A seamless, top-down raglan cardigan worked in DK weight yarn with a stranded colorwork yoke and optional striped body/sleeves. Designed to be made with 3 colors (MC + 2 contrasting colors) or 4 colors (MC + 3 contrasts). Written for 6 sizes; choose the size with 4" (10 cm) positive ease unless you prefer a different fit.
3-color option (MC, CC1, CC2)
4-color option (MC, C1, C2, C3)
Cast on 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124) sts using MC on smaller needles. Join for working in the round being careful not to twist. Place markers to divide into 5 sections: Right Front (RF), Sleeve1 (S1), Back (B), Sleeve2 (S2), Left Front (LF). Suggested starting distribution (XS->2X): RF 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts, S1 12 (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, B 28 (32, 32, 32, 32, 32) sts, S2 same as S1, LF same as RF.
Rnd 1 (RS): K across RF to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, M1L, K across Sleeve1 to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, M1L, K across Back to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, M1L, K across Sleeve2 to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, M1L, K across LF to end. - You will have increased 8 sts this round. - Place a contrasting small marker at each raglan increase if you like; easier to pick out increase points for colorwork.
The yoke is worked in stranded colorwork. Use the color sequence you prefer: for 3 colors use MC + CC1 + CC2; for 4 colors add C3. Work a repeating motif that spans the raglan increases so motifs flow across front and back. If you prefer stripes only, alternate rounds of colors as described below.
Example repeat (12-round repeat):
Round pattern (example, substitute your chart motif): Rnd A: MC dominant round (work motif with MC background and small speckled stitches of CCs) Rnd B: CC1 dominant Rnd C: MC Rnd D: CC2 (or C3) Repeat Rnds A-D 3x then transition to body. Adjust repeats to reach desired yoke depth.
Work raglan increases every other round (i.e., increase round then 1 round of colorwork) so the increase rounds are incorporated into the motif. Continue until yoke depth measures 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) in / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm from cast-on, or until raglan stitches are large enough that sleeve stitches reach desired underarm position.
When the yoke is complete, place sleeve sts on waste yarn or stitch holders: slip S1 sts to holder, slip S2 sts to holder. On the needle you will have RF + B + LF stitches. Cast on underarm gusset sts to close the round. Suggested provisional cast-on: CO 4 (6, 8, 8, 10, 12) sts using backward loop or cable CO in MC for each underarm (total added = 8 (12, 16, 16, 20, 24) across both sides). Join and work body in the round in your chosen pattern (stripes, plain MC, or stranded panels). If doing stripes, a good rule: stripe every 6–10 rounds. For 3-color option you can use occasional CC1/CC2 rounds for interest; for 4-color, cycle C1-C2-C3 for small bands.
Switch to main needles if you shortened for ribbing. Work in stockinette (knit every rnd) or pattern: K2, P2 waist rib for 2 in / 5 cm at hem if you want a ribbed hem. Otherwise work straight stockinette to desired length. Work until body from underarm measures 14 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16) in / 36 (36, 37, 38, 39, 41) cm or desired length to hem. Bind off loosely in pattern (k2, p2 rib) if you used rib; otherwise BO in knit if stockinette hem.
Place sleeve stitches back on needles; pick up the underarm gusset stitches from waste yarn or CO sts onto the sleeve needle so sleeve is a round again. Join and work in the round, optionally alternating colors to match body stripes. Decrease for sleeve taper: every 8th rnd, decrease 1 st each side of marker by K2tog then K to 2 sts before marker, SSK (two decreases per round total). Repeat until sleeve circumference = 10 (10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5) in / 25 (27, 28, 29, 31, 32) cm or until you reach desired sleeve width. Work 2 in / 5 cm of K2,P2 rib at cuff using smaller needles and bind off loosely in rib.
Pick up and knit rib border along right front, back neck, and left front with smaller needles (US 5 / 3.75 mm). For a neat collar: pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows along back neck and 1 st per bound-off edge stitch along fronts. K 1x1 or 2x2 rib for 1.0–1.5 in / 2.5–4 cm. On the left front, make buttonholes centered in the ribband: make 6–8 buttonholes depending on length. Example buttonhole: on RS, work to buttonhole position, k2tog, yo; on next rib row, work stitches as they appear. Space first button ~1/2–3/4 in from hem. When band length is complete, BO in rib pattern. Sew buttons to correspond to buttonholes.
For pattern clarifications or support, visit https://purljam.verde.uk or email team@verde.uk. Share makes and tag socials #purljam.
Enjoy your colorwork cardigan! Adjust color repeats, stripe widths, and yoke depth to personalize. If anything in this file looks unclear, get in touch at team@verde.uk.