Sarah Skeate - Steampunk Softies: Scientifically-Minded Dolls from a Past That Never Was

All eight steampunk personalities have a wide variety of hardware detailing to help them get in character, and youre sure to enjoy the construction as well as the sewing aspects of making them. Read these pointers before you start, though; youll find them invaluable as you work your way through the projects.

Steampunk materials and accessories

All the softies have long and detailed lists of materials. Dont be frightened off by this: the vast majority of these are available in most large craft stores (or online from good craft materials suppliers), and a surprising number of the more esoteric looking details are made from jewelry findingsalso obtained from craft and beading stores. A very few materials, though, are vintage or have slightly more unusual origins. If youre the sort of person (and most steampunk enthusiasts are) who keeps drawers and boxes of old remnantskeys, buttons, the knob that fell off that old clock you were so fond oflook through your treasures and improvize with something individual that looks right with the character youre making. Dont feel you have to copy every element slavishlythese softies are intended to be unique to their maker; try out different colors, finishes, or details. Youll love the results.

Cutting out

Most printed patterns show a dotted internal line and a solid exterior lineyou cut along the exterior (cutting) line and sew along the internal lineand the space between is the seam allowance. Youll find that the steampunk patterns are slightly different. They have only a solid line, and this is the line you will be sewing along. The step-by-step instructions given for each character will tell you how much seam allowance to leave around the pieces before you cut them out. The reason for this is that the softies use a lot of different materials, from sheet acetate to leather and suede, and the pieces are often sewn before they are actually cut out of the piece of material, so it makes more sense to treat patterns and materials individually, according to the steampunk and its particular make up.

Gluing

Theres just as much gluing as there is sewing in these projects, so check out the different types of glue before you start, and be sure to use the right kind for each application: many of the softies pieces are very small
and whether theyre fabric, leather, plastic, or metal, they need to be stuck securely to get a successful end result. The glues youll need are specified in the materials lists and the steps, but to clear up any confusion, heres a description of the main types:

Latex adhesive Mostly used on porous fabrics. Spread a thin layer on both of the surfaces to be stuck together, leave to dry for a minute or two, then align the surfaces and press together.

Contact adhesive Used in exactly the same way as latex adhesive, this solvent-based glue bonds a much wider range of surfaces together.

Superglue This is the toughest glue type and it sticks together almost anything; but it acts instantly, so you need to be accurate and fast when using it.

Epoxy glue Usually comes in two tubes. Mix a little of the contents of each together. Sets very hard and will bond most things together, but most brands take a little time to dry, so you may need to support elements while the glue sets.

PVA glue Water-soluble glue that can be mixed with acrylic to make a paint that covers plastic.

Glue stick Stick of solid glue; good for sticking paper to paper or other surfaces that need only a small amount of adhesion.

Aging

Your softies will look much more authentically steampunk with some judicious aging appliedand its easily done with very few props. This section shows a wide range of simple ways to make your materials look as though theyve lived longer and harder lives. Brand-new fabrics from your local fabric shop will acquire a vintage patina in minutes.

Aging with wax

Materials and equipment

Fabric or leather to be distressed

Plain candle

Parchment paper

Electric iron

Scissors