Sometimes there’s a project that remain unblogged although it was finished for quite sometime, and the reason is not that I don’t like it. It is because I like it so much that it is either being worn or still in the wash. This shirt is such a project! You might recognize the pattern, The Archer button-up shirt by Grainline studio that every sewing blogger seemed to have made.

From the description on the Grainline studio website: “The Archer Button Up is a loosely fitting button up shirt with long sleeves. View A has angled cuffs and a back pleat at yoke. View B has straight cuffs and a gathered lower back detail.” I made view A in size 0 with no alteration.

After making it, I now understand the rave about this pattern. This shirt is not a simple project with stand-up collar, button plackets, sleeve plackets, pockets, and so on, but the instructions are quite clear that I didn’t encounter any difficulty. The patterns are marked correctly and everything matched. It is very frustrating when a pattern is not marked correctly especially when sewing stand-up collar!

The skirt is actually just finished today. The pattern is Vogue 8697; from the pattern envelope: “MISSES’/MISSES’ PETITE SKIRT: Semi-fitted, tapered, lined skirts A, B, C, D, E, F with shaped waistband, princess seams, back slit, topstitched trim and back zipper. A: contrast waistband. D: contrast sides. E: button trim. A, B, C, D: mid-knee length. E, F: lower calf length.” I made view A in size 10.

The stretch denim was actually leftover from a pair of pants that I cut yesterday (not sewn yet). I didn’t have enough fabric left for the waistband facing so I used different denim fabric that has no stretch. It is actually better because the waistband is supposed to have no stretch. Both the waistband and facing pieces are interfaced. I also inserted rigilene boning to the seamlines of the facing to stabilize the high waistband.

I cut size 10 but then shaved the sideseams considerably so it is probably size 8 now. Other alterations are just the usual shortening on the hip and hem. I didn’t line the skirt per the instructions and only finished the facing edge with grey hem tape.

As I have mentioned, I wear the shirt a lot! It is so simple and versatile. It doesn’t look too table cloth-y anymore as a shirt. I wear it as it is or over t-shirt, with jeans or this skirt. I think these two are quite a perfect match!

Shirt pattern is Archer button-up shirt by Grainline Studio, size 0.
Skirt pattern is Vogue 8697, size 10.