Bella Blouse

Here's my Bella Blouse. The pattern is by Norah Gaughan, and is from the web freebies of the Summer 2007 Interweave Knits Magazine.



And here's a close up of the lovely lace at the sleeves and collar:



It looks, sadly, truly terrible on me, which is why I'm not modelling it for you. I'm full in the bust, with the skinniest ribs you ever saw (notice how the lovely gal in the picture on the IK site is so straight in the torso) and this thing hangs so loose around the middle that I look like I'm hiding a pregnancy bump. In fact, if I were pregnant this would probably look lovely on me. But as it is, it just sort of looks funny and loose. So sad. That, and orange is the one color that looks terrible on me.

So, if I know all this, why did I knit the thing? I was just so in love with the design, and when I saw the yarn in person I fell in love with it, too. I was just hoping, I guess, that this would be the one loose, orange shirt that looked truly fabulous on me. I don't have the heart to frog it. Hopefully I'll find someone to give it to who will appreciate it and look beautiful in it.

No yarn substitutions here. I used the yarns suggested in the pattern, and they coordinate nicely. The body is knit in Berocco Cotton Twist (notice the lovely sheen of the yarn), in color Sensei, color number 8345. The collar, sleeve, and bottom cuff are knit in Berocco Touche (there should be an accent on that "e"), color Nectar, color number 7970. I ordered the number of skeins suggested for a size small in the pattern. I had a whole skein and a half left of the Touche, and just barely enough of the Cotton Twist. For those planning on knitting this project I'd suggest buying one more skein of the Cotton Twist, and one less of the Touche.