As much as I like to try out new patterns, I really do enjoy sewing reliable favourites.  The Vogue 9057 top and Style Arc Fay skirt are two terrific examples.

Vogue 9057 is a Marcy Tilton pattern, and I have sewn it many, many times.  I tend to sew view D, altering the sleeve length as I fancy.  I have shortened this pattern a little through the body at the shorten/lengthen here lines.

This top is a very simple sew – it’s really just a t-shirt, albeit one with flare and a shaped hemline. I often secure the hem with a zig-zag stitch rather than a twin needle.

The Style Arc Fay skirt is super simple. It’s a one-piece, self-lined skirt designed for knit fabrics, and has an elasticised waist. It’s fast to sew, no hemming needed, and very comfortable to wear. Speaking of fabric, this is an acrylic blend knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics. I actually bought and sewed this outfit last year, but I suspect that the fabric is still available.

The something new is this crocheted shawl. What an amazing colour!

The yarn is Wollmeise (hand-dyed in Germany), and it’s been in my stash for a while. The pattern is Maleney, by Deanne Ramsay of Addydae Designs. I always enjoy her scarf and shawl patterns! This one took me a little while to get into, with a bit of reverse crocheting needed a few times at first, but once I was into the rhythm it was smooth sailing and highly enjoyable.

I really do enjoy wearing shawls and scarves in winter – they’re the perfect combination of warmth and styling! I do have another on the the hook at the moment.

(The brown scarf in the top photos is the Settler Shawl by Libby Johnson, knitted by my Mum in Wollmeise).