State of the 'Stache: The curl

The mustache is finally long enough to attempt a curl. A "tacky" mustache wax is essential. Firehouse* sets in just a minute.

Next week I'll see my barber to shape the beard.

* Turn your sound volume down before visiting the Firehouse website. The 90's called, they want their "play audio on load" web page back.

State of the 'Stache: November 22, 2014

The "State of the 'Stache" is a series of posts exploring the current state of my beard and mustache as I attempt to create something worthy of a Steampunk outfit. 

I'll describe the products I use and any challenges as they present themselves. 

Yes, probably not the most exciting blog series but, it's my blog after all. 

The beard and mustache

Stacey and I are attending a Steampunk event in the spring. Along with preparing our wardrobe, I've decided to grow out my beard and mustache. I've always had a full beard, but usually have it clipped short each time I visit the barber. 

I knew with the longer hair I'd need some help controlling the beast. If there's one thing the Miller family is good at, it's growing hair. 

I checked a few websites and asked a good friend of mine with a handlebar mustache for advice. I decided to use Firehouse Mustache Wax. 

Not knowing how much hold I would need I started with their "Light" style. It proved to be unable to control my gray bristles. However, the "Tacky" was up to the task. 

I usually keep my hair short but with the full beard my barber suggested I keep it longer. I find that my longer greying hair requires conditioner too. I thought about beard balm or oil but decided to start with some inexpensive hair conditioner. 

The 'stach and beard are coming along. Not sure how long I'll let it grow. 

Kilts and Such: Knitting Kilt Hose Garter Ties

Found a description of knit kilt hose garter ties in an old knitting book. After three sets of ties I have a usable pattern.


Mark I
Lion Brand Fishermen's worsted weight wool
Pair of US 5 - 3.75 mm needles

Long tail cast on eight stitches. Garter stitch until about 30 to 36 inches long or until they can go around your leg twice above the calf and below the knee. Finish with fringe of three strands of yarn at each end.

These were too wide and bulky but worked great. Didn't need to stretch them much to hold up the hose.

Mark I

Mark II
Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 worsted weight wool
Pair of US 4 - 3.5 mm needles

Same as above except cast on six stitches.

Better, but too stretchy.

Mark II

Mark III
Cascade Yarns Cascade 220® Heathers worsted weight wool
Pair of US 3 - 3.25 mm needles

Long tail cast on seven stitches. Knit seven first row. Slip one, knit six remaining rows until 36 inches long.

The slip stitch gives a smoother and tighter edge to the garter making it a little less stretchy. Works better than the first two by far.

Mark III

How to wear garter ties
To tie, wrap around kilt hose twice so that both ends are on the outside of your leg. Cross and tie with a simple knot. Take remaining ends and tuck up under garter around leg, pull through and drape over top of garter. See the following video for a demonstration using woven garter ties.

Space: 1999 at Motor City Comic Con

A good friend and I went to Motor City Comic Con last month dressed in uniforms from the second season of Space: 1999. Space: 1999 was a two year long science fiction television show that was on just before Star Wars was released.

This is the first time I've worked with knit fabric or attempted to make a tunic and pants. Quite the adventure.

I tried to use a uniform pattern by John Flynn published in SFTV on 6, July 1985. Unfortunately, it proved difficult to scale. It wasn't quite correct. The uniform sleeve design is unusual. The right sleeve and body is cut from a single piece of cloth. The left sleeve attaches half way up the shoulder toward the neck instead of at the top edge of the arm, somewhat like a raglan sleeve.

After the first botched tunic, I modified a pajama pattern. 

The sleeve zipper runs from the color across the shoulder and down the left sleeve. To be visible on TV, they used heavy brass upholstery zippers sewn to expose the zipper. The zippers are significantly heavier than the sleeve and pant leg material, causing them to buckle and sag. Although not screen accurate, additional stitching to hold the folded over fabric on the zipper helped.

Another zipper runs down the left side of the pant leg.

The id badge image was created with Gimp and printed on ink jet photo paper which was glued to an old plastic badge. Between the badge and the paper I placed a pin back with the post sticking through a hole in the badge. I found a LSRO patch image, after printing it on ink jet printable fabric, it is sewn on with a simple satin stitch. You can find the patches here at viperaviator's deviantart site.

The second season belt is made from beige vinyl. It's pretty easy to sew two layers. More than two, not so much. A strip of velcro makes the belt adjustable. 

Since the uniforms do not have pockets, I modified a canvas bag I made out of an old karate gi and belt adding a Moonbase Alpha patch. 

I didn't expect to find much Space: 1999 stuff at Comic Con. Or even to be recognized by more than a couple of other "older" patrons or vendors. I was pleasantly surprised to run into twenty people who not only recognized the uniforms, they thought we did a pretty good job on them. A twenty-something couple in BSG reboot uniforms actually ran up to us shouting "Space: 1999"!

I also scored a few memorabilia. Comic books #1 and #4, and a complete set of trading cards.

Ode To A Tribble

With sincere apologies to Robert Burns...

Ode To A Tribble

Fair and full is your honest, furry face,

Great chieftain of the cooing race!

Above them all ye take your place,

Puppy or cat that purr:

Well are ye worthy of a grace

As soft and sure.

The groaning Klingon you screech shrill,

You shake and quiver still, 

Your sight would help to mend the ill

In time o' need,

While through your pores your love distill

Like amber bead.

His bat'leth seek labour delight,

And cut you up with ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like any ditch;

And then, O what glorious sight,

Thrice more are born, rich!

Then fist and blade, they stretch and strive:

Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,

Till their mortal enemies rive

In mounds of great hight;

Then to a warrior, thus cry

Be gone bloody PARASITE!

Is there that over the Klingon targh's mew,

Or Vulcan sehlat with toothy crew,

Or Ceti eel’s slime-covered larval spew

With perfect disgust,

Looks down with sneering, scornful view

On such a gentle trust?

Poor devil! see him over his trash,

As feeble as a withered rash,

His shank a good whip-lash,

His fist a nit;

Through bloody flood or field to dash,

O how unfit.

But mark the tribble-friend,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his ample fist a blade,

He'll make it whistle;

His enemies will fade

Like tops of the thistle

You powers, who make humanity your care,

And dish them out their worldly fare,

Old Terra wants no lesser ware,

That fails to sooth the furrowed brow;

But, if ye wish her grateful prayer, 

Give her a Tribble now!