Craftsters are obsessed with steampunk, embracing the style for Halloween costumes and in everyday fashion and accessories.  With Halloween around the corner we’ve rounded up some creative steampunk clothing, jewelry and accessories to help inspire you!

The steampunk style is easily identifiable by the use of clock hands, pocket watches, gears and cogs, steam-powered ships, vintage maps, keys, wings, propellers and Victorian-style textures and materials.

Steampunk Bracelet with Vintage Key and Propellers

Steampunk wings made out of Polymer Clay

Steampunk Necklace with Clock and Cogs

Quilted Vintage Map Steampunk Netbook or Laptop Holder

Netbook Makeover: Steampunk Computer Edition

Ultimately rooted in neo-Victorianism fashion and fantasy literature, the steampunk style continues to get shaped by cartoons,  comics, science fiction literature and film as well as punk and gothic music and culture.

Rocketgirl Steampunk Needlework

My little steampunk pony

Steampunk, as a fashion statement, salvages iconic symbols and materials from the time period when steam-powered engines and other emergent technologies began to automate many aspects of the existing textile, transportation and printing industries.

Steampunk Dress with Corset and Buckles

Gowns, corsets, petticoats, suits, vests and top hats comprise a few classic steampunk get-ups.

Steampunk Clothing with Top Hat, Belt and Boots

The style really comes out in the details, which makes this a perfect obsession for Craftsters!

Steampunk Costume Tutorial with Photos

Steampunk fashion accessories include military-inspired pieces like goggles, boots, guns, aviator hats and unusual inventions.

Steampunk Coat, Goggles and Aviator Hat

Steampunk Costume with Rocket Invention Accessory

On Craftster, upcycling to create unique, one-of-a-kind and budget friendly steampunk pieces is a popular activity.

T-shirt Sleeve Upcycled to Steampunk Spat Styled Wrist Cuff

Cloche Hat in Boiled Wool Tutorial

A Lesson: What is Steampunk?

So, what does the “punk” in steampunk stand for?

Steampunk can be seen as a throwback to the industrial revolution when technology like steam-powered engines gradually began to replace manual labor.  At this time, the transition from “man to machine” had a few devastating consequences for the crafting community, in particular weaving and textile workers.

In 1811, a group of unemployed craftsman (and women!) called the “Luddites” began to riot against the very machines that took their jobs.  The Luddites took their frustration to the streets destroying mills, automated mules and spinning machinery, and even facing the British Army in battle.  These types of uprisings, where former workers destroyed the same machinery that replaced their jobs, continued in England during the Swing Riots with agricultural laborers in 1830.

Today, the steampunk style mashes up the old with the new.  Check out this blog post by batgirl for more steampunk costumes and crafts.

Steampunk Project Shout outs: Thanks to Craftster Friends and Community Members for sharing their steampunk projects with us: ehinders, pops, jennieingram, scaramouche, RoaneFaery, azreno, sagaciousblonde, graverobbergirl, rdayk, alvan, CoanTeen, Schnoogles and  Zhad_Squad!