Finished Project: Archer Popover [Grainline Studio]


polka dot popover3

You guys, I made a popover, wooo!  The lazy girl’s answer to a collared shirt!

Pattern: Archer from Grainline Studios
Fabric: cotton shirting from Mood

Jeans: Levi’s
Jacket: Michael Kors
Sunnies: Bulgari


polka dot popover2

Oh man, there are so many more of these in my sewing future.  When Jen posted her popover version of the Archer Shirt last December on Instagram, I literally squealed out loud – it was the perfect solution to the J Crew shirts that I love so much but are outrageously priced (plus, I’m trying to make all of my clothes now…so there).


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I whipped this up pretty fast the night before Chris’ annual family gathering, which is always so much fun (actually, I was planning on making this for the blogger meetup in NYC but I changed my mind and wore something else last minute!).  Not sewing buttons made it go together even faster, and because I’m super lazy, I decided to not make cuffs and instead made the sleeves shorter.  The only problem I ran into was, yet again, the collar – but I’m getting better.  Honestly, it was so stupid on my part.  I forgot to staystitch the neck and was so excited to try on the popover after I made the placket, and I must have stretched out the neck when I tried it on.  Sigh.  There was some creative problem solving when I attached the collar stand, but it all worked out ok.  Next time I will have a perfect collar, I know it!


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This was a pretty easy pattern hack – I’m thinking about doing a tutorial (it’s been a while since I wrote one!) on how I added the placket to my Archer shirt.  I don’t think it’s the “proper” way to add a placket, but once I figured out what to do with the fiddly bottom part, it went together smoothly, almost like fabric origami.  And honestly, you can make your placket any length you want!  Maybe make it a bit longer and wear it over a cami, or be a saucy vixen and don’t wear a cami, ooooo.


polka dot popover

I’m thinking my next Archer Popover will be out of a green voile I bought from Mood on Black Friday.  I was going to save it for a button-down Archer, but I’m envisioning: slightly longer placket, cropped sleeves, waist ties that tie in the back for a more fitted look, and no collar.

Do you like popovers?  They’re so easy to wear, and look great with skinny jeans or pants!

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16 Comments

  1. March 18, 2014 / 11:28 am

    This shirt is so cute! I especially love it with the turquoise pants. It fits you great, too.

  2. March 18, 2014 / 2:01 pm

    What a great idea! Love the way it turned out!

  3. March 18, 2014 / 2:12 pm

    This is really cute! I've been meaning to make a popover, but can't seem to find the time! I have one from American Apparel that I bought years and years ago, and it's just so easy to wear. I love the polka dots on you!

  4. March 18, 2014 / 2:21 pm

    So cute! I would love to see a tutorial! I love blouses like that have been looking for a good pattern. The placket is always the worst part. I tried one a few weeks ago that I stared at forever, read the instructions 100 times and still couldn't figure it out. I finally had to walk away and decide to try another pattern later.

    • March 19, 2014 / 11:20 pm

      It's really not that hard, I promise! If I can do it, anyone can, I swear.

  5. March 18, 2014 / 5:08 pm

    That outfit looks great! I'm sure someone will stop you and ask where you got that shirt. Reading your posts makes me want to start sewing. Then I remember I have what amounts to a toy sewing machine, too many interests to fill the time I do have, and an inability to measure fabric correctly. I love reading about your creations.

    • March 20, 2014 / 12:13 am

      I hope I get asked, I'm pretty proud of how it turned out! You really should start sewing, Ingrid, and Grey's Fabric is a great place to take garment sewing classes.

  6. Jen L
    March 19, 2014 / 4:12 am

    I would definitely make it, it's very cute. Tutorial please!

  7. March 19, 2014 / 8:47 am

    You look fabulous and your shirt looks great with minty jeans! A tutorial would be great.

  8. March 19, 2014 / 10:34 pm

    Get goin' with that tutorial, girl! I'm a lazy sewer who doesn't want to do buttonholes so this is perfect. I'd never have thought of it, so glad you did!

    • March 20, 2014 / 12:13 am

      Alrighty then, working on it!

  9. March 20, 2014 / 1:34 am

    This is so very cute! I would love to learn how to make this, please do a tutorial! I love this look and I so feel you on the J. Crew exorbitant nonsense. Fight the system! With a tutorial!

  10. LisainAZ
    March 20, 2014 / 12:33 pm

    Adorable and another vote for the tutorial 🙂

  11. March 20, 2014 / 3:37 pm

    I would love to see a tutorial too! The shirt is really cute and no worry about gaping buttonholes!

  12. September 5, 2014 / 3:01 pm

    I LOVE this! I'm obsessed with popovers and my wardrobe is full of them … I've been hemming and hawing about the Archer pattern but you just sold it to me with this hack. Hoping you post a tutorial!

  13. April 13, 2015 / 7:01 pm

    I've been scouring the internet, I'm not sure how much I should take out of the front pattern piece when cutting on the fold. I've got the placket on lock down since it's basically the same as a sleeve placket. I just don't want to take too much out and discover I've made shortened the neck and can't fit the collar on!

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