Like everyone else, I’ve fallen in love with Archer by Grainline Studios.
It was extremely windy – so this looks hard more fitted than it is!
We took these photos on the way home from Dubbo Zoo (site of the infamous leopard culottes shoot). Unfortunately it was blowing a gale and getting shots where my face wasn’t covered in hair was challenging. I love driving through this country, the colours are so muted, the hills roll away into the distance, the sky seems closer and the grass is soft and brown. I’ve always wanted to take a blog shot in this area – perhaps next time when the weather is more agreeable!
I’ve chosen this as the back view shot – simply because all the other shots, it’s quite creased as I fell asleep in the car!
This make is courtesy of Leila of Three Dresses. Not only did she get me sewing a ‘proper’ shirt, she also got me to tackle silk – thank goodness for the gelatin bath for taming the slippery beast. This make re-fuelled my love of sewing. I certainly had not fallen out of love with sewing (not possible) but I had been feeling flat and weary about most things for a while.
Leila has made Archer – and has great fitting tips.
Once I pulled out the scissors and cut into the silk, I just went bananas.
Not my favoutire shot – however it’s slightly less windy and the shirt is sitting more ‘normally’!
I did not read the instructions – I used Jen’s online sewalong, which is fantastic.
I did get slightly stuck with the burritoed yoke (you attach the yoke without a single hand stitch – love that!) and hopped between Jen’s tutorial and Peter’s of Male Pattern Boldness which helped me get the concept straight in my head. If you haven’t even sewn a yoke this way – I recommend you try it!
I hit an absolute road block with the collar and collar stand. Not because of the pattern or instructions, just my lack of experience and agility with the machine! I put it aside for a few days, realised it wasn’t as bad as I thought and ploughed on. Next time I’ll be trying Andrea of Four Square Walls method – which popped up post my collar horror!
I so enjoyed making this Archer- I promptly purchased the Tiny Pocket Tank, Mini Moss Skirt and Maritime Shorts from Grainline Studio!
windy!!
I do love long-sleeved, masculine shirts and I think that I will be making a more Archers (I might have fabric queued for two more…). LOVE.
I’m going to wear this with pencil skirt and heels to work – it looks fabulous like that too… for some reason heels didn’t seem so appropriate in this setting…
Thank you Leila. xox
Pattern: Grainline Archer
Material: 100% silk shot with metallic thread
Location: 10 minutes east of Walcha NSW Australia
Also see: True Bias (this is my all time fave Archer) | Did You Make That | Ginger Makes | Sew Amy Sew | Four Square Walls (adore this outfit) | Notes from a Mad Housewife (love the back of this one – great shots & advice) | Handmade by Heather
As for the holiday – it was ‘rad’ – just ask Miss 8… thanks to all our family and friends!
Apsley Falls near Walcha, NSW
And if it’s quiet around here… I’ve been at home for a whole four days – so it’s time for another break – this time with friends at the beach (a different one!).
Sew Busy Lizzy 
Its beautiful Lizzy! I cant wait to try out a gelatine bath and Andrea’s collar method. I need an Archer, stat!
I was surprised just how much fun I had sewing it – the sewalong is fantastic.
Archers are SO addictive and I feel like I conquered the world making a tailored shirt. Thanks grainline! Yours looks fabulous!
Me too – I was so proud of myself when I finished!
I have 2- unfinished. I am SO BAD! I should take your lead and just plough on! (One I messed up the front and had to remove the whole band and the other- my daughter vacuumed up the sheer sleeve- Then said- “I dont think this was anything important!”) And yours was made with SILK! I would have been terrified. The collar stand got me for a while too. Yours is magnificent. Makes we want to get back and finish mine! .. The pictures are great. Love the colors too. Looks very “old west” in a way if that makes sense! (Except those are eucalyptus trees if I am not mistaken?) ~Laurie
I had a huge debate with myself whether to rip off the collar stand and start again. Then I freaked out about how the body of the shirt would take it with the fraying… so I left it for a few days and realised with my hair down and the shirt unbuttoned at the neck you could really see the minor whoops at all. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a break and be a bit kinder to your sewing self 🙂
Oh and yes they are eucalyptus trees!
Reblogged this on See Kat Sew (…or try to).
Wow! This looks great, even with all that crazy wind. A silk Archer? You are one brave lady, I haven’t worked myself up to that yet. Can’t wait to see more of these from you and thanks for the shout out.
You have stitched a few Archers, yes? You could do a silk one in your sleep… after a gelatin bath!
Gosh – that is lovely! Such gorgeous colors in the silk. Thanks for the links for the collar – I have made a few shirts for Mr. SDSC and do struggle somewhat with the collar. I could also use this technique for the cuffs 🙂
Great idea about the cuffs!
I actually think I could make ELH a proper shirt now…
It’s lovely. And I love the photos!
Thank you
Absolutely beautiful! I am still too scared to try this pattern, so many bits, and you’ve gone and done it in silk!
There are a lot of bits but it’s a very satisfying project and with the Grainline sewalong it breaks it up into manageable bite-sized chunks. You can do it!
I have been looking for a shirt pattern and a challenge and I am inspired by yours.. I too love this style in shirt. Definitely going to get the Archer.
And yes you have to love the Aussie countryside – unique.. on my way to the Flinders Ranges in a week (so no sewing for me for a bit).
It’s a great pattern and I highly recommend it – plus having the sewalong to refer to makes it easier to construct. I love the fact it’s not shaped, makes it perfect for soft, flowing fabrics.
That is one beautiful shirt. I bet it feels amazing on. Well done for ploughing on, lady. That’s the way we learn most x
I totally agree- after all isn’t that what we teach our kids to do? x
And I just loooove that picture of your dort!!! x
Oh she’s the wild one!
I love your fabric choice and this shirt looks so amazing! I’ve recently bought the Archer pattern so thanks so much for the tips and links re the yoke and the collar.
It’s worth figuring out the burrito yoke – it’s really clever and neat!
gorgeous – so glad you found a way to tame the silk as the result is lovely!
I’ve got a tencel fabric for an Archer – it’s as soft as the silk, it’s headed for the gelatin bath as well!
At the tender age of 10, I got lightly mauled by a kangaroo (? might have been a large wallaby; not sure – it left in a hurry) at the Western Plains zoo. It remains the abiding memory of that holiday …
On topic, this Archer is gorgeous. I’ve been ogling the pattern for ages and this one just looks fantastic. Very nice!
We have had several kids attacked where I live – kangaroos can be very nasty. Ouch.
I’d ogled Archer for ages – I’m glad Leila made me sew it!
Silk Archer? Impressed… hell yes! And the photo of your daughter, I’m still laughing.
I often say to Miss 8 – could you just be normal while I take a photo? To which she replies “I’ve forgotten what normal is mum!”
I nearly fainted at the idea of making a SILK Archer! I have heard of the gelatine bath before but my one attempt at trying to stabilise polyester chiffon turned out distorted and sticky… i’m thinking maybe I put too much gelatine in it? Either way I love your Archer and am so crazy impressed that it’s made in SILK! I just can’t imagine having the patience and skills to do that!
I’ve just bathed some poly chiffon and it worked. Perhaps you did use too much gelatin?? I can’t imagine I would have managed to sew this without gelatin – got much if it I didn’t even need to pin it!
Your silk archer is elegant and it’s great how you’ve made the most of our wild weather.
Thank you – it was a howling gale that day, we had five bikes on the car & trailer – most unpleasant to travel in. It’s still beautiful countryside though.
It is.
gorgeous! oh i’ve been wanting a silk archer but for some reason i find it a bit scary… you did a fabulous job!
Yup I was scared!!! Thanks to the gelatin though I barely needed to pin it.
Gorgeous Archer. I have this pattern in my sewing queue. Thanks for all the tips and the encouragement. I am making a men’s shirt for my partner next. Just in the middle of “Pam Howard’s Classic Tailored Shirt” on Craftsy, at the moment.
Oh I’ll look for your post on that, I’m curious about that class. I really enjoyed making this and would love to know some more tricks to improve the result.
Oh, Lizzy, it’s so pretty! I am actually not a huge fan of button-up shirts on me because I find they make me look very masculine, but even I think I could rock this one and girl it up! The fabric is so pretty and flowy and must have been very challenging to sew. Nice work!
I love shirts, used to wear them all the time! Now not so much – too much ironing. I think if they are made with soft fabrics they are quite girly. Just slap on some bling and nice jeans or a mini girl! 🙂
Wow, that’s gorgeous. I’m still working up to sewing shirts. I wish I’d known about the gelatin bath when I tried to make my silk dress a few years ago. But I know now, thanks to you!
Without the bath it would have been much harder – it also makes it easier to cut out. I barely pinned the fabric – except the sleeves and trickier bits. The sewalong makes it an achievable project as it breaks it up into little steps.
Love this so much!!!!! What a fabulous shirt! I love it in silk! This is such a nice pattern– it’s just the sort of thing that I love to wear! It’s so luxe in silk!
Thanks! I’m a huge fan of button-ups – just haven’t worn them in a while. I think the archer might change that.
You should sew one in silk – instead of all the selfless sewing!
Don’t tempt me! 😉
All sorts of gorgeous and your daughter! Love that photo! You’ve inspired me to actually start the archer that I’ve had cut out and waiting for months and man does that thing go together fast?! Sleeve plackets are next on the agenda. I love the burrito rolling technique for the yoke, I feel like a magician every single time!
The area you shot the photos in is gorgeous, it has a slightly dream like quality to me, I can see why you like it so much.
I’m so pleased to have kick-started your Archer project!
We will be headed back through that lovely country again in November & January – hopefully I’ve got a make to photograph & the weather is more agreeable next time 🙂
xox
Love, love the print! 😉
It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous shirt Lizzy! And such a fabulous printed silk that would make it very versatile, I would think. Love it 🙂
Thanks! I was terrified but when I finished I was so excited – OMG I made a silk shirt!!!
This is stunning. But I have to admit that the veggie in me is totally grossed out by the phrase ‘gelatin bath’ – it just makes me think of what Starling finds in that bath in Buffalo Bill’s house in The Silence of the Lambs. But that’s just me. You look smashing as always my beauty xxx
It’s stunning!! As usual!! And Australia is SO beautiful! I hope to see it in person, someday.
Thanks Nettie, we do have a beautiful and very diverse country… and I hope to come to NY in 2014!
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Gorgeous shirt and no sign of first time shirt maker here. Michael Coffey has a great book on shirtmaking should the bug take over.
Oh that’s a great tip – thank you!
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