Athaclena

Athaclena Sleeveless Top by Stephanie Earp

What is Being Made

Athaclena is a sleeveless knitted top designed by Stephanie Earp, available in 8 women's sizes ranging from bust measurements of 36" to 60.5" finished circumference. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a refined, layering piece suitable for various occasions and body types.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project worked primarily in the round using circular needles. The construction employs a combination of stitch techniques to create visual interest and textural depth in a sleeveless silhouette.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Athaclena top features two primary stitch patterns:

• Brioche stitch — a decorative and elastic stitch technique that creates a distinctive textured appearance. This stitch is worked using two yarns held together (Yarn A and Yarn B) and is measured at 17 stitches and 18 rows over a 4-inch square after blocking.
• Stockinette stitch — the foundational smooth stitch used for the main body sections. When worked with Yarn A alone on 4.5 mm needles, stockinette measures 16 stitches and 21 rows over a 4-inch square after blocking.

The pattern also incorporates 3-needle bind off for finishing seams, creating a professional and durable closure.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Athaclena top requires two distinct yarns to achieve its intended design:

• Yarn A: A laceweight mohair blend yarn — the sample shown uses Tanis Fiber Arts Mohair in the colorway Crystal. This yarn is composed of 72% mohair and 28% silk, weighing 50 grams and providing 420 meters (459 yards) per skein. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 430 to 800 yards depending on the selected size.
• Yarn B: A fingering weight yarn — the sample shown uses Urso Yarn Company Nue, a 100% BFL (Blue-Faced Leicester) wool. Yardage requirements for Yarn B range from 190 to 300 yards depending on size.

Needles and Tools Required

Successful completion of this project requires the following equipment:

• 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles in 32-inch or 40-inch lengths for working the stockinette sections
• 3.5 mm needles for working the brioche stitch sections with both yarns held together
• Additional needles for executing the 3-needle bind off finish
• Stitch holders for managing active stitches during construction
• A darning needle for weaving in yarn ends
• One locking stitch marker (optional but recommended for tracking pattern repeats)

Pattern Format and Instructions

The Athaclena pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF document containing 5 sections plus edgings. Instructions are presented in written format only — no charts are included. The pattern provides detailed measurements in inches and covers all 8 women's sizes with bracketed sizing throughout.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to explore more advanced stitch techniques such as brioche knitting and multi-yarn colorwork applications.