Here’s a great video tutorial from GomiStyle.com teaching us how to make a Steampunk Chess Set. You can bet it’s one that will be built and put up in the Speculative Minds/Steampunk Guides office!
Materials Needed:
Some hardware. You can pick this up at a hardware store, junk yard, or sometimes around your own garage!
A small, square table. You can get these at thrift stores and garage sales really cheap, but here’s a pricey one that comes with two matching stools to also decorate: Winsome Wood Table Drop Leaf Square Stool, Natural
One of the quintessential elements of early Victorian men’s costume is the Cravat. Technically it’s just another step in the evolution of the neck cloth to the modern day tie but in it’s heyday the way your cravat was tied could communicate volumes about who you were. There were thousands of different knots and innumerable ways to pin or adorn it. I’m going to go over my personal favorite knot for cravats.
Materials:
Cravat Tie (or rectangular piece of silk approx. 3.5 feet long and 9 inches wide)
Step one:
Flip your shirt collar up and button the top button.
Step two:
Like when tying a normal tie drape it over your neck with one side longer then the other.
Step three:
Begin tying the knot by bringing the longer side over the top of the shorter.
Step four:
Bring the longer piece under shorter one and up through making the knot.
Step five
Pull the knot tight.
Step six:
FINISHED!
You can style it anyway you want. I like to tuck it it into the gap between a few buttons and then hide it under a vest. Also adding a pin can make it fancier!
Screen Printing Ink: Jacquard Versatex Screen Printing Ink Kit I always use screen printing ink. Do not buy paper screen printing ink; it is useless for clothing. I really like Jacquard ink.
Your Stencil: This is what your design is going to be! If you intend to sell, you should make your own. Otherwise, you can get them at craft stores. Making a stencil is easy. Cut the design out of a piece of plastic. It’s best to keep all parts of a stencil connected, but that can make it tricky to do an intricate design! The stencil I am using is a custom print I am working on for the Dances Of Vice Etsy shop.
The Guide:
Screen Printing Step 1
Step 1.
Make sure the printing surface is clean and flat. Place a peice of cardboard under the material.
Screen Printing Step 2
Step 2.
Place the stencil where you want it. Make sure it’s facing the right way!
Step 3.
Place the screen on top of the stencil so that it is flush against the surface. Make sure the stencil does not move underneath.
Screen Printing Step 4
Step 4.
Apply ink to your spatula press ink though the screen in long even strokes. Do not lift the screen until your done. Double check that you have not missed any parts of the stencil.
Screen Printing Step 5
Step 5.
Lift the screen and stencil straight up off the fabric to avoid smudging your print.
Now you’re done!
Clean the screen, the stencil, and the spatula right away and you can use them again next time!
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I prefer a 15″ embroidery hoop with polyester chiffon for my screen. You can get embroidery hoops in any number of sizes and shapes.
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You can get poly chiffon or silk chiffon, just make sure it’s a light fabric; something you can see though that doesn’t have huge holes in it.
I always use screen printing ink. Do not buy paper screen printing ink; it is useless for clothing. I really like Jacquard ink.
This is to push the ink through the screen evenly.
