What you need
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL (to fit chest 76–81 cm up to 137–142 cm) |
|---|---|
| Fit | Choose the size whose finished chest is 10–15 cm more than your own chest |
| Yarn | Aran (US worsted), weight 4, smooth, light or mid colour: about 900–1,700 m depending on size |
| Needles | 5 mm circular, 80 cm, plus 40 cm for the neck; 4.5 mm circular, 80 cm, for the rib |
| Also | 5 stitch markers (1 in a different colour), smooth waste yarn, tapestry needle, tape measure |
| Tension (gauge) | 18 stitches and 24 rounds = 10 cm in stocking stitch on 5 mm needles, after washing and drying flat |
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest (cm) | 76–81 | 86–91 | 97–102 | 107–112 | 117–122 | 127–132 | 137–142 |
| Finished chest (cm) | 91 | 102 | 111 | 122 | 131 | 142 | 151 |
| Yarn, approx. (m) | 900 | 1000 | 1100 | 1250 | 1400 | 1550 | 1700 |
Skills you’ll use
- A stretchy long-tail cast-on worked around two needles
- Knitting in the round and magic loop
- Raglan increases (M1L and M1R)
- Dividing for the sleeves with a backward-loop cast-on
- German short rows to shape the back hem
- Picking up stitches for the sleeves and neckband
- Sleeve decreases (k2tog and ssk) and 2×2 rib
- Wet-blocking a garment
What’s in the PDF
- Sizes and finished measurements for all seven sizes, and how much ease to choose
- Materials, including how to work out balls from metres
- Tension, abbreviations and stitch patterns
- A numbers table for every size, with stitch counts after each section
- Yoke, dividing, body with back hem short rows, sleeves, neckband and finishing
- Where to change the body and sleeve length
Questions about this pattern
Which sweater size should I knit?
Choose the size whose finished chest is 10–15 cm more than your own chest. The sizes run from XS (to fit chest 76–81 cm) to 3XL (137–142 cm).
How much yarn do I need for the raglan sweater?
From about 900 m (XS) to 1,700 m (3XL) of Aran (US worsted) yarn. Work out your balls from the metres, round up, and add one spare in the same dye lot.
Does the sweater have any seams?
No. It’s seamless, knitted from the neck down in the round, so you can try it on as you go.
Can I change the body length?
Yes. Add or remove centimetres before the hem. Every extra 10 cm uses roughly 90–150 m more yarn, depending on the size.