Guest post: Kristin and the Grainline Archer

In an effort to highlight the “neighborhood” aspect of Bolt Neighborhood, we love to have on guest bloggers. Today’s post is from our friend Kristin over at Skirt as Top. Enjoy!

Hi, it’s Kristin from skirt as top and I’m happy to be back with an item of clothing that seems to be part of every Portlander’s “uniform” - a chambray button up shirt!

I made this shirt with fabric from Bolt and the Archer pattern by Grainline Studio, a casual and easy to wear wardrobe staple.  This is my third Archer, and my favorite yet I think!

The Archer is designed to have a less-fitted, more menswear style to it, but given the fact that I’d sewn my first Archer just a couple months after having a baby, it had gotten a bit TOO roomy on me as of late.  So for this shirt, I sized down from an 8 to a 6, and I also added 1/2” in length for a slightly longer and leaner silhouette.

The chambray I found in the shop is pretty wonderful stuff; the perfect weight and it has little flecks of color in it that make it so interesting.  This particular fabric is back on order and is due in by the end of the month. In the meantime, Bolt carries a couple different chambrays and would be happy to help you find something similar.

I used a light ivory thread for all of my topstitching - nerve wracking, sure, but also a nice design element.

I originally bought the Archer as a PDF pattern, and printed it on 8 1/2” x 11” paper.  With a long-sleeved adult garment like this, the cutting and taping just to assemble the pattern was pretty cumbersome!  However, Grainline now offers many of their patterns in print form, and their clean aesthetic carries through to the packaging and instructions.  The convenience of a print pattern is definitely worth the slightly higher price.

I was so happy to see Grainline paper patterns in the Bolt shop!

Bolt has the Archer and a few other Grainline patterns in stock - head on in and take a look.  There’s also a lovely plaid Archer shop sample if you’d like to see one up close.

I’ve worn my chambray Archer with jeans (as shown), chinos, tucked into a full skirt, even with lounge pants.  It’s one of those sewing projects that is fun to slow down with and get those details right, and it pays off by becoming a wardrobe essential.