This is another three-in-one garment post! I’ll start with the top, I think.

This is the Style Arc Olive top. The pattern is actually for a spliced top with a little inseam pocket on the front. I decided not to splice it, so simply overlaid the pattern pieces and cut on the fold in order to have a full front and a full back piece.

Style Arc describe this pattern as follows: OLIVE SPLICED TEE: Use your imagination & splice this top using multi colours, print & plain… the choices are endless. This square cut “T” features a cute pocket also has the fashionable extended back hemline and dropped shoulder. Choose your sleeve length, cap or full length.  FABRIC SUGGESTION & DESCRIPTION: Knit or light woven. The lower back panels can be in a silk or rayon for a bit of a difference.

As you can see, I chose the full length sleeve.  I used a textured knit remnant from The Cloth Shop for the front and back, and the sleeves and neckband were sewn from a wool blend jersey knit remnant from Darn Cheap Fabrics.  Yes, this is another remnant garment.  Actually, I think that the entire outfit is sewn from remnants!

I really like the variation in hem length. Being essentially a simple tee, this was a straightforward garment to sew, primarily on the overlocker. I used the twin needle on the machine to secure hems. I suspect that this is an often overlooked Style Arc pattern, but think it is a very good one to have in your sewing arsenal. I’ll be playing around with it more in the future. I like the neckline depth, there are sleeve length options, and the pattern pieces allow for fun combinations of colours, fabrics or textures. You’ll see this one again. I used size 12, and think that there is a nice amount of ease through the body.

These photos suggest that a FBA and/or dart could be needed. Hmmm. I expect a fit like this with a boxy style like this, and those folds from bust to armhole are possibly a little fabric dependent as well. It’s not bothering me, but might bother you. So, to the skirt.

It’s the Style Arc Goldie skirt, in the longer length. I have had the double-ended zipper languishing in stash for ages – and it was just the perfect length for this skirt!

The skirt has really interesting side seaming, which allowed me to indulge in my love of topstitching. The pattern description from the Style Arc website is as follows:  GOLDIE WOVEN SKIRT:  Fabulous skirt with a wonderful shape. This skirt has been designed without a side seam, the clever side panels allows this skirt to have a clean smooth line over the hip. Goldie has two lengths – classic knee length we made in fine wool, and the mini we made in denim with lots of top stitch to give a completely different look. FABRIC SUGGESTION: Wool, Cotton, Denim or even a Ponte.

As you can see, the “knee length” is more a midi-length on my 158cm frame.  I sewed size 12, but first altered the pattern pieces at the waist edge to add a few inches to accommodate my thick waist.  I referred to my Lekala two seam skirt pattern pieces when altering the Goldie ones, and simply slashed and spread the pattern.

The fabric is a “coated” denim from Rathdowne Fabrics (yes, it was a remnant). From the reverse it looks like a typical indigo denim, but from the front it’s definitely green. I really like it and wish I had more. You can see the difference in each side here.

I chose to do the topstitching in navy blue, mostly to highlight the navy elements of the fabric. As is usually the case, the denim was very easy to work with.

The double ended zip is rather fun as I use the waist tab to get into and out of the skirt and can adjust the hem zip to provide a walking split in the skirt if needed. I think this is a great skirt pattern, and will possibly try the shorter version as well at a later stage.

So, to the jacket! This is a really fun and surprisingly versatile addition to my wardrobe.

This is the Fadanista Sneaky Shrug. Sue has a tutorial on how to sew this on her blog. I used a soft woven vintage wool boucle that was a Rathdowne Fabrics remnant. One of the fun things about using this particular fabric is that it is double sided, you get get glimpses of the lighter colour (steaming out that back crease before wearing might have been a good idea).

It can actually be worn inside out – or upside down!

It is a rather origami-like garment, entirely sewn from rectangles, and took a bit of pinning together and diagram studying. I can see more of these in my future. I particularly like the longer “flaps” at the front edges. I suspect that I’m quite a bit shorter and fatter than Sue, but I used the same measurement as she did for her sneaky shrugs and think that it still fits me quite well.

This is definitely another outfit combination that is very “me”. I love it. By the way, the silk scarf is also from a fabric remnant!