A seamless, top-down raglan jumper worked in the round with a circular lace yoke. This pattern features a gently fitted body, optional waist shaping, raglan increases worked through a lace pattern that blends into a stockinette body and sleeves. Knit from the neck down so you can try on as you go.
Classic fit with 0-10 cm positive ease depending on preference. The measurements above include approx 7-10 cm ease for sizes S-M, more for larger sizes. Adjust needle size or add/subtract stitches to change ease.
Notes: skeins assumed 100g = 231 yards / 211 meters. If your yarn is different, calculate total required meterage from the yardage above.
Stockinette stitch: 22 stitches and 28 rows = 10 cm measured after blocking on 4.0 mm (US 6) needle. Lace gauge will match when worked in the round following pattern repeat. Always swatch in the stitch pattern and block your swatch.
Use a provisional CO if you want a neat two-row finishing at the neck, or regular tubular CO. Pattern below assumes a stretchy CO using 3.5 mm needle for the neck rib.
Cast on the number of stitches below for the neck using 3.5 mm needle, distribute evenly across your circular needles and join for working in the round. Place 4 markers to mark raglan lines after the first stockinette round. Numbers given as XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X) where ranges of stitches are given for scalability.
Arrange markers and establish raglan increases and lace placement. You will have 4 raglan increases which separate front, back, and sleeves. Place markers as follows after ribbing round: k to first marker evenly, pm, k to next, pm, etc.
Example marker placement for stitch counts: Work as stockinette round placing markers to create 4 sections between markers. The exact section counts will be adjusted to make lace repeats fit; see row-by-row below which gives repeats per size.
The lace is worked in the round across the body and sleeves between raglan lines. The lace pattern is a 12-stitch, 4-round repeat that is simple to memorize and grows gracefully with the increases.
12-stitch Lace Repeat (worked in the round) Round A: *k3, yo, ssk, k6; repeat from * to end Round B: *k across, knitting yOs as sts (k as they appear); repeat Round C: *k2, yo, k2tog, k6; repeat Round D: *k across; repeat
Notes: On increase rounds, work increases at raglan markers before/after the stitch that is adjacent to the marker so the lace fabric lines flow smoothly into raglan seams.
Working on 4.0 mm circular needle, yarn A. Place 4 markers to mark raglan increases. Each round will include 4 increases total (one at each marker), worked as M1L and M1R or as kfb if you prefer a less visible increase.
Set complete stitch counts and layout for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X). Between raglan markers are panels: Front, Right Sleeve, Back, Left Sleeve. The following rounds are worked in pattern sequence, repeating the 4-round lace motif between increases.
Work rounds 1-4 of lace repeat, placing increases as follows: Round 1 (Increase round - RS): [work lace stitch pattern across panel until 1 stitch before raglan marker], M1R, sm, M1L, [continue to next marker]. Repeat at each marker. Then continue lace pattern to end. Round 2: Work lace Round B across all panels (no increases). Round 3 (non-increase): Lace Round C across. Round 4: Lace Round D across. Repeat rounds 1-4, increasing every 2nd lace repeat (i.e., perform increase rounds on Rounds 1, then after 2 full repeats as required) until you have reached the raglan depth specified below or until underarm stitch counts are reached.
Work yoke until raglan depth measured from cast-on ribbing equals approximately: 18 cm (XS), 19 cm (S), 20 cm (M), 22 cm (L), 23 cm (XL), 24 cm (2X) or until your underarm measurement yields the following counts between raglan markers:
To divide: Work to first raglan marker, remove next stitch marker and leave sleeve stitches on waste yarn or holder by binding off or placing stitches onto a holder. Continue to next marker and repeat. Join body stitches onto circular needle and continue in the round for the body, leaving sleeves on holders.
Body is worked in stockinette stitch in the round on 4.0 mm needle. Optionally, after 6-8 rounds of stockinette, you can shape waist by decreasing evenly 8-16 sts across body over 4-6 rounds to create a subtle fit, or keep straight for a relaxed fit.
Work until desired length measured from underarm: 38 cm for a sweater hitting at hip for S, adjust for other sizes. Rib hem: switch to 3.5 mm needle and work k2, p2 rib for 6 rounds, bind off loosely in rib.
Transfer sleeve stitches to needles. Join yarn and pick up 2 sts at the underarm join if you bound off 2 sts at division. Work in the round decreasing 0-8 sts evenly along first 2-4 rounds if needed to even stitch count. Sleeve shaping: decrease 2 sts every 6-8 rounds until you reach desired sleeve width (commonly 32-42 sts depending on size). Work until sleeve length from underarm is desired: 42 cm for full sleeve. Finish with 3.5 mm needles and k2, p2 rib 6 rounds; bind off loosely.
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