Two-Tone Top-Down Raglan Sweater — Front Purple, Back Yellow

Smart, wearable top-down raglan worked seamlessly in the round. The front panel and (by default) both sleeves are knitted in purple; the entire back panel is knitted in yellow. The pattern is written to be adaptable to any adult size; detailed sample stitch counts and yardage are provided per size. Techniques used: top-down raglan increases, separating sleeves to work body in the round, joining two colors for large vertical color blocks (intarsia-style joins/twists at color change), short-row/length modifications if desired.

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight (Aran/Worsted). Sample gauge and yardage below assume a worsted yarn of approximately 200 yards (183 m) per 100 g skein. Provide both colors: Purple (Color A) and Yellow (Color B).
Yardage estimates by size (total then split A/B). See below for skein counts:

Yardage (Imperial / Metric) — worsted weight

XS (32\") — Total 800 yds / 732 m — Purple ~480 yds / 439 m; Yellow ~320 yds / 293 m (approx 3 purple skeins + 2 yellow skeins of 200 yds / 183 m)
S (36\") — Total 900 yds / 823 m — Purple ~540 yds / 494 m; Yellow ~360 yds / 329 m (approx 3 purple + 2 yellow)
M (40\") — Total 1000 yds / 914 m — Purple ~600 yds / 549 m; Yellow ~400 yds / 365 m (approx 3 purple + 3 yellow)
L (44\") — Total 1150 yds / 1052 m — Purple ~690 yds / 631 m; Yellow ~460 yds / 421 m (approx 4 purple + 3 yellow)
XL (48\") — Total 1300 yds / 1189 m — Purple ~780 yds / 712 m; Yellow ~520 yds / 477 m (approx 4 purple + 3 yellow)
2X (52\") — Total 1450 yds / 1326 m — Purple ~870 yds / 796 m; Yellow ~580 yds / 530 m (approx 5 purple + 3 yellow)
3X (56\") — Total 1600 yds / 1463 m — Purple ~960 yds / 877 m; Yellow ~640 yds / 586 m (approx 5 purple + 4 yellow)

Note: skein counts depend on the exact yardage per skein. The estimates above use a 200 yd / 183 m skein as a baseline.

Needles

Main circular: US 8 / UK 6 (Old) / 5.0 mm, 24\"/16\" or longer circular for magic-loop or small circumference as you split sleeves.
Smaller circular for ribbing: US 7 / UK 7 (Old) / 4.5 mm, same options.
Set of DPNs or a second circular if you prefer to work sleeves flat or use two-circulars method.

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rows = 4\" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5.0 mm needles. Measure your gauge and adjust needle size if necessary.

Sizes & Finished Chest Circumference (approx)

XS — 32\" (81 cm)
S — 36\" (91 cm)
M — 40\" (102 cm)
L — 44\" (112 cm)
XL — 48\" (122 cm)
2X — 52\" (132 cm)
3X — 56\" (142 cm)

Abbreviations

CO — cast on
K — knit
P — purl
K2tog — knit two together
M1R — make 1 right (pick up bar from behind and knit through front loop)
M1L — make 1 left (pick up bar from front and knit through back loop)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
st(s) — stitch(es)
PM — place marker
SM — slip marker
rnd — round

Pattern Notes

This is a top-down set-in raglan worked in the round with four markers dividing: Front, Sleeve1, Back, Sleeve2. We will use two colors: Color A = Purple (front) and Color B = Yellow (back).
During raglan increase rounds, knit in the color that corresponds to the section you are working across. Where colors meet (the raglan seams and later at body joins), twist the yarns at the join to avoid holes. Because these are large color blocks, floats are not used; instead, you will either carry separate balls and twist at joins or use short intarsia bobbins for the sleeve joins.
By default this pattern sets both sleeves to match the front (purple). If you prefer sleeves in yellow to match the back, see the sleeve color options in the finishing section.

Sample Starting Cast-On & Suggested Raglan Increase Rounds (based on gauge)

We give a formula and then convenient suggested counts per size.

How this works (formula)

Measure your stitch gauge (sts per inch). Our sample gauge = 4.5 sts per inch (18 sts / 4\").
Target total stitches for chest = finished chest circumference x sts per inch. (Round to nearest 4 to keep raglan math tidy.)
Starting neck cast-on (sample values below) + 8 sts per full raglan increase round = total stitches after N increase rounds. Increase until the yoke circumference equals the target chest circumference, or until the yoke depth suits your armhole preference.

Sample starting CO and suggested number of raglan increase rounds

Start with the following neck cast-on, then work raglan increase rounds as specified. These sample counts assume the sample gauge above.

CO 64 (68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88) sts — XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Target total sts after raglan increases: 144 (164, 184, 196, 216, 236, 256)
Suggested raglan increase rounds to reach target: 10 (12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21)

Expected Stitch Distribution at Separation (sample — adjust by measuring)

After completing raglan increases and reaching the desired yoke circumference, you will separate the sleeves. The following sample sleeve stitch counts are designed for balanced sleeves:

XS: sleeves 28 sts each — front 44 / back 44
S: sleeves 30 sts each — front 52 / back 52
M: sleeves 32 sts each — front 60 / back 60
L: sleeves 34 sts each — front 64 / back 64
XL: sleeves 36 sts each — front 72 / back 72
2X: sleeves 38 sts each — front 80 / back 80
3X: sleeves 40 sts each — front 88 / back 88

Detailed Instructions

1) Neck & Yoke

Using smaller needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm), CO 64 (68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. PM for beginning of round.
Work 1" / 2.5 cm of 1x1 rib (K1, P1 around). Switch to main needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm) if you prefer for the rest of the yoke.
Set raglan markers: PM, knit to next marker, PM, knit to next marker, PM, knit to next marker, PM — you now have four sections: Front, Sleeve1, Back, Sleeve2. (Markers are placed after the first section; each marker sits between sections.)
Raglan increase rounds (work in Color A on front sections and Color B on back sections):

Increase round (RS): *K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L* repeat 3 more times to end of round.
Work 1 round even (knit all) between increase rounds if you prefer a more gradual slope, otherwise work increase round every other round. Each increase round adds 8 sts total (2 per raglan seam).

Repeat increase rounds until you have completed the suggested number of increase rounds for your size (see sample above) or until the yoke circumference measures approximately the desired chest measurement minus intended ease. Measure around under arms to check.

2) Separate Sleeves

When you reach desired yoke depth and circumference, work one decrease/round to align, then place sleeve stitches on waste yarn: K to first marker, slip marker, remove next sleeve sts to waste yarn (slip onto holder or waste yarn), remove next marker, K across back to next marker, remove marker, slip next sleeve sts onto holder, remove marker, K remaining front sts. You now have body stitches on the needle and both sleeves held.
Join in the round for the body — be careful with color management. At this point arrange stitches so that you have a front block of stitches followed by back block in the round. The front block is knitted in Purple (Color A), the back in Yellow (Color B). You will therefore switch yarn color twice every round (at the two vertical joins). At each color change twist the yarns to avoid holes: bring new color up and wrap the old color under it (twist) before knitting the first stitch with the new color. Keep both yarns in use; you will not carry long floats because you are not working stranded color across many stitches — you are changing colors only at the block boundaries.

3) Body

Work body in the round in stockinette as follows: knit all stitches, changing to the appropriate color when you reach the block boundary. Example: knit front stitches with Purple, at end of front twist Purple and Yellow and knit into Yellow for back. Continue around.
Work until body length from underarm = desired length to hem. Typical lengths: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 20.5, 21) inches / 41 (43, 46, 48, 51, 52, 53) cm. Try on or compare to a favorite sweater.
Hem: switch to smaller needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm). Work 1" / 2.5 cm of 1x1 rib in the same color as the panel at that point — for a clean finish you can do the entire hem in Purple or continue with two-color split at the hem if you like. Bind off loosely in rib.

4) Sleeves

Transfer sleeve sts from waste yarn to needles. Join yarn. By default sleeves are Purple to match the front; if you prefer sleeves in Yellow to match the back, use Color B. There is also a mixed option: work from purple at the top and change to yellow for a color-block cuff.
Work sleeves in the round. Optionally decrease evenly to shape: e.g., for a tapered sleeve, decrease 8 sts evenly over the first 3-4 inches, then work even to desired sleeve length from underarm (typical 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19) inches / 41–48 cm depending on size).
Switch to smaller needles for cuff and work 1" / 2.5 cm of 1x1 rib. Bind off loosely in rib.

5) Finishing

Weave in ends carefully at each color join — this sweater will have two vertical joins around the body where the colors change and the raglan seams; weave ends on WS or use duplicate stitch for tidy joins.
Block gently to measurements to even stitches and open the fabric. Steam or wet-block following yarn instructions.

Color-Join Tips

When switching colors at the block boundary: knit the last stitch of the old color, bring the new color up, twist new color around old color so you do not leave a gap, then continue. This creates a small twisted join instead of a hole.
You can wind small bobbins of Color B for the back and work with Color A for front to keep yarn management tidy. Because the color changes are only at the block boundaries (not every stitch), this is easy to manage without long floats.

Adjustments

Want a looser fit? Add extra increase rounds to the yoke, measure, and sample gauge-adjust. Each full raglan increase round adds ~8 sts total (~1.8\" / 4.5 cm circumference at our sample gauge).
Want shorter/longer body or sleeves? Measure and work fewer or more rounds/rows to reach desired length.

Finishing Notes & Options

Sleeve color option: default = match front (purple). To match back instead, use Color B for the sleeve when you pick up sleeve stitches.
Neck finishing: after body/sleeves are done, you may want a neater neckband: pick up stitches around neck, work 1x1 rib 3/4\"-1\" and bind off, or apply a sewn-on ribbed band for a structured finish.

Troubleshooting

Gaps at color joins: twist yarns at the change; ensure you pick up the yarn under the old yarn to close the small hole at the join.
Uneven tension switching colors: keep yarns in roughly the same plane and tension them gently; practice a few rounds on a swatch to get comfortable.

Support & Credits

Pattern by PurlJam. For help, pattern clarifications or trouble-shooting, visit https://purljam.verde.uk or email support at team@verde.uk. Share your makes and tag us: #purljam.

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