I did finish my Itch to Stitch Bellavista, probably the most popular top on PatternReview.com for awhile now. It *IS a nicely drafted pattern. I made the cowl way shorter, as I am short. I love the curving panel lines of the bodice - it fits so nicely, and is made to flare like that over the lower bodice and high hips. I think I made mine longer. My one critique is that the arms had to be completely redrawn for me. Even the largest size was a tight fit. I redrafted the whole sleeve pattern and redid the armhole on the bodice as well. Now it is a fit. As far as the shoulders - it was perfect. I think the pattern sizing is a bit small, and I used the largest and next to largest sizes to cut. However people must like a snug fit because I suppose had I used a more stretchy fabric it would have had stretchy form fitted sleeves. I did not - so had to redo the sleeves. I wouldn't have likes a snug fit anyhow. I used a somewhat stretchy, rather on the upside of a midweight woven - it had a bit of stretch and is a synthetic blend, but not really made for this pattern. However, it worked and i like it - not crazy about a raw seam on the cowl either inside there, but that seems to be what the pattern wanted me to do so I did it - another time I will use another method - like you do with a turtleneck. Don't care for raw seams.
Finished the Bellavista in April along with a top I made from a self drafted pattern this didn't turn out so well, but it is very comfy and wearable - the neckline, instead of being like the funnel top it was drawn from, turned out to be a boat neck really - very odd and it is like a boat-cowl - if that's a thing! HAHHA...but it used up the last of my garment fabrics so that's a good thing. Picture makes it look like an unformed entity but it is very comfy. :)
Here is the way the neckline and shoulders look - the rest is a drapy loose fit. I may have another go at designing the neckline much better or maybe I won't.
This is a catch-up post really!! I did finish that table runner I was working on in the last post or so, and here it is! Not the most artistic of table runners, but in person it looks better and it has a use already! I love it on my long coffee table. :)
