Teal Dreams
Penny Muncaster-Jewell

One of my grand passions is Shibori and dyeing. This garment started out life as a piece of black silk organza. Several different Shibori or resist techniques were applied to the silk organza that was then discharged using a Thiox discharge pot. This including stringing around a pipe, squishing into knee highs, accordion pleating and then securing with clothes pegs and popsicle sticks! The resulting patterning left in the fabric was a true joy and splendid. These pieces were then layered one on top of another and painted using Setacolor in shades of Turquoise, Copper Shimmer, Cobalt Blue, Electric Shimmer, and Ultramarine. The fabrics were then dried outside on the lawn or on the fence if very windy. I have some of the neatest colored fences!

The resulting fabric was then taken and pieced together using the incredibly tiny French seams, as used in the Korean Pojagi wrapping clothes. I learned this seaming technique from Jack Brockette from Waco Texas, a wonderful man. The fabric was then used to create the jacket shown. I guess it was successful since someone stole the original. I had enough remaining fabric to recreate this version. I love the rich colors that the results from this method of discharging and painting.

I teach this as a weekend workshop and my students get to create approximately 11 yards of fabric so that they can then create their own garment later. They also learn how to do the French seams, without having to have too much wine.

 

Bahama Breeze

Penny Muncaster-Jewell

I love to use the Setacolr paints to create original fabric for garments. This garment started out life as a piece of white silk organza. Several layers of the organza were layered on top of each other. Then painted using Setacolor in shades of Turquoise, Copper Shimmer, Cobalt Blue, Electric Shimmer, and Ultramarine. What is surprising is that these are the exact same colors as used on Teal Dreams! It is hard to imagine that they are the same colors. The resulting colors reminded me of the wonderful water sof the Bahamas and the coral beaches, hence the name. The fabrics were then dried outside on the lawn or on the fence if very windy. I have some of the neatest colored fences!

The resulting fabric was then taken and pieced together using the incredibly tiny French seams, as used in the Korean Pojagi wrapping clothes. I learned this seaming technique from Jack Brockette from Waco Texas, a wonderful man. The fabric was then used to create the jacket shown. I have two versions of this jacket. I always get great compliments when I wear one or the other. One used Jennifer Amor’s Pop Top Pattern, the other a modified version of Lois Ericson's Lines and Angles vest converted to a jacket. It is the perfect weight for the Houston weather. Light enough to wear but just enough to keep the freezing air conditioning off your shoulders and arms.

I teach this as a weekend workshop and my students get to create approximately 11 yards of fabric so that they can then create their own garment later. They also learn how to do the French seams, without having to have too much wine.

 

 

Lady In Red

Penny Muncaster-Jewell

This outfit was a challenge. I really wanted to create a very bright red, even after discharging the black silk organza. Normally when I discharge and paint the resulting colors, although great tend to go darker. I used Vermillion, Cardinal, and a touch of Shimmer Oriental Red.Bengal Pink. Amazingly this came out the exact shades I was looking for! I have since been able to reproduce this color. This is good since this coat has since sold. The Head of the Fashion department (Kay King) at the Houston Community College (Where Project Runway winner Chloe went!) fell in love with the coat at the 2006 Houston Area Fiber Artists Style show.

The coat pattern is a Geoffery Beene Vogue Pattern. I loved the way this falls. To accent to the coat I stenciled and embroidered bamboo leaves onto some of the black areas. The coat was pieced using the Pojagi tiny French seams.

A closure was made from red and black cord and two articulated cloisonné coy fish were on each one.

 

Red Swing Jacket
Penny Muncaster-Jewell

This outfit was a challenge. I really wanted to create a very bright red, even after discharging the black silk organza. Normally when I discharge and paint the resulting colors, although great tend to go darker. I used Vermillion, Cardinal, and a touch of Shimmer Oriental Red, Bengal Pink. Amazingly this came out the exact shades I was looking for! I have since been able to reproduce this color. The jacket pattern is a Simplicity 4355 Pattern. Although meant to be a lined fleece jacket I modified it to be single layer unlined organza jacket. I loved the way this collars falls. The jacket was pieced using the Pojagi tiny French seams.

A single button and loop closure was added to close the jacket.

This item is for sale $400. It is approx a size 14.