FINISHED! Isle of Wight Archer

Just in the nick of time, I finish my Archer for Archer Appreciation month.

I made it up in new season (Spring Summer 14) Liberty of London, Isle of Wight C bought from Tessuti.  Here's some information on the print.

Isle of Wight C Tana Lawn from the Gallery of Prints collection by Liberty Art Fabrics.

Created in-house, using washes of ink and Rotring pen, the Isle of Wight fabric design was inspired by the vintage-style memorabilia found in the fourth floor’s RE concession room. 

The Fourth Floor fabric story celebrates Liberty’s interior decoration floor. Each design pays homage to a different area or department, taking on the intrinsic mood of each individual space. 

Despite being a lover of print (understatement :)) and really loving this print ( it has been the one that stuck me first out of all the new season fabrics) I was a bit worried about how 'full on' it would look. I love it though. I think the Archer is the perfect pattern for it, taking it out of the too cutesy realm that it could have easily fallen into with a different pattern.  On the other hand I don't really consider myself a button down shirt kind of gal but it feels so me in this fabric. I'm also happy for the camouflage that the fabric provided to some dodgy stitching in places.

I originally did a quick and dirty muslin of a size 4 but wanted it to be slightly more tailored than the 4, so decided to just cut the 2.  I think it might still be a bit big across the shoulders but only marginally.  I also took an inch off the length and off the sleeves.  Very simple adjustments have rendered the fit pretty great.

I barely looked at the paper pattern, but rather followed along with the Jen's sewalong. It was great and helpful and kept me going. If you remember I had a plan for this shirt. Yes, it felt like a bit of a marathon, but the sewalong helped enormously.

The most annoying thing I did was cut the collar upside down so now the little swimmers are upside down.  I didn't fix it because it's not such a big deal but urrgh.

I like it all buttoned up and neat - it seems more me - in an uptight way (by the way it is all even at the bottom but clearly I don't stand evenly and the shirt is a little wrinkled).

I think this shirt will be a real work horse. I tried it on yesterday all tucked into my work skirt and it looks great.

This is my third 'shirt' for 2013, the drop waist and Cami before it.  I still struggled a bit with the collar, but this one was better, although after I had inserted AND top stitched I decided that it wasn't neat enough so tried to reinsert... with barely a 1/8" seam allowance in there.  Not smart and of course I didn't make it any neater!  I'm confident I'm going to nail my next effort. And there will be.

Thanks Jen for the pattern and all the help in the sewalong. You deserve all the love out there for Archer Appreciation month.

Archer Appreciation Month - A plan!

So, I'm a little bit late to the party, but I'm in for Archer Appreciation month hosted by Lucky Lucille and Miss Crayola Creepy! After purchasing this pattern within seconds of it being released back in February, I'm finally getting around to making it up.

Spurred on partly by the release of some new season Liberty at Tessuti and one in particular that I hope will make a very cute Archer (I'll know for sure when it arrives next week) and second, well, right now I feel like I need the discipline of a sewalong to get me out of a rut and to keep me calmly sewing through the Christmas season instead of panic sewing.  Oh there will be plenty of panic present preparation and a little bit of panic Christmas sewing, but I feel like I need this to keep me sane.

Unlike Amy, who managed to sew her fourth (!!!) Archer up in a day (eeek??!!)  I'm just planning on having this done by 31 December (ok - I'll probably try and rush it earlier but let's start out with a realistic date given I'll be away from the 23 - 27 December) just in time to make the Archer Appreciation deadline.

I've set out steps in line with Jen's sewalong that she did earlier in the year.

1. Assemble Pattern Completed Friday 13th! 
2. Cut Muslin
3. Sew Muslin
4. Make changes 
5. Prepare fabric
6. Cut fabric
7. Interfacing
8. Make button bands
9. Pockets
10. Assemble Back 
11. Attach yoke (method 1 or method 2)
12. Sleeve plackets
13. Sleeves and side seams
14. Collar
15. Cuffs and hem
16. Buttons

Mmm, 16 steps by 31 December 2013 in amongst Christmas mania?  Do-able I think.

Are you managing to sew for yourself while also prepare for Christmas? 

Btw, does anyone know how to watch the Liberty of London 4 part TV show in Australia?