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vitriol.bsky.social
v i t r i o l
@vitriol.bsky.social
640 followers 710 following 770 posts
Tattooer, Garden Goblin, Big Fan of Big Wooden Boats.

Amateur Sewist, Professional Ne’er-do-well.

RVA & beyond.
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vitriol.bsky.social
Since I no longer have any immediate costume-related deadlines looming, I decided to slow down and make something simple just for the sheer joy of process and technique. Started this self-drafted 18th-century shift yesterday and I’m sewing the entire thing by hand, no machine whatsoever.
A close-up photo of a pile of off-white linen fabric, washed and worn to a state of buttery softness. It’s in the process of being sewn into something, and running through the center of the photo is a row of mostly-neat backstitches done by hand.
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Virginia heard something about the Gales of November and said “hold my beer”

75° to snow in 24 hours is crazy work
A screenshot of the weather forecast in coastal Virginia from Sunday, November 9, 2025 to Tuesday, November 11. It shows a wild swing from a high of 75° on Sunday directly into a forecast of snow for early Tuesday morning.
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
he’s here
A close-up black and white photo of celebrated Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, gazing soulfully directly into the camera. He looks like he could be wistfully pondering some sort of maritime disaster, perhaps one on a particular Great Lake.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
I only started really sewing garments seriously in November 2022, and the improvement in my technical skills and level of finish I’m able to achieve after just 3 years is really noticeable to me. Feels great to be able to see progress like that in a craft :) /fin
A close-up photo of a dark red silk bow over a dark red cotton sateen pleated skirt A close-up photo of some crispy pleats in a burgundy silk petticoat A close-up photo of a red silk dupioni bodice with some nice neat boning channels curving gently over a princess seam A closeup photo of a hand-dyed dark burgundy silk velvet sleeve cuff with boning channels sewn in to support the grosgrain ribbon lacing, laid on top of a dark red reclaimed saree silk sleeve with a hand-dyed brocade tablecloth lining
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
I started working on this outfit less than 2 months ago about halfway through September, and I’m incredibly proud of what I was able to accomplish in that short amount of time while also working and traveling 😵‍💫 I love how modular this look is, and can’t wait to reuse these pieces for other outfits.
A photo of 6 hand-sewn garment pieces on hangers in front of a dark teal curtain. From left to right, they are: a silk chemise, a silk petticoat, a cotton sateen overskirt, a silk dupioni bodice and cotton pocket, and silk velvet and silk detachable sleeves with a cotton blend tablecloth lining. They’re all in coordinating shades of dark burgundy. It’s a pretty impressive amount of sewing, especially to finish in under 2 months. A photo of a heavily tattooed redhaired woman wearing the whole ensemble, posing in her living room. A mirrr selfie of the same heavily tattooed redhaired woman wearing the whole getup plus chainmaille collar, with her friend who has a silver mohawk and is wearing a dark red shimmery dress with scale mail epaulets The same redhaired woman in a wedding photobooth, standing beside a VERY handsome bald man wearing a nice semiformal linen shirt and floral tie with brown slacks in a fur-covered thronelike chair.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Finally, I had to throw in an 18th-century style pocket just for fun. This thing held all of our phones, an emergency Red Bull, makeup for touch-ups, AND a pack of tissues that came in handy for the wedding ceremony. God I love these pockets. THIS IS WHAT THEY TOOK FROM US.
An in-progress photo of an 18th-century style detachable pocket being assembled. The pink silk lining looks suspiciously… testicular A photo of the finished pocket. It is made out of bedsheet scraps in a historical India cotton block print style with a dark red bias binding, all hand-sewn. A close-up of the pocket, showing off the neat hand-stitching on the bias binding and the top channel through which the waist tie is threaded.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
I heavily referenced Janet Arnold’s brilliant “Patterns of Fashion 5” for placement and length of these tapes and loops. Then I hand-felled over 20 linear feet of hemlines in one evening because I’m a masochist, I guess 😵‍💫
A closeup photo of a dark red skirt with tapes and loops tied up to form the bustle. A close-up photo of a hand holding up a small section of hemline to show off the small, mostly-neat hand sewn felling stitches
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
The last major piece I made was an overskirt with velvet ribbon trim and a silk waist tie. I stitched bar closures into the bodice to attach the skirt so everything stays put, and added a series of internal loops and tapes so it can be bustled up “à la retroussée” or worn down with a small train.
A dress form wearing a dark red skirt with red velvet trim over a dark red silk petticoat. The skirt is open in the front and drapes to the back in a pleasing way. A dress form wearing a dark red chemise and skirt, viewed from the back. The skirt is worn down with a small train. A dress form wearing a dark red chemise and skirt, viewed from the back. The skirt has a large red silk bow and is worn bustled up “à la retroussée” A photo of the inside of the skirt, showing the internal tapes and loops that form the structure of the bustle when tied.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
In addition to the gorgeous silk, I ended up dyeing some silk velvet, some old bedsheets and a tablecloth I also had in my stash. The tablecloth was partially a polyester blend which I normally dislike, but it did really interesting things with the brocade pattern that I loved
A large plastic tub sitting on a brick patio, filled with an ominous dark red liquid and some floating bits of fabric. One person’s hand is visible stirring the liquid with a length of PVC pipe, and another person (or at least their legs) is seen standing in the background holding a pink sweatshirt dipped partially into the dye vat. A group of friends in the dappled late afternoon sunlight on a brick patio. They’re all in different stages of dyeing fabric together. One sits on the ground wearing gloves and adding some clothing to a large vat of dark green dye, another is standing while wringing out an ombré dyed sweatshirt, a third is sitting at a table sketching ideas, and the fourth friend is just cheesing into the camera snapping this picture when she should have been stirring her dye pot. A piece of lustrous dark red cotton bedsheet fabric in a satin weave, dyed a beautiful dark burgundy color. Both sides of a brocade bedsheet dyed to an interesting dark burgundy and shimmery light mauve. On one side, the brocade pattern is light on a dark background. On the reverse side, it came out dark on a light background.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Most of my patterns, like this chemise, were basic rectangular shapes based on historical garments, but the detachable bell sleeves took a bit more fussing and several mockups. The bodice was heavily based on Butterick B4669C, which I’ve made several times, but I added boning and made it reversible.
A cluttered workroom photo of a green dress form wearing a burgundy silk chemise. A red silk devil hat is perched on top of the dress form. A photo of just an arm, held outstretched wearing a Barbie-pink linen mockup of a truly gigantic bell sleeve The same Barbie-pink bell sleeve mockup, laid out flat on a cream brocade tablecloth. A photo of a dark green dress form wearing a burgundy silk chemise and a red dupioni silk bodice laced with red velvet ribbon. The same red silk devil hat is perched atop the dress form.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
The direction we got from the bride was basically “wear one of the wedding colors and have fun,” so we decided on dark red with a ~power sleeve~.

I sketched a concept, pulled some gorgeous vintage saree silk remnants from my stash (ty @horriblesupper.bsky.social 🙏🏻), and started drafting.
A very rough digital sketch of an outfit design, depicting an all-red outfit with a big skirt and bell sleeves. Notes scribbled around the outside read: “super thin chemise with puff sleeves,” “laced bodice, reversible??” “Separate bell sleeve,” “silk front panel,” “overskirt,” and “gores for more volume” A photo of a pile of shimmer silk fabrics in shades of burgundy and olive green.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Now that I’ve worn it to the Event (my friend’s SWORD-THEMED wedding in which I was a member of the Bridal Guard), it’s time for a (long 😅) thread dissecting this whole getup that I made entirely from scratch, including dyeing and pattern drafting 🪡 🧵 :
A heavily tattooed woman with long red hair styled in a semi-formal, half-up half-down kinda situation poses with her hands together as if in prayer. She is wearing what can only be described as a whole entire getup, a real wear-it-to-the-grocery-store kinda outfit. The entire ensemble is in various shades of dark blood red and burgundy, and features a fitted red silk dupioni bodice that laces up the front, a burgundy silk chemise and petticoat, and absolutely massive red silk 12th-century style bell sleeves with a pink and red brocade lining. The sleeves are removable, and tie onto the arm with a burgundy silk velvet cuff laced with ribbons. She’s also wearing a large chainmaille collar with silver chain epaulettes that drape over her shoulders. She looks very smug about this outfit.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
🎶 pleat, pleat, pleat 🎶**

**to the tune of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please, Please, Please”
A close-up photo of a section of dark burgundy fabric in the process of being painstakingly pleated to high heaven. The pleats are held in place with an absolute buttload of little plastic clips. It looks like it was very tedious to do.
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
to be loved is to be changed
A woman’s hand wearing two leather thimbles held in a patch of morning sunlight. One of the thimbles is brand new and unmarred, while the other one is battered and needle-scarred with a dark patina on it from heavy use.
November 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
when will my husband return from the war against heaven
A little black dog staring sadly out a window. She looks like some kind of Labrador except that her legs are so, so small. She is dressed in a silly devil costume for Halloween, which somehow makes her look even MORE ridiculous than usual - no small feat.
November 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
hello darkness my old friend
A photo of a corner in a bright and sunny living room. The photo features a comfy-looking brown leather armchair with a matching ottoman, sitting in front of a large bookcase filled with leatherbound books and knick-knacks. The floor has a nice cushy Persian rug, and tucked behind the chair is a big brown dog bed with dog toys scattered on it. On the chair is a heart-shaped pillow that has “Love you to Death” embroidered on it, and a large woven blanket draped over the back. The room would look super classy if it wasn’t for the large messy swatch of dark green paint on the cream-colored wall. Resting on the seat of the chair is a well-worn iPad with an Apple Pencil laying on top of it, looking menacing.
October 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Spent a lot of time in The Chair today 😔
A photo of an iPad screen showing the stats for a work creatively named “Untitled Artwork.” The relevant number here is “Tracked Time,” which indicates 8 hours and 3 minutes of drawing time today.
October 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
vitriol.bsky.social
being a professional artist is so HUMILIATING like why is my boss messaging me this at 2am!!! 😤😤
A screenshot of an Instagram direct message sent at 2:13am. The message is a reply to a story post that is too small to read, but you can kinda tell it has an in-progress drawing in the post. DM reads simply “Your shapes are due,” and the message recipient has replied with a laugh react.
October 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
I cannot BELIEVE — and I swear I am not making this up — I pulled up behind this motherfucker at the exact instant @iwriteok.bsky.social was talking about Rhodesia in the new anthrax episodes of Behind the Bastards
A photo of a blue iNEOS Grenadier SUV from behind. Notably, the Virginia State Parks license plate reads “RHODSN”
October 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
She looks SO much like my brother’s big meatball Winnie!! Although ironically it’s my little idiot Junebug that we call Junie
A photo of a big blockheaded pit bull dog with a gorgeous silver velvety coat and tiny silly little ears, laying on a couch propped up on a pillow with a pillow of chew toys underneath her like a very goofy dragon’s hoard. A photo of a truly ridiculous looking dog on a wooden deck in the fall. She looks like if a black lab/pit mix just got cut off at the knees, with a giant head and chest, then the dumbest stubby little legs you’ve ever seen. She weighs about 37 pounds but is not even knee height. What a magnificent animal.
September 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Me the whole time I was drawing this Eowyn sleeve: >:O
An image containing 4 different photos of a full sleeve tattoo, showing all sides of the arm at once, isolated on a black background with dark grey lineart. The tattoo depicts the scene from JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in which Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, absolutely whomps the Witch-King of Angmar during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. In this tattoo, Eowyn is stabbing downwards into the Witch-King’s helmet while hollering fiercely and victoriously. The Witch-King is bursting into flames, and his armored hands grasp at his flail. The whole sleeve is in a bright, warm color palette and looks like it took a lot of work. The artist’s watermark is in the top corner and reads “vitrioltattoo”
September 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
vitriol.bsky.social
I never work on my birthday but I also never miss the Literary Ink convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee - so yesterday I turned 36 dressed up as a groovy little rosy maple mothmama and tattooed sexy mothmen all day.

Might be the best birthday I’ve ever had.
A full-length mirror selfie of a woman with long red hair wearing massive brown plaid bell bottom pants, a mustard yellow crop top, a hot pink velvet wing-shaped cape with yellow splotches, a hot pink velvet headband with large fluffy antennae, and heart-shaped pink sunglasses. She looks very 70s Elton John, if he were a moth. a photo in crummy convention lighting of a freshly-tattooed Luna mothman in a sassy pinup pose, with a tiny fluttery skirt Another photo in crummy convention lighting of the same Luna mothman tattoo on a different person Another poorly-lit convention photo of a cecropia mothman, also in a cheeky pinup pose
September 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
vitriol.bsky.social
Blackberries are one of my favorite things to draw. I love ‘em so much I did a whole sheet of blackberry thieves based on the birds that steal MY blackberries out of the garden
A photo of an iPad screen with a full sheet of tattoo design sketches featuring Carolina wrens stealing blackberries
September 5, 2025 at 12:25 AM
vitriol.bsky.social
Oh hell yeah bud welcome 🤗 ⚔️

I forged my first sword this year - if you’ve got 3-4 months, a medium tolerance for pain, and a high tolerance for grubbiness then I totally recommend forging as a hobby
An overhead photo of a hand-forged sword lying on a piece of green velvet and hand-dyed green linen fabric. The sword is long and slender with a slim wooden grip and forged steel pommel. A close-up photo of the same sword, showing the detailing in the redwood burl handle and forged steel pommel and guard.
August 30, 2025 at 3:09 AM
vitriol.bsky.social
Baked a little mini loaf of bread to cut with my little mini bread knife.
A photo of a dark wooden cutting board on a lighter butcher block counter. On the cutting board is a handmade bread knife with a walnut handle, a normal-sized loaf of bread wrapped in a tea towel, and a miniature loaf of bread with one slice cut off.
August 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM