Black & White Striped Baby Raglan Pullover

Size 2T (2 years)

Skill Level: Beginner
Construction: Seamless top-down raglan pullover

A soft, easy-care striped sweater worked entirely in the round. Perfect first garment project—no seaming, simple raglan increases, and bold black-and-white stripes.

Sizes

2T (2 years)
To fit chest: 23" (58.5 cm)
Finished chest circumference: 26" (66 cm) with 3" (7.5 cm) positive ease
Finished length (shoulder to hem): 14" (35.5 cm)
Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 9.5" (24 cm)

Yarn

Worsted weight (medium #4), soft machine-washable yarn (superwash wool, cotton, or acrylic blend recommended for babies)
Main Color (MC) Black: 300 yd (275 m)
Contrast Color (CC) White: 250 yd (230 m)
Sample yarn suggestion: Any soft worsted such as Cascade 220 Superwash, Lion Brand Wool-Ease, or equivalent.

Needles

• US 7 (4.5 mm) 16" (40 cm) circular and set of DPNs (or magic loop) for ribbing
• US 8 (5 mm) 16" (40 cm) and 24" (60 cm) circular and set of DPNs (or magic loop) for body
  Or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• Stitch markers (4 raglan markers + 1 BOR marker, different color)
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• 3 buttons (½–⅝" / 12–16 mm), optional for back neck placket
• Sewing needle and thread for buttons

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

BOR: beginning of round
CC: contrast color (white)
CO: cast on
inc: increase
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 together
m1L: make 1 left (lift bar between sts from front to back, k through back loop)
m1R: make 1 right (lift bar between sts from back to front, k through front loop)
MC: main color (black)
p: purl
pm: place marker
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: right side
sm: slip marker
ssk: slip, slip, knit
st(s): stitch(es)
St st: stockinette stitch (knit every rnd)
WS: wrong side

Pattern Notes

• Sweater is worked top-down in the round.
• Stripes: Work 4 rnds MC, 4 rnds CC throughout yoke, body, and sleeves. Carry unused color loosely up the inside or break and rejoin for cleaner look (beginner-friendly either way). Always change colors at BOR.
• Raglan increases: On increase rounds, work m1R before each marker and m1L after each marker (8 sts increased per inc rnd).
• For easier dressing, a small 3-button placket is worked at center back neck. Omit buttons and work plain if preferred.
• Use soft, machine-washable yarn. Always follow yarn care label; most superwash/acrylic blends are machine wash cold, tumble low or lay flat.
• Inline counts are validated with ✓.

Finished Measurements Schematic (approx.)

• Chest: 26" (66 cm)
• Yoke depth (neck to underarm): 5.5" (14 cm)
• Body length from underarm: 8.5" (21.5 cm)
• Upper arm: ~10" (25.5 cm)
• Wrist: 6" (15 cm)

Instructions

Neckband

With smaller circular needle and MC, CO 64 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for BOR.
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1" (2.5 cm) (approx 7 rnds).

Optional back placket setup (recommended for easy dressing):
On last rib rnd, work to 4 sts before BOR, bind off 8 sts for placket opening, work in rib to end. Turn. You will now work the yoke flat for the placket section only. (If omitting placket, continue in the round and skip all placket notes.)

Yoke

Switch to larger needle.
Setup row/rnd (RS): With MC, k8 (left back), pm, k12 (left sleeve), pm, k24 (front), pm, k12 (right sleeve), pm, k8 (right back). (If working flat for placket: work same distribution as a RS row; WS rows purl.)
64 sts ✓.

Join CC and begin stripes (4 rnds MC / 4 rnds CC). Work St st and begin raglan shaping.

Raglan Inc Rnd/Row: *Knit to 1 st before marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L; rep from * 3 more times, knit to end.
8 sts inc ✓.

Work 1 plain rnd/row (no increases) after each inc rnd/row.

Continue alternating 1 inc rnd/row and 1 plain rnd/row, maintaining 4×4 stripes, until you have worked 19 increase rnds/rows total.
Stitch count: 64 + (8 × 19) = 216 sts ✓.
Yoke measures approx 5.5" (14 cm) from CO edge.

Distribution at end of yoke:
Left back 27 sts, left sleeve 49 sts, front 62 sts, right sleeve 49 sts, right back 27 sts (plus 2 sts under each of 4 raglan markers accounted in adjacent sections) = 216 ✓.

If working placket flat: After final plain row, CO 8 sts over the bound-off placket gap and resume working in the round. On next rnd, pm at center of these 8 sts as new BOR if desired, or keep original. Work 1–2 rnds even before dividing. (Buttonholes will be added later on a small placket band.)

Divide Body and Sleeves

Next rnd (continue stripe sequence):
Knit left back sts, place next 49 left sleeve sts on holder or waste yarn, CO 6 underarm sts, knit front 62 sts, place next 49 right sleeve sts on holder, CO 6 underarm sts, knit right back sts.
Body sts: 27 + 6 + 62 + 6 + 27 = 128 sts. Adjust by m1 once at underarm if needed to reach 130 sts for exact 26" (or simply work 128–130 sts; 130 sts = 26" at gauge ✓). Place BOR marker at center back or left underarm.

Body

Work even in St st and established 4×4 MC/CC stripes until body measures 7.5" (19 cm) from underarm.
Switch to smaller needle and MC.
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1" (2.5 cm).
Bind off loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

Place 49 held sleeve sts onto larger DPNs or circular for magic loop. With RS facing and continuing stripe sequence from yoke, pick up and knit 3 sts from underarm CO edge, pm for BOR, pick up and knit 3 more sts from underarm (6 underarm sts total), then knit the 49 sleeve sts.
55 sts ✓.

Work 4 rnds even in St st and stripes.

Sleeve decrease rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 2 sts dec ✓.

Repeat decrease rnd every 6th rnd 7 more times (8 dec rnds total).
55 – (2 × 8) = 39 sts ✓.

Continue even in stripes until sleeve measures 8.5" (21.5 cm) from underarm.
Switch to smaller DPNs and MC.
Next rnd: decrease 3 sts evenly (k2tog spaced around) to 36 sts for neat cuff.
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1" (2.5 cm).
Bind off loosely in rib.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on WS, closing any small underarm gaps with tapestry needle.

Optional button placket (if worked):
With smaller needle and MC, pick up and knit approx 12–14 sts along left side of back neck opening. Work 5 rows St st (or garter). Bind off.
On right side, pick up same number of sts. Work 3 rows St st.
Buttonhole row: K2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, knit to end (3 buttonholes).
Work 1 more row, bind off.
Sew 3 buttons opposite buttonholes. Reinforce ends of placket if needed.

Block gently to measurements (wet block or steam, following yarn care). Lay flat to dry.

Care: Machine wash cold gentle cycle, tumble dry low or lay flat to dry. Softness and washability are essential for baby/toddler wear.

Enjoy your classic black-and-white striped sweater—easy to knit, easy to wear, easy to wash!