Our Patterns:

#23-Mexico Holiday
Price: $12.00

This pattern is a modern update of a jacket that has become a vintage favorite for collectors.  Many of you will remember the souvenir or tourist jackets made in Mexico in the late 1940’s through the early 1950’s.  They were made from wool felt or wool broadcloth and were either red, green, turquoise, yellow, etc.  Many of them had a Mexican boy and girl dancing on the back.  There was also an assortment of other appliqués and all the edges were finished with a cross stitch.  Some of you may still have one in the back of your closet. I have 7 or 8 in my collection.  I would love to wear them, but they were all cut so small that they don’t fit my today’s figure.

The fun of being able to sew is you can make your own jacket.  I designed this pattern just like the original design. It has the same shirt collar, rounded

patch pockets, dart at the front shoulder, and set-in sleeves with a pleat at the shoulder seam.  Just like the original! However, this time I have added 2 inches more room in the arm holes so you don’t have a tight-fitted sleeve. I have also added several more inches to the hem length and 2 more inches to each side seam at the hem for wearing comfort and movement.  I have included over a dozen of the original appliqués taken from my jacket collection (including the dancing boy and girl) and instructions for the cross-stitch hem finishing. It was great fun to make. I enjoy wearing it for anything from an evening out with friends to a Mexican restaurant, to throwing it on over a pair of jeans for a quick trip to the market.

For those of you who don’t think you would ever wear the original design, I have included a more contemporary version in the pattern. This option gives you the same jacket with the dart at the shoulders and the pleat at the sleeve cap. I have also added a front facing and back shoulder and neck facing and a vent in the side seams.  This gives you a soft “garden” or “artist” style swing jacket that is very comfortable, relaxed, and feminine.  It looks wonderful on all figures, is quick to make, easy to size and you will love it.

There is a set-in sleeve so you will check the shoulder width, and if needed, fold the pattern at the shoulders for size adjustment. The arm holes are meant to be roomy for wearing comfort. Move side seams in or out as needed when cutting to make sizing adjustments. This is a very quick and easy pattern to size and sew.

For the original jacket design, pick a soft wool with a tight even weave.  I always pre-wash the fabric before sewing.  ALWAYS wash a test sample first, and then make you own decision as to wash or not to wash.  Wools do wash, but the texture and density will often change.  I personally find the fabric is usually better after washing. By first testing a sample, you can make your own choice. I like to use water that is barely warm.  You must remember to not over agitate the wool in the washing machine and to use the same water temperature for both wash and rinse. If you put the fabric in the dryer, then set the dryer at same temperature as the water temperature you used and dry it only long enough to take out part of the moisture.  The tumbling in the dryer will also affect the texture of the wool. Or you can towel roll the fabric to remove water then lay flat to dry.  For the more contemporary version, you could use anything from wool cotton, denim, to washed linen.  Pick a fabric with medium weight and medium drape and pre-wash before sewing.

Price: $12.00

Out Of Stock - will not be re-printed until further notice