Chaconne

Chaconne T-Shirt by Jennie Atkinson

What Is Being Made

Chaconne is a lightweight, versatile T-shirt designed for everyday wear. This knitted top features a simple construction in stocking stitch, making it an elegant addition to any wardrobe. The garment is available in eight sizes, ranging from bust 32 to 46 inches (81 to 117 cm), with finished bust measurements from 31¼ to 45½ inches (79.5 to 115 cm). The finished length ranges from 22¼ to 23½ inches (56.5 to 59.5 cm), offering a classic, fitted silhouette suitable for multiple body types.

Yarn and Materials

This design is worked in Rooster Delightful Lace, a laceweight yarn composed of 80% baby alpaca and 20% silk. This fiber blend provides a luxurious drape and breathability ideal for a refined T-shirt. The yarn yields 800 meters (875 yards) per 100-gram skein. Depending on the chosen size, the project requires between 1 and 2 skeins in the colorway Pasco 625. The laceweight classification ensures a delicate, fluid fabric with excellent stitch definition.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Chaconne employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level crafters. The garment is constructed using the three-needle cast-off method, a technique that joins two sets of live stitches together while simultaneously binding them off. This method is worked by holding the wrong sides of two pieces together on separate needles with points facing right, then using a third needle to knit corresponding stitches from both needles together, creating a secure seam. This technique is commonly used for shoulder seams and provides a strong, neat finish.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch – The primary stitch pattern throughout the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a V-textured right side and bumpy wrong side
• Knit (K) – The fundamental knit stitch
• Purl (P) – The fundamental purl stitch
• Purl 2 Together (P2tog) – A left-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count by one
• Slip, Slip, Knit (Ssk) – A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping one stitch knitwise, knitting the next stitch, then passing the slipped stitch over the knit stitch

Pattern Features

The pattern includes multiple size options with detailed finished measurements for bust and length. Knitters are guided through the use of standard abbreviations and techniques, including stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping. The design emphasizes simplicity and versatility, relying on the beauty of the laceweight yarn and clean stocking stitch construction rather than complex colorwork or intricate stitch patterns.