Easy-to-customize striped pullover, knit top-down in the round with raglan shaping. Works well with 2 contrasting colors or alternating multiple colors. Designed for classic relaxed fit; you can change stripe width, length, or ease to suit.
Includes 7 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X). Finished bust circumference: XS 36 in / 91.5 cm; S 38 in / 96.5 cm; M 42 in / 107 cm; L 46 in / 117 cm; XL 50 in / 127 cm; 2X 54 in / 137 cm; 3X 58 in / 147 cm. Positive ease ~2 in / 5 cm.
18 sts and 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needle (US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm). Always knit a swatch in the round if you plan to work in the round; match gauge after blocking.
Main suggestion: worsted weight yarn (category: US 4 / UK 10 / medium). Approximate yarn per 100 g skein: 200 yd / 183 m.
Approximate total yardage (use your yarn's yardage to calculate skeins):
Note: skein counts assume ~200 yd / 183 m per 100 g skein; adjust to your yarn. If using more than two colors simply substitute amounts accordingly.
CO cast on; k knit; p purl; k2tog knit 2 together; ssk slip slip knit; m1 increase (make one) - either m1L or m1R as you prefer; st(s) stitch(es); RS right side; WS wrong side; rnd round; rep repeat; yo yarn over.
1) Work neck ribbing and short round yoke in the round. 2) Work raglan increase rounds (8 increases per increase round) until target stitch count or desired yoke depth is reached. 3) Separate sleeves onto holders and join body in the round. 4) Work body in stripes to desired length, switch to smaller needles and work hem ribbing. 5) Return to sleeve stitches, pick up underarm stitches, work sleeves in the round with set decreases to wrist, finish with cuff ribbing. 6) Weave in ends, block to finished measurements.
Use your gauge (18 sts = 4 in -> 4.5 sts/in). Target total stitch counts for final circumference = finished bust in inches x 4.5.
Suggested target total stitch counts (rounded): XS 162, S 171, M 189, L 207, XL 225, 2X 243, 3X 261. You can stop increasing when you reach these numbers or when your yoke depth matches the measurement below — whichever comes first before separation.
Using smaller needles (US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm) and color A, cast on the following stitches:
Cast on: XS 80, S 84, M 88, L 96, XL 100, 2X 108, 3X 112.
Join carefully to work in the round, place marker for beginning of rnd. Work 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for 1 in / 2.5 cm or preferred neckline depth. Switch to larger needles (US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm). Note: you may use a provisional cast-on and later graft hem for a true bottom-up hem; this pattern uses working hem after body to avoid grafting.
Set up raglan with markers: after ribbing, arrange sts as follows and place 4 raglan markers evenly: Front / marker / Sleeve / marker / Back / marker / Sleeve / marker (repeat). The exact counts between markers depend on cast-on and size; markers separate the 4 raglan seams.
Example of increase round (RS): k to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, slip marker, k1, m1, then continue to next marker. This creates two increases at each raglan seam for 8 total sts gained on that increase round.
Work raglan increases every RS round, alternating with 1 round plain knit between increases (i.e., increase round, knit round, increase round, knit round...). Continue until you reach the target total stitch count listed above OR until the yoke measures ~8.5 in / 21.5 cm from CO (measured at the center back) — whichever you reach first. If you want a deeper yoke, continue until desired depth then stop even if stitch count is slightly different; body and sleeve shaping still work.
Suggested number of increase rounds to reach a good starting circumference (if you want a quick reference): XS 11, S 11, M 13, L 14, XL 16, 2X 17, 3X 19. These are guidelines; always measure and adjust.
When you finish increases and reach desired yoke depth and/or stitch count, work one round to the first marker. Slip sleeve sts (the sts between marker 1 and marker 2) onto waste yarn or stitch holder. Remove markers around sleeve separation leaving one marker at underarm on each side to mark the join. Repeat for second sleeve. Now you have body sts on the needle (front+back) which you will work in the round for body; join in the round and continue in pattern.
Switch to stripe scheme now or continue the current color pattern. Work in stockinette (knit every rnd) in alternating colors as desired. Suggested stripe scheme: 8 rnds color A, 8 rnds color B (repeat). For thinner stripes use 4 rnds per color. Change colors by carrying yarn up the side or twisting at color changes to avoid holes.
Work body until length from underarm to hem is: XS 15 in / 38 cm, S 16 in / 40.5 cm, M 17 in / 43 cm, L 18 in / 45.5 cm, XL 18.5 in / 47 cm, 2X 18.5 in / 47 cm, 3X 19 in / 48.5 cm, or your preferred length. When you reach desired length, switch to smaller needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm) and work 1x1 rib for 1.5 in / 4 cm then bind off in rib pattern fairly loosely.
Transfer sleeve sts from waste yarn back to needles. Join in the round being careful not to twist. You will now work sleeves in the round on US 8 / 5.0 mm, decreasing to wrist as desired.
Pick up additional underarm stitches: pick up 1 st for every 2 rows along the underarm gap (approx) or place markers and pick up the number of sts to make sleeve circumference even and comfortable — target upper sleeve circumference in inches (approx): XS 13 in / 33 cm, S 13.5 in / 34 cm, M 14.5 in / 37 cm, L 15.5 in / 39.5 cm, XL 16.5 in / 42 cm, 2X 17.5 in / 44.5 cm, 3X 18.5 in / 47 cm. Convert to sts using gauge (4.5 sts/in) to check counts. Example target sleeve sts after pick up & ease: XS 59, S 61, M 65, L 70, XL 74, 2X 79, 3X 83.
Once sleeve sts are assembled, work in stockinette and decrease every 8 rnds or so (k2tog near beginning of round and ssk near end of round) until you reach cuff stitch counts roughly equal to: XS 34, S 36, M 38, L 42, XL 46, 2X 50, 3X 54, or your chosen wrist circumference converted to sts. Work evenly spaced decreases (2 sts per decrease round) until you reach target count. Then switch to smaller needles and work 1x1 rib for 1.5 in / 4 cm. Bind off in rib loosely or use tubular bind-off for stretchy cuff.
This pattern is a flexible template for striped top-down raglan sweaters and intentionally gives measurement-based stopping points so you can customize. Use stitch counts and the gauge formula to make the sweater fit your body. If you want exact sized flat-by-flat shaping rather than top-down raglan, email support for resources at team@verde.uk.
Website: https://purljam.verde.uk
Support: team@verde.uk. Socials: #purljam