Chaitee in details
The Chaitee top is one of my favourite projects (the Awakener cowl is another one!) to crochet with really thin yarn easily and with joy.
This design is a reimagining of my earlier Estonian Waves top, updated with a round yoke construction for a better fit and more sizing options.
Construction & Fit
Chaitee is worked seamlessly from the top down, all in one piece. The yoke is crocheted in rounds, and once you split for the sleeves, you continue the body, which makes it easy to adjust the length as you go.
You can choose between a straight fitor a gentle A-line shape - both versions are included in the pattern.
I went for the A-line version myself. It has a few extra increases under the arms that create a soft flare, perfect for light yarns and comfortable at the hips.
Yarn Notes
My sample is made with Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace, a lace-weight extra fine merino wool.
I know merino might sound surprising for a summer project, but this one is soft, breathable, and wonderfully comfortable. I used a 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook, and the finished top weighs just 200 g. It's almost weightless!
Lace vs Light-fingering
I also tested the pattern in fingering-weight yarn, and both versions worked well in terms of gauge.
The main difference is in the drape: the lace-weight fabric is lighter and floatier, which suited this design perfectly. But if you prefer the feel of fingering yarn, you can easily substitute it.
Yarn substitution
Rialto Lace is now discontinued, and I've been on the lookout for alternatives - it was such a good match for this kind of airy summer garments.
Lana Grossa Cool Wool Laceseems like a perfect replacement, and Austermann Merino Lace EXPis another good option.
Malabrigo, whose yarns I always use in my designs, doesn't have a direct match.
Silkpaca is close in yardage, but it's made of alpaca and silk - smooth and silky, while Rialto Lace was pure merino, not as slippery, with a little more body. That made it easier to work with, especially in this stitch pattern.
And Malabrigo Lace is a single-ply yarn that feels thicker and warmer than Rialto Lace.
Color options
I finally figured out how to recolor dark samples in Photoshop and here it is imagined in soft, muted tones...
...and in bright, bold ones too!
Usually, after recoloring, I look at the whole palette to see what is missing. This time no yellow hues at all :D
Chaitee Outfits
In the past, I loved putting together outfit collages with my sweaters and tops. It's such a good way to see if a design actually works for everyday wear.
I prefer simple and quiet garments. If a piece fits naturally into different outfit collages, there is a good chance I'll end up wearing it a lot too. :)
What's Inside the Pattern
The pattern includes:
Instructions for 11 sizes, to fit busts from 30" to 57½" (76-146 cm)
Separate yoke instructions and schematics for each size
Stitch charts for the main pattern (great for swatching!) and for the increases
Row-by-row written instructions for both the straight and A-line versions of the body
Neckline edging instructions
This updated version of the top (unlike the earlier Estonian Waves) also works beautifully with sleeves! Just continue crocheting in the round from the armholes ;)
