Having made all those flannel shirts for my husband and son I thought I would like one for me, but I have that “I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok” song from Monty Python running through my head constantly so I used some lovely flannelette sheeting that didn’t look at all lumberjack like. Except… It turned into pyjamas! I think I can get away with it, but Archie tells me that I am not to leave the house in it (except I already did, teehee).
The pattern I chose is the Grainline Archer, which I’ve had for an age but not got round to making, and given that it’s Sewing Indie Month, I thought the time had finally come. This is in the “everyday casual” category and I don’t think I could get any more everyday casual!
I could pretend that this is a wearable muslin, but I’d be lying. I just wanted a flannel shirt.
Of course I had to do a load of pattern matching, but what’s a make without a challenge?
This is the first time I’ve made the Grainline Archer and I can see what all the fuss is about. I did change the way the yoke is attached – I even took photos to document it, but didn’t have the memory card in the camera – duh! Next time I will change the sleeve plackets and will document this as well, but otherwise, it’s an easy make and I think it looks and feels terrific (in spite of the dodgy fabric).
The sewing machine that I am artfully posing in front of is a “Jones” and is quite a glorious thing. It uses shuttles rather than bobbins, and I have lots of amazing looking feet for it. It is still in perfect working order and I have the original instruction book. I decided to use it as a background as a result of a conversation on the Stashbusting Sewalong Facebook group, and I thought it might be of interest to some of the members. It has written on it “as supplied to her Majesty Queen Alexandra”. This always makes me giggle, I can see her maj sitting down at her deadly treadly and knocking out a gown or two!
She did have a lot of style – there is a Pinterest group with lots of photos. I put this sewing machine at around 1880.
I didnt know a ‘flannie’ could look so pretty! Lovely sewing machine!
Thank you Roma. I quite liked it until the PJ comments!
This is too good to be described as either lumberjack or PJ’s!!! It is a lovely shirt and should be given a more fitting title. I suggest the following: “Apre lunch garden couture” or something with prettier connotations than thoses ascribed to lumberjackery. Cheers.
Thank you Rachel!
or perhaps the Chanel Flanel?
Love it! I might plagiarise this comment. Thanks Rachel.
What a great job on your Archer! You did a beautiful job matching the pattern.
I really appreciate your interest in entering the Sewing Indie Month Sewalong. While I like Jen and her patterns, Grainline isn’t participating in Sewing Indie Month. Only garments sewn from patterns or tutorials by one of the participating companies are eligible to win a prize. That’s because all the participating companies put in long hours behind the scenes to make the sewalong and Sewing Indie Month the best it could be.
You can see the sewalong rules and list of participating companies back on Cashmerette’s blog where you entered, or on my blog at http://seamsterpatterns.com/sewing-indie-month/
Sorry Mari, I have never been good at reading the rules :). Thank you for pointing this out to me, I was about to post some more Grainline makes – sigh! I am not fussed about the competition – many other, much better sewists than me…