I have a new perfect-for-fall top pattern to share with you guys today! The Arenal top from Itch to Stitch is a lovely knit top with great details like shoulder accents and a beautiful soft V-neck. This well drafted pattern includes two bodice styles – a swing bodice with a handkerchief hem that includes a really nice hem finishing method, and a fitted bodice with a regular hem. It comes with two sleeve lengths 3/4th length and full length.

I used a sweater knit (from Jo Ann fabrics) with 100% horizontal stretch and minimal vertical stretch for my first version. And for shoulder accents a rayon jersey knit from my stash. Picking fabrics that are incredibly hard to photograph must be my thing, the sweater knit is a shimmery teal and of course it doesn’t show 😦 and the shoulder accent fabric is a gold and black knit.

The fit was spot on with no adjustments required for my size. I love how neatly fitted it is in the bodice, especially the arm scye. This is a very well drafted pattern with notches (I am partial to patterns that have notches that help me align everything nicely) and clearly explained tutorial and illustrations.

The handkerchief hem is definitely my favorite feature, and the instructions and the way the pattern piece is drafted to get a nice mitered corner at the hem are some really neat features of the Arenal top pattern.

For my second version, I tried the fitted bodice with regular hemline, also in 3/4th length sleeves.

The crimson rib knit that I used for my second version is also from Jo Ann fabrics, it has great stretch and recovery and works really well for this pattern though I do believe I could have easily sized up so its nearly not as fitted. The shoulder accents lace fabric is from hobby lobby.

I’d never even attempted a V-neck until my recent Union St tee and now after making up this lovely curved V-neck Arenal top, I want to make all the V-neck tees! Wouldn’t they be perfect for fall and winter, a wardrobe full of long sleeved v-neck tees?

This is my first time testing for Kennis Wong as well as trying an Itch to Stitch pattern, and I am thoroughly impressed by the quality of the pattern as well as the testing process. Suffice to say, I will be exploring more patterns from Itch to Stitch.

If you have been on the fence about getting this pattern, I highly recommend it – for the quality of the pattern, the instructions and for the simple fact that we all need a well fitted v neck top in our closets 🙂

You can check out more tester versions here. The Arenal top PDF pattern is currently on sale until wednesday Oct 19th for 20% off at $8 (regular price $10).

Happy Sewing!!