Archer + Maritime = Signature Style

It seems I've become a Grainline Pattern fanatic!  What can I say, the resulting garments just look so professional and the styles are casual and incredibly functional.  I guess these days I've been thinking a lot more about functionality/practicality rather than what just strikes me as pretty and exciting.  Meaning most of the time I am drawn to beautiful dress patterns but find that they just don't get worn on a regular day to day basis.  So I've been trying to consciously choose makes that will realistically get worn over and over through out my week.  This is just such an outfit.   

 The shirt is the Grainline Archer pattern of blogging infamy.  I made it out of a thin ikat from Joann's fabrics and its going to be my go to summer shirt.  The ikat waves remind me so much of the beach and the texture of the fabric is incredibly breathable.  As far as the pattern goes I made a straight up size 4 and the fit is great except I have a tiny bit of pulling at the bust line button.

 The shorts are the Grainline Maritime Shorts pattern.  I am in love with the way these came out.  I have a hard time finding a pair of shorts or pants for that matter that don't have that dreaded lower back gaping, you know where you bend down and are ignorant of the crazy flash show that is going on back there for the world to see.  I have no gaping in the back which seems like a Christmas miracle come early.  The fabric was given to me and is a bottom weight cotton/poly blend.  The only change I made to the pattern was to let the backside seam out a bit because, well I just needed it!  Otherwise its a straight up size 8.

 Although I'm hesitant to include this shot these are the ones I appreciate when other bloggers blog about their experiences with a pattern...sometimes you just need to know what all the angles look like...am-I-right?

And these are my new shoes, again with functionality in mind I'm trying to move toward what works best with my lifestyle.  In all honesty I am a Birkenstock kind of person through and through but I know that they just look plain goofy with some outfits so here I am back in junior high buying Keds.  This is my last entry for Project Sewn if you are so inclined you can vote for my outfit starting this Friday!

Linking up to Frontier Dreams: Keep Calm and Craft On.

Leopard Print Archer

I completed an Archer by Grainline Studios and I love the way it turned out.  The fabric is a cotton voile from Hancock Fabrics and granted, its a little busy, but I'm pleased with the overall result.  I plan on wearing it with rolled up sleeves all summer.

I want to gush a little about this pattern (thanks Hanni for gushing about one previously!) I am so impressed with the way this garment came together.  I can't even imagine how a person designs and comes up with all the pieces for a shirt like this...it was very well thought out making it pretty straightforward to sew.  And if there is any doubt about any part of the directions there are enormously helpful tutorials on the Grainline website.  I highly recommend the short video on constructing the collar.  So if you are at all afraid of this pattern the Grainline website is there to hold your hand.

I am entering this top in the Project Sewn pool.  The theme for this week is "The Leading Lady Challenge" and try as I might I had a hard time thinking of a leading lady so I'm calling this "inspired" by old Hollywood since it has a leopard print on it.

One more little navel-gazing thought...the whole time I was sewing this garment I was thinking about all those people out there that have sewn all my husbands button up shirts.  I know the wages given are not fair since the garments are so inexpensively priced.  There is so much that can be said about the topic of fast and cheap fashion and there are no easy solutions to it but I hope that by just being aware and trying to make thoughtful choices maybe we can alleviate someone else's load to bear in life.  I try not to sit on too high of a horse about this subject because I feel very privileged to be able to make some of my clothes but I do try to be thoughtful.  Maybe I should call this my "up on my soapbox Archer."  Ok that was indeedy a soap box and kinda serious and this is sewing so moving on...

If you want to make this shirt I say go for it, its very do-able and you will feel all kinds of proud when you complete it!!


Also linking up to Keep Calm and Craft On.