Spotty |

I’ve made a Rushcutter Dress and I’m in love!

I bought the pattern a couple of months ago from In The Folds, a fairly new pattern company. Now I’m having a bit of a break from work (though I really have to start searching for a job soon!), I’ve had time to make some of the patterns I had in my stash and use up lots of my fabric stash.

I bought this fabric at the same time as the lighter blue spotty cotton I used for my Archer Shirt from Rolls and Rems – it’s okay if you’re sick of me talking about Rolls and Rems, now I’ve left London I’ll have to find some new shops in Gloucestershire! (Btw, I accidentally just typed Gloucestershite, I hope it’s not a Freudian slip!)

I bought 2 metres of fabric, which is generally my standard amount if I’m not buying it for anything in particular, and it was ooonly just enough – I didn’t have enough to cut the (optional) hem facing or the waist tie, which was fine because I like loose things so I wouldn’t wear it with a belt anyway.

I made size B, with no changes. The way the pattern is written, you can adjust the size at the back seam/ zip if you feel it’s going to be too loose. I did think I should have measured this and then maybe taken it in a bit as things tend to be big on my back, but I didn’t make any changes and I feel like the fit is fine across the back – it’s obviously drafted to be slightly over-sized, but it doesn’t look like I just make it a size too big.

The design element of the Rushcutter that I particularly love (apart from everything else!) is the yoke – the curve where it meets the rest of the dress and the nice seams. Lovely! Also giant pockets!
Also, the only bias binding I had to neaten the neckline was pink, like the sample one in the instructions!

I’ll leave you with this outtake – obviously I didn’t smile in time for the timer! I look like I might punch the next person I see…….

I’m definitely going to make more Rushcutters, I love everything about it – the shape, the style, the fit. It’s definitely a secret-pajamas kind of dress, but makes me feel quite put together. I’m also dreaming of a Summer version with no sleeves (which is the other view of the pattern)……and maybe a hack as a tunic, over skinny jeans.

Have you made the Rushcutter? Are you tempted to?

Save

I made a shirt! With a collar and cuffs and sleeve plackets and a yoke and pockets and everything! Can you tell I’m pleased with myself!?

This is, of course, the Grainline Archer Button Up Shirt. I bought the pattern a while back from Raystitch and the fabric at (are you getting sick of this yet) Rolls and Rems. It’s a nice soft cotton, and it’s spotty, though you can’t really tell! I bought it in this shade and in navy blue. I intended it for something else when I first bought it (I can’t remember what that was now), but then I thought it would be perfect for my first Archer.

I can definitely see more Archers in my future! It’s still fairly casual to wear a button down with skinny jeans, but it can easily be dressed up to look a bit smarter for work. I don’t own a plain white shirt, so I think a white one will be next. And then maybe some in plaid for weekends – I (uncharacteristically) popped into New Look today and they had a bunch of quite nice plaid and stripey shirts, so I now feel inspired to make about 10!

I had never sewn any of the special things that make a shirt a shirt – namely the collar, cuffs and sleeve plackets. All I can say is thank god for the sewalong! I’m sure the next time I make this the instructions included with the pattern will be sufficient, but some of the parts definitely needed more explanation the first time.

I made the straight size 4 and am pretty happy with the fit. It’s a bit gapey at the back, as everything is, so I think I may finally actually tackle a swayback adjustment the next time I make it to try to make it pool a bit less than this one does, though it doesn’t bother me particularly. But part of the point of making your own clothes is to make ones that fit you perfectly, so I should really fit it a bit.

I wonder if the pockets are a little big on me – what do you think? I wonder if making them a little less long might make them look more in proportion?

This was meant to be a close-up of the details on the back and my amazingly neat top-stitching, but The Boyfriend didn’t really under stand. But at least here you can see that the fabric is spotty! It also does look a bit wide on me across the shoulders at the back, boo!

The only other change I might make would be to slightly shorten the sleeves as they are a little long on me. I think I’ll wear them rolled up most of the time – I tend to wear all my sleeves rolled up most of the time – but it would be nice for them to be a little shorter for wearing under jumpers.

Apparently this is the way to demonstrate that the sleeves are too long…….

Also, I thought you might enjoy this outtake photo – it’s fairly subtle but I definitely look a bit drunk or something!

Have you made the Archer? If not, are you tempted to give it a go? I found I really enjoyed working steadily through all the new techniques and details like top-stitching. I tried to enjoy the process of making it instead of racing for the finish line, as I sometimes do (and then I get frustrated because things always take longer to make than I think!). I made this in little chunks over 3 different weekends, having cut it out the weekend before I started it, which is pretty slow for me. Do you enjoy the process or focus on the finished product?