The pattern is Burdastyle 2/2012 104. Since it is only January 2012 at this point, this qualifies as a pattern from the future, but it really reminds me of a design from my past. Specifically, my favorite trousers from 1988. High, cut-on waist, pleats, narrow hem. The high waist is so different from any other trousers that I currently own that it may take some getting used to.

The fabric is a very beefy silk twill. It started out white.

back view

Waist detail on the trousers. The pattern is Burdastyle 2/2012 104.

The process. That's a tjanting tool.

This is my wax heating setup. Surprisingly, my house did not burn down.

This is a good photo. Normally, I hate photos of me where I'm looking at the camera, especially if I'm smiling. This one came out well. I suppose it helps that I piled on the warpaint.

So I took a fashion cue from John Belushi and screen printed “College” on a black shirt. I’m wearing it with a lace cardigan and fur skirt (not pictured).

This photo was taken on Saturday evening.

I took their Shibori with Indigo class several months ago, and it was a very pleasant experience. The teacher was game for any and all wacky projects that the students wanted to do with shibori and indigo.

Before applying the wax, I sewed the pockets and side seams. I wanted the motifs to cross the side seams.

Another issue is that I was a bit of a wimp about heating the wax. When the wax started getting too hot (as evidenced by alarming popping noises coming from the can), I blew out the candle underneath that I was using to heat it. It seems like the wax absorbed better when it was hotter, though. I may try this again when the weather is warmer, and I can work outside.

Here are some photos of my progress:

project with wax applied, before dyeing.

the result so far

This is one of the better motifs

This shows that part that's the closest to what I had in mind

Here’s my inspiration photo:

my inspiration photo

I’m batiking today. I’ll let you know how it goes. Oh, and that setup in the background, where the wax is melting in a cut-off pop can perched on a fondue warmer? It works, but I can’t recommend it because it may burn the house down.

About a year ago, I drafted a slipper pattern that works for me. I made one pair that was a little too tight, then got it right with the second pair. Yesterday, I took apart one of that pair to make myself some new slippers.

I used some scraps that I had around. The upper is a purple cotton velvet in an upholstery weight, lined with polar fleece. The sole is leather salvaged from a leather jacket that I bought at a tag sale ages ago. The insole is 2 layers of wool. There’s a wool melton left over from a cape that I made, and cashmere salvaged from socks. I love cashmere socks, but they just don’t last. When the feel are entirely worn through, I save the rest for other projects, like this one.

Here's the "before" picture of my old slippers

Here's the slipper after I've been wearing it for a year or so.

leather soles

This top is a blatent knockoff of a top in January Vogue. The Vogue top, oddly enough, is from H&M. After I completed this project, I realized that I probably could have headed to the H&M in the local mall to see if it was there and save the trouble of making it. Somehow, it just seems easier to use some fabric that I have lying about and make it myself. I started with a Vogue pattern, 1084, and changed it considerably to get the lines I wanted. I chose this pattern because it has the shoulder that I wanted, and that’s a difficult thing to get right.

The fabric is a lovely cotton sateen. I bought it at a warehouse (London Textiles in Cherry Hill NJ). They have great prices and quality, but terrible lighting. I thought the darker color was black when I bought it, but when I got it home, I realized that it’s dark brown. I have a lot of it, and I may try to use color remover and dye the rest of it. Anyway, it’s perfect for this project, and a nice contrast to the tan color. The tan is also a cotton sateen.

Since I had some extra fabric, I self-lined the skirt to add a bit of heft to it. The top is unlined, with serged seams, except for the peplum part. The peplum is self-lined. It has a side zipper, which makes it rather difficult to pull over my head. It’s definitely the kind of thing that I need to put on before I do my hair. I put lingerie carriers at the shoulder seams.

back view

Front View. I'm wearing false eyelashes, which look nice in the photo. In person, they are extreme.

lingerie carrier at shoulder seam.

Zipper detail. If I were to do this again, I would insert the zipper upside down, opening at the bottom edge. It's hard to pull over my head the way it is.

My Christmas Present