Steampunk Regency Riding Habit ~ With Video!

Because I get bored if I don't sew and the storing issue wouldn't be mine this time, in mid March I decided to start another big sewing project: a Regency Riding Habit inspired steampunk outfit, but this time for Calina (my mom's doll). As always, I posted about my ideas and the progress before.

I used the same fabrics that I used for Coco's Late Victorian gown, because I wanted the dresses to have some sort of similarity, but each of them keeping their own style. Of course the gown couldn't go easy, and I had to redo the skirt fourth times!!! I even wasted a whole weekend doing ruffles on a skirt that ended up discarded T_T

Because I'm trying to keep up with my dolly goals, I made another video! Please do remember that I have an accent and my English is not perfect, so please don't bash. As before, I added English and Spanish subtitles, so feel free to turn them on. Also, this time the voice recording went much more smooth that the first time! I'm happy for that! :D

The photos are under the cut (there are more pics than in the video), and some random anecdotes and trivia about the making of this dress.

Nice Photos

I took so many photos! I must confess that I was worried I didn't have enough WIP photos because we are in rain season here, and it has been cloudy and foggy for weeks! But when I checked I had a decent amount of pics, so thumbs up to my tripod, which is a savior! I also freaked out while taking the final pics because it was miraculously sunny and suddenly it started to get all cloudy, but after all, the sun did came out :D

Before the pics, and for the history savvy people, I want to state that I know this is not accurate, and it has a lot of different things from a riding habit, but then again, steampunk is fantasy and it gave me "room" to improvise and tweak things a little.

I love the jacket, to be honest, the sleeves look so good in my opinion! And it has a lot more decorations than Coco's (she had a huge bustle and train, so I guess they are even!).

Calina has an open eyes head, but she has been using this one for a long time (I personally like it more with closed eyes). So one day while sewing this outfit I thought she looked like if she was reading, and had the crazy idea of making some old fashioned specs for her, that would attach with a chain to the bonnet! And here they are! Those specs are not the most robust accessory, but they work good enough.

Also, I asked my mom if she could help me with some accessories, and she said yes. I prepared the pattern for the bag, and for the book size, and she made them! The bag is inspired in a reticule although it is slightly different. My mom made both the book and the book holder. I have always admired how she made those teeny tiny bounds.

All of them (the bag, the book, and the book holder) are completely functional and can be opened <3 br="">

I think Calina looks like a steampunk researcher or scientist. Those specs look so great on her! I broke them once and had to re-glue them, because there has been so much humidity with all this rain, that the glue did not hardened and stayed fresh-like =S

Did you saw the chain in the sleeve cuffs? I was unsure about them, but hubby approved, so I said "why not?" and added them. I used much more chains in these gown than in Coco's!

That one was the only picture I managed to get of the trinket in the middle of her hat. It is a lady's profile, and it was in the same color than the beige I used for the strap in the bonnet.

I'm so not sorry for the photo spam, but here are some with Calina using the book. As I said, the book-holder opens! My mom is a genius :D

Her elf ears peek through the bun! That was a good thing, since the bonnet was way bigger than Coco's hat, I was able to hide all the buckles under it.

Links & Info

I want to share some of the info I used to make this dress. I had a Pinterest board to track everything, so here is the link too:

• Pinterest board
• Bonnet pattern (the one in the bottom).
• Trained overskirt pattern.
• Good read about chemissettes.

I apologize for the amount of photos, but Calina looked great on each of them, and I wanted to share all the details of the outfit! it took me A month and a half to finish it!

After this, I sincerely need to thank the hubby for the helpful suggestions, he always has the critical eye I need. Also thanks to my mom who allowed me to kidnap Calina for so much time so I could do the dress. And thanks to Fantasywoods for her dolly chat and inspirations about the bonnet :D

Now I need to finish Coco's new dress for her birthday. It won't be this huge, but it is something very unique. Hope you are doing great, everyone! Thanks for reading me, and don't forget to check out my Etsy!