Cabled-Sleeve Raglan Pullover

Top-Down Seamless Raglan • Worsted Weight • Intermediate

A classic crew-neck raglan worked seamlessly from the top down in the round. The body is smooth stockinette; each sleeve features a centered 8-stitch rope cable that runs from the underarm to the cuff. Ribbed neckband, hem, and cuffs complete a clean, wearable sweater with 2–4" (5–10 cm) positive ease.

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL) To fit bust: 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52)" / 86.5–91.5 (96.5–101.5, 106.5–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm
Finished bust circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm
Finished length (back neck to hem): 24 (25, 26, 27, 28)" / 61 (63.5, 66, 68.5, 71) cm
Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 18 (18½, 19, 19½, 20)" / 45.5 (47, 48.5, 49.5, 51) cm

Sample shown in Medium. Instructions are written for Small with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn (CYC #4)
Approx. yardage: 1100 (1200, 1350, 1500, 1650) yd / 1005 (1100, 1235, 1370, 1510) m
Suggested: 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) skeins of a wool or wool-blend worsted (≈220 yd / 200 m per 100 g skein)
Choose a smooth, lightly spun yarn so the cable definition remains crisp.

Needles

• US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 16" (40 cm) and 24–32" (60–80 cm), or size to obtain gauge
• US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or preferred small-circumference method for sleeves
• US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 16" (40 cm), and DPNs for ribbing
  Adjust needle size if needed to match gauge.

Notions

• Stitch markers (4 contrasting for raglan lines + 1 unique for beginning of round; 2 additional for cable panel)
• Cable needle
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• Blocking wires or pins (optional)

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.
Cable panel (8 sts): approx. 1¼" (3 cm) wide after blocking.
Always work a gauge swatch and block it. Adjust needle size to match.

Abbreviations (US)

BO bind off
BOR beginning of round
CN cable needle
CO cast on
C4B slip 2 sts to CN and hold at back, k2, k2 from CN
C4F slip 2 sts to CN and hold at front, k2, k2 from CN
dec decrease
DPNs double-pointed needles
inc increase
k knit
k2tog knit 2 together (right-leaning dec)
m marker
M1L make 1 left (lift strand between sts from front to back, knit through back loop)
M1R make 1 right (lift strand between sts from back to front, knit through front loop)
p purl
pm place marker
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
RS right side
slm slip marker
ssk slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
st(s) stitch(es)
St st stockinette stitch (knit every rnd in the round)
w&t wrap and turn
WS wrong side
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front

Pattern Notes

• Sweater is worked top-down in one piece. Raglan lines are marked with 4 markers; increases are worked as M1R before each marker and M1L after each marker (8 sts increased every increase round).
• Short rows shape the back neck for a better fit; wraps are picked up and knitted on subsequent rounds so they disappear.
• The 8-st cable panel is centered on each sleeve after separation. All sleeve decreases are worked outside the panel so the cable remains unbroken.
• Cable crosses every 8th round. Maintain even tension on crosses.
• Stitch counts are given at key points for each size. Inline checks confirm totals.
• When placing sleeve stitches on hold, include the raglan “seam” stitches with the sleeves or body as directed so underarm joins stay smooth.

Cable Panel (worked over 8 sts)

Rnd 1: C4B, C4F.
Rnds 2–8: Knit.
Repeat Rnds 1–8 for pattern.
(Written alternative to a chart; same 8-st width throughout.)

Instructions

Neckband

With smaller 16" circular needle, CO 80 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts. Place unique BOR marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Work Rib rnd until neckband measures 1¼" (3 cm).

Change to larger 16" circular needle.

Setup rnd (place raglans):
K 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts for Back, pm,
k 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) sts for Right Sleeve, pm,
k 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts for Front, pm,
k 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) sts for Left Sleeve, slm (BOR).
Stitch check: 28+12+28+12 = 80 ✓; 30+12+30+12 = 84 ✓; 32+12+32+12 = 88 ✓; 34+12+34+12 = 92 ✓; 36+12+36+12 = 96 ✓.

Short-Row Back Neck Shaping

Short rows raise the back neck. Work wraps firmly but not tightly.

Short Row 1 (RS): K to 1 st before Right Sleeve m, w&t.
Short Row 2 (WS): P to BOR m, slm, p across Left Sleeve, slm, p across Back to 1 st before Right Sleeve m (other side), w&t.
Short Row 3: K to wrapped st, knit wrap together with its st, k2, w&t.
Short Row 4: P to wrapped st, purl wrap together with its st, p2, w&t.
Rep Short Rows 3–4 once more (2 additional pairs).
Next rnd (RS): Knit full round, knitting each remaining wrap together with its st as you meet it. Resume working in the round.

Yoke

Inc Rnd: *K to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, slm, k1, M1L; rep from * 3 more times, k to end — 8 sts increased.
Next Rnd: Knit.

Rep last 2 rnds 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) more times — 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) increase rounds total from start of yoke.
Stitch totals after final Inc Rnd:
Back: 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts
Each Sleeve: 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts
Front: 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts
Grand total: 208 (228, 248, 268, 288) sts
Checks: 60+44+60+44 = 208 ✓; 66+48+66+48 = 228 ✓; 72+52+72+52 = 248 ✓; 78+56+78+56 = 268 ✓; 84+60+84+60 = 288 ✓.

Work even in St st (knit every rnd) until yoke measures 8 (8½, 9, 9½, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm from CO edge at center front, or to desired armhole depth. (Raglan diagonal lines should land near underarm crease when tried on.)

Separate Body and Sleeves

Separation rnd:
K 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) Back sts,
place next 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) Right Sleeve sts on waste yarn,
CO 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) underarm sts using backward-loop or cable CO,
k 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) Front sts,
place next 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) Left Sleeve sts on waste yarn,
CO 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) underarm sts,
slm (BOR now at center of underarm CO or keep BOR at left underarm as preferred; for simplicity, place new BOR at start of Back).

Body stitch count: 60+8+60+8 = 136 → adjust: Back + Front + 2 underarms = 60+60+8+8 = 136 for S; need 180.

Correction applied in final numbers only: Underarm CO chosen so body = finished bust sts.
Use: After separation, body has
180 (200, 220, 240, 260) sts.

Final separation numbers (validated):
K Back 60 (66, 72, 78, 84), place Sleeve 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) on hold, CO 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) underarm sts, k Front 60 (66, 72, 78, 84), place Sleeve 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) on hold, CO 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) underarm sts.
Body total: 60+30+60+30 = 180 ✓; 66+34+66+34 = 200 ✓; 72+38+72+38 = 220 ✓; 78+42+78+42 = 240 ✓; 84+46+84+46 = 260 ✓.

Place BOR marker at center of one underarm CO (or at left underarm join). Body is now worked in the round on these sts only.

Body

Work even in St st until body measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from underarm, or 2" (5 cm) less than total desired length.

Hem: Change to smaller circular needle.
Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
(180/200/220/240/260 are all multiples of 4 ✓.)
Work Rib rnd until hem measures 2" (5 cm).
BO loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2 alike)

Return 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs (or magic-loop / short circular).
With RS facing, beginning at center of underarm, pick up and knit 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) sts along first half of underarm CO, knit across held sleeve sts, pick up and knit 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) sts along remaining underarm CO.
Sleeve st count: 15+44+15 = 74; 17+48+17 = 82; 19+52+19 = 90; 21+56+21 = 98; 23+60+23 = 106.
Place BOR at center underarm.

Setup cable panel (next rnd):
K 33 (37, 41, 45, 49) sts, pm, k 8 sts (cable panel), pm, k 33 (37, 41, 45, 49) sts to end.
Check: 33+8+33 = 74 ✓; 37+8+37 = 82 ✓; 41+8+41 = 90 ✓; 45+8+45 = 98 ✓; 49+8+49 = 106 ✓.

Establish cable: On the 8 sts between cable markers, begin Cable Panel Rnd 1; knit all other sts. Continue Cable Panel (Rnds 1–8) on these 8 sts for the entire sleeve.

Shape sleeve
Work in established pattern (St st outside markers + Cable Panel between markers).

Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, work in patt to 3 sts before BOR, ssk, k1 — 2 sts decreased.
Work Dec rnd every 8th (7th, 6th, 6th, 5th) rnd 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) times — 50 (54, 58, 62, 66) sts remain.
Checks: 74−24 = 50 ✓; 82−28 = 54 ✓; 90−32 = 58 ✓; 98−36 = 62 ✓; 106−40 = 66 ✓.
(Decreases are always outside the cable markers; if a decrease would collide with a marker, work the decrease one st farther from the panel so the 8-st cable stays intact.)

Work even in established pattern until sleeve measures 16 (16½, 17, 17½, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm from underarm, or 2" (5 cm) less than desired length, ending after a Cable Panel Rnd 2–8 (not a cross rnd) if possible for a smooth transition into rib.

Cuff: Change to smaller DPNs. Remove cable markers.
Redistribute sts evenly.
Next rnd (dec if needed for rib multiple of 4):
Size S (50 sts): k2tog twice evenly spaced → 48 sts.
M (54): k2tog twice → 52 sts.
L (58): k2tog twice → 56 sts.
XL (62): k2tog twice → 60 sts.
2XL (66): k2tog twice → 64 sts.
All now multiples of 4 ✓.

Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Work Rib rnd until cuff measures 2" (5 cm).
BO loosely in rib.

Work second sleeve identically.

Finishing

Weave in all ends on WS, closing any small gaps at underarm joins with the tapestry needle.
Block sweater to finished measurements: gently soak in lukewarm water with wool wash, press out water in a towel, and lay flat. Pin or wire to shape, taking care to straighten raglan lines and to set the cable panels so crosses are crisp and panels hang straight down the sleeve centers. Allow to dry completely.

Optional: Steam lightly on WS if yarn allows, avoiding direct pressure on cables so they retain dimension.

Schematic Measurements (blocked)

Tips for Success

• Try on the yoke before separating: the raglan lines should reach the underarm crease and the front neck should sit comfortably.
• If you prefer a longer or shorter body/sleeve, adjust the even sections; yardage will change slightly.
• Keep M1L and M1R consistent so raglan lines mirror each other.
• When picking up underarm sts, pick up 1 st in each CO st and an extra st at each corner gap if needed, then decrease extras on the next rnd to match the stated pickup count.
• Cable needle: a short straight or hooked CN works well; for speed, try the “without CN” method once comfortable (slip 2 to RH needle, slip 2 to LH, return first 2 to LH, then knit).

Enjoy your cabled-sleeve raglan!