Despretador

Hola Amigo! I was kinda stumped as to what I might sew for this challenge, I’ve never had the chance to wear the dress I danced in for last years challenge; I think my taste has changed and I feel it’s too young for me anyway. So to narrow things down a western shirt or gingham number I know I wont wear anytime soon either, I settled on this self drafted jacket, a take on the Mexican poncho. Sure I could of made a poncho but where’s the challenge in that, I need to move on from squares, you know what I mean?

I found this Mexican stuff in the cheap pile of the furnishing section of Spotlight, it’s a serious woven, I grabbed two metres and whilst I was there I grabbed a couple of metres of stay tape, I knew that any pressure put on these seams would be a total disaster so I needed to reinforce and that I did, side seams, shoulder seams and the back of the neck facing.

As for the making of this jacket thingy, I measured myself up and cut the back panel first then I folded it in half and used it as a guide for the two front panels extending the lapel out and sewing the underneath section to the shoulder seam then the lapel folds over and sits over my shoulders this is where I added the two longer sections that cross over one another onto my back matching the rhythm of the fabrics pattern, you cant notice the join at all. The arm scyes were serged and turned under and pressed into shape.

I placed pockets on the front, you need pockets. I was in two minds as to whether I should place the pocket inline with the fabrics pattern or not, I decided to place it off line so you knew it had pockets, now I wished I did side pockets. I placed stay tape on the right inside of the jacket seam and on the inner left hand side of the lapel so you could tie it up before you folded the right hand side over, you know like a dressing gown does. This way it stays put and I can round up the Amigos for some tequila’s with confidence . The pom poms were thrifted and finished things off nicely. The only thing missing is a sombrero moustache and cactus ha! the styling’s a little off, you get that, I didn’t have anything on hand for my head, Ah well.

I do like this but feel it adds pounds to my figure. I have broad shoulders already so making these lapels big and with the stripes and all make me feel a tad frumpy. Where would I wear this? Camping? night-time BBQ? My local Touché Hombre? Who know’s, I’m sure there will be a place for it somewhere, sometime.

These babies are what I call my Boots of Awesome. I DIY’d them from a thrifted pair of boots awhile ago. You can see more of them over on my blog.

I can’t wait to see what you all sew. This one is named after my favourite Mariachi band Mariachi El Bronx-Despretador

Adios Amigo’s.

The Facts