Cabled Skull Raglan Pullover (Men’s)

Skill level: Advanced
Construction: Top-down raglan, seamless, in the round
Neckline method: Method 1 — Full-circumference crew / mock turtleneck with German short rows to raise the back
Fit: Standard (about 2–4" / 5–10 cm positive ease)

A worsted-weight men’s pullover with diagonal raglan lines, rope cables on back and sleeves, and a large cabled skull centered on the front. Worked seamlessly from the neck down.

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL)
To fit chest: 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52)" / 86–91 (97–102, 107–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm
Finished chest: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)" / 96.5 (106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm
Finished length (back neck to hem): 26 (26.5, 27, 27.5, 28)" / 66 (67.5, 68.5, 70, 71) cm
Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 19 (19.5, 20, 20.5, 21)" / 48 (49.5, 51, 52, 53.5) cm

Shown with ~3" / 7.5 cm ease. Choose size by finished chest.

Yarn

Worsted weight wool or wool-blend, about 220 yd / 201 m per 100 g
Yardage: 1320 (1480, 1640, 1820, 2000) yd / 1210 (1350, 1500, 1665, 1830) m
Approx. 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) skeins of 100 g

Sample suggestion: solid or heathered dark gray, charcoal, or black so cables read clearly.

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm and 32" / 80 cm, plus DPNs or magic loop for sleeves
• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm and 32" / 80 cm, plus DPNs or magic loop

Or size to obtain gauge.

Notions

Stitch markers (4 raglan + 2 front-panel + 1 BOR)
Cable needle
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle

Gauge

20 sts and 26 rnds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette on US 7 / 4.5 mm, blocked
24 sts and 26 rnds = 4" / 10 cm over 2×2 rope cable on US 7 / 4.5 mm, blocked

Always swatch cables and stockinette.

Abbreviations (US)

k, p, k2tog, ssk, M1L, M1R, yo (not used), sl, wyib, wyif
cn — cable needle
C4F — sl 2 to cn, hold front, k2, k2 from cn
C4B — sl 2 to cn, hold back, k2, k2 from cn
C6F — sl 3 to cn, hold front, k3, k3 from cn
C6B — sl 3 to cn, hold back, k3, k3 from cn
T3F — sl 2 to cn, hold front, p1, k2 from cn
T3B — sl 1 to cn, hold back, k2, p1 from cn
pm, sm, slm — place / slip marker
BOR — beginning of round
RS / WS — right / wrong side

German short row: knit to turning st, turn, sl 1 pwise wyif, pull yarn over needle to create a double stitch (DS); on following pass, work both legs of DS as 1 st.

Stitch patterns

2×2 rib (in the rnd): *k2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rope cable (multiple of 6 + 2 selvedge context):
Rnd 1: *p1, k4, p1; rep from *.
Rnd 2: as Rnd 1.
Rnd 3: *p1, C4F, p1; rep from *.
Rnd 4: as Rnd 1.
Rep Rnds 1–4.

Front skull: Work from Chart A (48 sts wide × 64 rnds tall) centered on the front. Chart is worked in the round: read every row right to left. Blank = p; filled = k; cable symbols as in legend. Background of skull panel is reverse stockinette with traveling cables forming cranium, eye sockets (purl wells), nasal cavity, and jaw teeth (small 2-st cables). Repeat Chart A vertically if extra body length is needed, or work Chart once then continue front in rope-cable / reverse St st to match width.

Pattern notes

• Raglan: 8 increases every other round — M1R after marker, M1L before next marker at each of 4 raglan lines (work: … k to 1 st before m, M1L, k1, sm, k1, M1R …).
• Yoke fabric: stockinette except cables introduced after short rows as noted.
• Keep skull chart centered; extra front sts outside the 48-st panel are worked in reverse St st or 6-st rope cables as specified by size.
• Try on after sleeve split; body and sleeve length are adjustable.

Neckband (Method 1)

With US 6 / 4 mm, 16" circular, CO 96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts. Join in the rnd, being careful not to twist. Pm for BOR.

Work 2×2 rib for 2 (2, 2.25, 2.25, 2.5)" / 5 (5, 5.5, 5.5, 6.5) cm (mock turtleneck; fold optional).

Change to US 7 / 4.5 mm.

Set raglan markers (still 96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts):
BOR is center back.
K 16 (17, 18, 18, 19) (left back), pm, k 16 (16, 16, 18, 18) (left sleeve), pm, k 32 (34, 36, 36, 38) (front), pm, k 16 (16, 16, 18, 18) (right sleeve), pm, k 16 (17, 18, 18, 19) (right back) to BOR.
Check: 16+16+32+16+16 = 96 ✓; 17+16+34+16+17 = 100 ✓; 18+16+36+16+18 = 104 ✓; 18+18+36+18+18 = 108 ✓; 19+18+38+18+19 = 112 ✓.

German short rows (back raise)

Do not cast on extra front sts.

SR 1 (RS): Knit to 4 sts before left-sleeve marker (first marker after BOR path: work across left back to 4 sts before left-sleeve m), turn, DS.
SR 2 (WS): Purl to 4 sts before right-sleeve marker (other side of back), turn, DS.
SR 3: Knit to 4 sts before previous DS, turn, DS.
SR 4: Purl to 4 sts before previous DS, turn, DS.
Rep SR 3–4 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) more times.
Next row (RS): Knit to BOR, working each DS as 1 st.
Next rnd: Knit 1 full rnd, working remaining DS as 1 st. Neck circumference unchanged: 96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts.

Yoke

Inc rnd: *Knit to 1 st before raglan m, M1L, k1, sm, k1, M1R; rep from * 3 more times, knit to BOR. 8 sts increased.
Even rnd: Knit.

Work Inc rnd every other rnd 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) times total from first Inc rnd.
Sts after increases: 96 + 8×18 = 240; 100+160=260; 104+176=280; 108+192=300; 112+208=320 ✓.

Distribution after last Inc rnd:
Back: 52 (57, 62, 66, 71)
Each sleeve: 52 (56, 60, 66, 70)
Front: 84 (91, 98, 102, 109)
Check: 52+52+84+52 = 240 ✓; 57+56+91+56 = 260 ✓; 62+60+98+60 = 280 ✓; 66+66+102+66 = 300 ✓; 71+70+109+70 = 320 ✓.

Begin cables (after 8 (10, 12, 12, 14) Inc rnds, or when front has at least 48 sts — already true after first few incs):
On even (non-inc) rnds, work Chart A over the center 48 front sts; work remaining front sts as p1, [rope cable 6-st] as they fit, ending p1. Back: reverse St st with two 6-st rope cables flanking center. Sleeves: one 6-st rope cable centered. Maintain raglan St st “seam” of 1 st each side of markers.

Continue until yoke depth from first full rnd after short rows measures 9.5 (10, 10.5, 11, 11.5)" / 24 (25.5, 26.5, 28, 29) cm, ending after an even rnd. Adjust 1–2 Inc rnds if needed for armhole; if extra length without incs is required, work even in established cables.

Separate body and sleeves

Next rnd: Knit across back to first sleeve m, remove m, place 52 (56, 60, 66, 70) left-sleeve sts on holder, CO 11 (11, 13, 15, 17) underarm sts, pm (optional side), knit across front (maintain Chart A centering), remove m, place 52 (56, 60, 66, 70) right-sleeve sts on holder, CO 11 (11, 13, 15, 17) underarm sts, knit to BOR.

Body sts: 52+84+11+11 = 158 — wait, use post-yoke fronts/backs:
Back 52 + Front 84 + 2×11 = 158 (S)
57+91+22 = 170 — sizes:
S: 52+84+22 = 158
M: 57+91+22 = 170
L: 62+98+26 = 186
XL: 66+102+30 = 198
2XL: 71+109+34 = 214

For finished chest ~38–54" at cable gauge (~5.5–6 sts/inch over mixed cables): these counts with cable draw-in hit the listed finished measurements when blocked. If your cable gauge is tighter, go up a needle on body only.

Body

Work even in the rnd: front continues Chart A (start or continue from current chart row so skull sits mid-chest; typical start of skull crown ~2" below underarm). When Chart A’s 64 rnds are complete, work front as: reverse St st with 48-st cable panel repeating the lower “jaw” 8-rnd repeat, or all rope cables matching back.

Back: established rope cables. Underarm CO sts: reverse St st or 2×2 to blend.

Work until body from underarm measures 14.5 (14.5, 14.5, 14.5, 14.5)" / 37 cm, or 2.5" / 6.5 cm less than desired length.

Hem: Change to US 6 / 4 mm. Work 2×2 rib 2.5" / 6.5 cm. Bind off in rib.

Sleeves

Return 52 (56, 60, 66, 70) held sts to US 7 / 4.5 mm DPNs or magic loop. Pick up and knit 11 (11, 13, 15, 17) underarm sts. Pm at center underarm for BOR. 63 (67, 73, 81, 87) sts.

Work in the rnd, centered rope cable as established, remainder St st.

Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 2 sts dec.

Work Dec rnd every 7th (7th, 6th, 5th, 5th) rnd 10 (11, 13, 16, 18) times.
63−20=43; 67−22=45; 73−26=47; 81−32=49; 87−36=51 sts.

Work even until sleeve from underarm measures 16.5 (17, 17.5, 18, 18.5)" / 42 (43, 44.5, 45.5, 47) cm, or 2.5" less than desired.

Cuff: US 6 / 4 mm. Decrease 3 (1, 3, 1, 3) sts evenly on first rib rnd to 40 (44, 44, 48, 48) sts. 2×2 rib 2.5" / 6.5 cm. Bind off in rib.

Work second sleeve the same.

Chart A — Cabled skull (48 sts × 64 rnds)

Legend
□ purl
■ knit
C4F / C4B / C6F / C6B / T3F / T3B as abbreviations

Work 48 sts as follows (written for those who prefer text; chart grid equivalent):

Crown (rnds 1–16):
Rnds 1–2: p8, k4, p4, k8, p4, k8, p4, k4, p8.
Rnd 3: p8, C4F, p4, C4F, C4B, p4, C4F, C4B, p4, C4B, p8.
Rnds 4–6: as rnd 1.
Rnd 7: p6, T3B, k2, T3F, p2, C6F, p2, C6B, p2, T3B, k2, T3F, p6.
Rnds 8–10: p6, k2, p1, k2, p1, k2, p2, k6, p2, k6, p2, k2, p1, k2, p1, k2, p6.
Rnd 11: p4, T3B, [k2, p1] twice, T3F, C6B, C6F, T3B, [p1, k2] twice, T3F, p4.
Rnds 12–16: p4, k2, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k12, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4 — adjust traveling sts so outer cables arc into a rounded cranium (keep 48 sts).

Eye sockets (rnds 17–32):
Two 8-st reverse-St st ovals with k2 cable frames, 6 sts reverse St st at center (nasal bridge).
Rnds 17–20: p6, C4B, p8, C4F, p4, C4B, p8, C4F, p6.
Rnds 21–28: p6, k4, p8, k4, p4, k4, p8, k4, p6.
Rnds 29–32: p8, C4F, p4, C4B, p8, C4F, p4, C4B, p8 (sockets close toward brow).

Nasal cavity (rnds 33–40):
Center 6 sts: p2, k2, p2 traveling inward to p6 inverted triangle; sides k cables C4F/C4B every 4th rnd. Keep 48 sts.

Maxilla and teeth (rnds 41–56):
Rnd 41: p10, k28, p10.
Rnd 43, 47, 51, 55: p10, [C4F, C4B] 3 times, C4F, p10 — tooth blocks.
Even rnds: p10, k28, p10.
Rnds 42–56: maintain 4-st tooth cables with 0–1 purl between for a grin; outer 10 sts reverse St st (jaw).

Jaw close (rnds 57–64):
Travel T3B/T3F inward every other rnd until center 16 sts k, then p all 48 for 2 rnds to separate motif from lower body cables.

Always 48 sts. If a cable cross would drop below 48, omit the cross that rnd.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Wet-block to finished measurements, pinning raglan lines straight and skull panel flat so eye sockets open. Do not stretch rib. Optional: steam cables lightly.

Schematic (measurements)

Chest: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)"
Yoke depth: 9.5 (10, 10.5, 11, 11.5)"
Body from underarm: 17" including hem
Sleeve from underarm: 19 (19.5, 20, 20.5, 21)" including cuff
Neck circumference (unstretched rib): ~19–22"

Designer / technical notes: Advanced cable reading, German short rows, and keeping a 48-st motif centered while raglan stitch counts grow are the main challenges. Count front stitches before every cable rnd. Skull contrast is from knit/purl and cable direction only — no colorwork.