Another Archer for my winter wardrobe! Yay!
I actually finished this shirt nearly 2 months ago, but here I am just now getting around to posting it. I’d apologize for the delay, but honestly, I’m not sorry. It is what it is. On the flip side, I’ve been able to wear it plenty since completion, so I can actually comment on the fit from the perspective of wearing it all day. On the other hand, I’ve already made a bunch of Archers so it’s not like this is some kind of breaking news in my personal pattern collection.
Since I’ve made this pattern multiple times (see: one two three… well damn, there’s another one somewhere but I can’t find it oh well), I’ll spare you the nitty gritty. Like my previous versions, I cut a size 0, sewed the side seams at 5/8″ and flat-felled all the seams for a nice clean finish on the inside. The buttons are just standard shirting buttons that I had in my stash, and I matched the plaid everywhere except on the back yoke and the pockets, which are cut on the bias. Oh, and I used the pocket piece from my Negroni pattern. It looks like it belongs on a western shirt, and I like that.
I really love this fabric, but this particular shirt almost didn’t happen. See, back when I bought flannel from fabric.com for my Carolyn Pajamas, I added a few yards of this Robert Kaufman Mammoth Plaid flannel to my cart so I’d qualify for free shipping (because I just love saving money when it means I have to spend more money first :P). A few days after I placed the order, I received an email from Fabric.com saying that they didn’t have the 3 yards I requested, but they did have 3 cuts (totaling around 1.5-2 yards) of a smaller amount if I wanted that. I didn’t think I’d be able to cut a shirt – let alone plaid-match – out of that small of an amount, so I picked a different plaid from the site and asked them to just change my order. When I received my order processing notification, it said I was only getting 1 yard of the new flannel (not 3, like I’d asked for in the email). I had to call the company and sort things out, and while all this was happening – they completely sold out of my back-up flannel! Argh!! Obviously, that shit wasn’t in the cards for me. I told them to cancel the second cut of flannel and just send me the original piece that I needed to finish my pajamas (which they thankfully still had! Pretty sure I bought the last of it). I was refunded for the 3 yards that were out of stock and I got free shipping too. Cool!
And then they ended up giving me the off-cuts anyway, for free. Just threw them in the package where I was surprised (but also happy because, YAY FREE FABRIC) to find them hanging out with my actual order. That’s cool, I ain’t complaining.
Since I had the fabric, I decided to try my original plan and make that Archer. Like I said, had 3 cuts – one was a full yard, one was a half yard, and the last was a bit less than half a yard (I’m sorry I don’t remember the exact amounts, but it was a while ago and my order history on the site doesn’t reflect the freeb). It took some ninja cutting skills to cut everything so that the plaid lines matched, but I did manage for the most part. Cutting everything on the single layer helped immensely. That being said, I was still a tiny bit short on one of the fronts, so I ended up having to piece it and there is an extra seam. It’s only a little noticeable, but, again, free flannel shirt. Not complaining.
You can see the piecing here, sort of. The top seam that I’m pointing to is the actual shoulder seam. The bottom seam is the result of piecing. By carefully matching the plaids and flat-felling the seam, I was able to get it to blend pretty well.
Another minor complaint is that I wasn’t able to properly match the sleeves. The lines of the plaid are uninterrupted, which is good, but the sleeves themselves are not sleeve twins. Again, fabric restrictions. Again, free flannel shirt. Not complaining.
Here’s a crappy picture of the inside, in all it’s flat-felled glory. Yay!
This flannel shirt is a bit different than my other ones, since the fabric is SO thick. It almost feels like I’m wearing a light jacket, as opposed to a shirt. It’s pretty awesome and super snuggly. The fit is a little more boxy, too, since this fabric doesn’t drape as well as a shirting plaid flannel. I’m pretty ok with that, though! It works well with leggings (shown here with navy Ooh La Leggings which btw FAVORITE comfy lounge legging pattern, hands down!), but also looks good with jeans. I almost wish I’d put in pearl snaps instead of regular buttons, because I really like Hulking out of my clothes, but I think the fabric is just too thick for pearl snaps. But at least I resemble an American Flag! Can’t be mad about that, not one bit.
Oh, right, and I have some winners from the Shutters & Shuttles giveaway a couple of weeks ago! First, thanks for all your awesome comments on that post – Allison and I both really enjoyed reading through them and see what you’d do with the fabric 😀 (even if it just makes me want more of that fabric now so I can steal your ideas). Second, the plural “winners” is not a typo – there are two of you! A little belated Christmas bonus and all that 🙂 Sooo congratulations are in order to both shesewsswell and Samantha! I hope you ladies love this fabulous fabric, and I cannot WAIT to see what you make up with it! ♥
I really like that the sleeves don’t match.
It’s certainly growing on me 🙂
Hell yeah free fabric!!! Very cool you were able to eke out a very cool shirt from such random cuts 🙂
Also, Happy Holidays! Hope you enjoyed it and that Santa brought you lots of fabric and yarn 😀
Yeah, I feel really good about getting something made out of those little cuts! Craft success!
Merry Christmas to you too! Mine just get better every year 🙂 Hope you had a good one, too!
I’m glad I read this as I am in the process of cutting out a plaid flannel Archer now. I cut most of the big pieces out but had to pause for holiday festivities. But I will check out your other Archer posts as it may help me with this new pattern. Shirt looks great and I think the plaid matches where it should!
Thank you! Most of the angst you get with plaid shirtmaking is in the cutting. Once you finish that step, it’s pretty easy (or can be as fiddly as you want it to be 😉 haha). I think you’ll enjoy it!
That plaid is fabulous!! I must get my grubby little hands on some.
Get you some! It’s the best! 😀
Love it, just so you know I recently saw another version of this shirt (same big red plaid, thick flannel) that I was drooling over for $250 ! Nope not lying. I live in Portland and the woodsy look has been elevated to expensive madness. Your shirt is beautiful and free! Need to find me some RK flannel and an archer pattern presto!
PS: late is ok , just please don’t stop posting I love reading your posts! Instagram just wouldn’t make me laugh like you do ( or inform me)
Whaaaaat! What was it made with – angel hair and unicorn tears?! That’s ridiculous hahaha. I say we all revolt and make our own 🙂
this is an absolutely sumptuous plaid shirt and you look wonderful in it — with all the wild weather out there, thoughts and prayers are with/for all of you in harm’s way! ❤
Thank you! ♥ We’ve managed to stay safe & dry for the time being – although apparently another round is headed this way today, so hopefully things will remain uneventful. Crazy-ass December weather, wtf.
Love this shirt on you! That plaid is lovely but a just a TAD intimidating because the matching is critical and with all the pieces to this pattern I’d say you did an amazing job 🙂 I did go over to papercuts for their leggings pattern (thank you for the recommendation!) Always seeking good ready to wear patterns 🙂
It’s really not so bad! You mainly want to focus on matching the center fronts and the side seams. The sleeves look really good if they are matched, but it’s not terribly jarring if they’re a little off. The yoke can be cut on the bias, so no matching there 🙂 And then everything else – cuffs, placket, collar, collar stand – can be cut however. See? Now you have no excuse! 🙂
Oh, and those Papercut leggings are legit! You are gonna love them; I have made sooo many pairs and I wear them all the time!
Love the happy ending with free fabric and your shirt is wonderful! I’ve been trying to find the right Kaufman Shetland Flannel and have had the same problem with colors I want being out of stock. Gotta say though, that flannel is super soft! I bet your shirt is cozy to wear!
Yeah, it seems if you want any of this stuff, you have to pounce the second it becomes available! Totally worth the effort though, because it is super cozy!
Looks amazing! Did you see the separate button placket or fold over the extension on both sides? Thanks!
I followed the instructions in the pattern – the top placket is separate (the plaid just matches really well haha) and the bottom placket is folded over 🙂
Lauren, you are a plaid matching boss! Quick question: do you baste first?
Nope! As long as you cut the plaid accurately, it should sew up with a good match. I might baste if the fabric was reeeally finicky, but this plaid had enough grab that it didn’t give me any shifting problems 🙂
Gurl, you totally knocked this one out of the park. That looks so RTW I’d never guess you made it. I like the boxy look too. Very, very awesome!
Thank you!!
I absolutely love this fabric. It’s awesome
It’s pretty rad 🙂
Love this shirt! I just bought some buttons at Joann’s that look like pearl snaps, so if those get stuck in your mind, you can still have the best of both worlds! Way to go on all that plaid matching with various pieces and hooray for free fabric!
Ooh, that’s a good idea! I’ll have to check those out 🙂
I’ve been eyeing up that gorgeous flannel but it’s really hard to get hold of in the UK. Great job on the shirt. Looks deliciously snug.
Thank you!
Nice post! Love the location and outfit. Thanks for sharing,
Camy xx
http://www.osiarah.com
Kick ass job!!
Ah, that shirt looks amazingly perfect for winter! One of these days I’m going to get over my fear of buttonholes and finally make a fitted shirt like this…some day.
I hadn’t noticed the mis matched sleeves. Until you pointed them out.
Warm & cozy and free – WIN!
So cute! Amazing fabric. I really like the more boxy fit that the thickness of the flannel gives, it really works on you
I’m all about giving people gratitude this year, because you can’t definitely give enough, right? Anyway, thank you so much for posting! Your blog kept me going throughout my horrible pregnancy last year (i was severely sick the whole dang time, my daughter is awesome chubs though). I have no idea how I found your site, but your posts kept me thoroughly entertained while i was puking up a storm on the couch. I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in 10 years to boot! (Your outfitalong also got me to knit for the first time, too) Bless you llady!
I definitely assumed the asymmetrical sleeves were a design choice and was 100% on board with that– never woulda known had I not read the whole post! Personally, I love a little asymmetry to break up an otherwise perfectly-matched shirt. Love how this turned out, and, man, you sure can’t beat free. 😁