I stumbled across a fabric store here in Guadalajara yesterday and just had to go inside and check it out. No surprise I found some great Mexican textiles in vivid colors that I fell in love with immediately! These fabrics are commonly used around Mexico as tablecloths and curtains, but I have a different plans.
I don't have access to a sewing machine at the moment, but I'm not gonna let that stop me! We are staying in a lofty warehouse space that is the new location of Guadalajara's Casa de Cyclista, or House of Cyclists. There are many such houses throughout Latin America which serve as a resting point and repair resource for all cycle tourists. This is the first we have come across and it doesn't disappoint! There is plenty of table space for me to work on here, and I was even given a large roll of brown paper I can use for patterning. It's great!
I am not sure how much I can get done during the week or so that we are here, before going to Cuba. But I am gonna do my best! Here are some initial design sketches...
There are a few more elements I need to pick up before I can get to work on the harems and the backpack (the two things I most need, incidently). But I just couldn't wait another day. I have already drafted the pattern for the skirt, which will actually secretly be a pair of culottes, much more practical for biking in. I documented my progress as I went along and think I might have the makings of a nifty little tutorial. Look for that later this week!
Since I have never made these things before nor have ever worked with this kind of fabric, I am excited to see how they might turn out. It is a learning process for me, and hopefully you might get something out of it too. Well, back to work!