does not play well with double pointed needles. I got some terrible laddering that was mostly covered up with a good steam block and the straps, but if you look closely, they’re still there.
When I make these for myself, I think I’m going to flip ’em inside out. That way, I can knit stockinette instead of reverse stockinette and the patch thingy that comes out of the twisted rib will still stick out but I won’t have horrible joins. I’m also going to make them shorter (less ribbing, less plain knitting between the patch thing and the thumb gusset) cause it’s sort of a pain to wear long mitts under a sweater or long sleeves or whatever.
That being said, it’s an ADORABLE pattern, and I love the finished result. I love how the finger ribbing is picked up a couple rows down so you get that two layered look. I love the twisted rib cuff (even if I hate knitting it). I love that patterned patch thing. I love the straps. I love the thumb. I seriously love these mitts. It will be a while before I get around to making them again for me, but when I do, I am going to love them.
In other (non-knitting) news, my LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE EVER starts tomorrow. (At one cause I don’t do that early classes thing). I am both totally stoked and totally terrified to think about graduating at the end of the semester. So don’t be surprised if my blog attendance drops a bit while I get into the swing of the new semester. Cheers!
Stitch, Brinn, Stitch! 