Compound Raglan Chest-Stripe Pullover

Baby & Child Top-Down Seamless Pullover

Difficulty: Beginner
Construction: Top-down compound raglan, worked in the round, seamless

A soft, easy-care pullover with clean compound raglan lines and simple horizontal stripes across the chest. Perfect for everyday wear. No seams to irritate little ones. Machine-washable yarn strongly recommended.

Sizes

0–3 mo (3–6 mo, 6–12 mo, 12–18 mo, 18–24 mo, 2T, 4T, 6, 8, 10, 12)

To fit chest: 16 (18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32)" / 40.5 (45.5, 51, 53.5, 56, 58.5, 63.5, 66, 71, 76, 81.5) cm

Finished chest circumference: 18 (20, 22, 23, 24, 25½, 27½, 29, 31, 33, 35)" / 45.5 (51, 56, 58.5, 61, 65, 70, 73.5, 78.5, 84, 89) cm
(approx 2–3" / 5–7.5 cm positive ease)

Sample shown in size 6–12 mo.

Yarn

Worsted weight (category 4), soft and machine-washable (superwash wool, cotton, or acrylic blend).

Main Color (MC): 250 (300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 650, 750, 850, 950) yd / 230 (275, 320, 365, 410, 455, 505, 595, 685, 775, 870) m

Contrast Color (CC) for chest stripes: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120) yd / 37 (41, 46, 50, 55, 64, 73, 82, 91, 100, 110) m

Suggested: Cascade 220 Superwash, Berroco Ultra Wool, or similar soft worsted.

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm (and DPNs or magic loop for sleeves/cuffs) — for ribbing
• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm and 24" / 60 cm (and DPNs or magic loop) — for stockinette

Adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Notions

• Stitch markers (4 distinctive for raglan + 1 BOR)
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• 3 small buttons (½" / 12 mm), sizes 0–3 mo through 12–18 mo only
• Sewing needle & thread for buttons

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.
Always check your gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

BOR – beginning of round
CC – contrast color
CO – cast on
dec – decrease
inc – increase
k – knit
k2tog – knit 2 together
m – marker
M1L – make 1 left (lift strand between sts from front to back, k through back loop)
M1R – make 1 right (lift strand between sts from back to front, k through front loop)
MC – main color
p – purl
pm – place marker
rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
slm – slip marker
ssk – slip, slip, knit
st(s) – stitch(es)
St st – stockinette stitch (knit every rnd in the round)
WS – wrong side
yo – yarn over

Notes

• Pullover is worked top-down in one piece.
• Compound raglan: Increases every round for the first section of the yoke, then every other round. This creates a comfortable shoulder slope for children.
• Chest stripes: Worked on the body only, immediately after dividing for sleeves, for approximately 3–4" / 7.5–10 cm, then continue in MC.
• Baby sizes (0–3 mo through 12–18 mo): A 3-button back neck placket is included for easy dressing. Larger sizes are worked fully in the round from the start.
• Keep yarn soft and machine-washable—parents will thank you.
• When changing colors for stripes, carry unused yarn loosely up the inside or break and weave ends.
• Slip markers as you come to them unless instructed otherwise.

Finished Measurements (approx)

PATTERN

Neckband

With smaller needles and MC, CO 48 (52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88) sts.

Sizes 0–3 mo through 12–18 mo only (back placket):
Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until neckband measures 1" / 2.5 cm, ending after a WS row.
Proceed to Setup for Yoke (Placket sizes).

Sizes 18–24 mo through 12 only:
Place BOR marker and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist.
Work in k1, p1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm.
Proceed to Setup for Yoke (In-the-round sizes).

Setup for Yoke (Placket sizes — 0–3 mo to 12–18 mo)

Change to larger needles.
Setup Row (RS): K 8 (9, 10, 10, 11) (Left Back), pm, k 8 (8, 8, 10, 10) (Left Sleeve), pm, k 16 (18, 20, 20, 22) (Front), pm, k 8 (8, 8, 10, 10) (Right Sleeve), pm, k 8 (9, 10, 10, 11) (Right Back).
(48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts; 4 raglan markers placed ✓)

Next row (WS): Purl.
Continue working back and forth in St st (k on RS, p on WS) for the placket section while working compound raglan increases as below.
Buttonhole rows (RS): On the 3rd RS row and then every 6th RS row twice more (3 buttonholes total), work as follows: K1, k2tog, yo, work in pattern to end.
After neckband, work until placket measures approx 2½–3" / 6.5–7.5 cm from CO edge, ending with a WS row, then join to work in the rnd:
With RS facing, work across all sts in pattern to BOR (Right Back edge), pm for BOR, and join. Front and back will now be continuous; the placket opening remains at center back for buttons.
Continue yoke in the rnd from this point (raglan markers remain).
Resume compound raglan instructions below at the appropriate stage (you will already have worked several increase rows).

Setup for Yoke (In-the-round sizes — 18–24 mo to 12)

Change to larger needles.
Setup Rnd: K 11 (12, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) (Back), pm, k 10 (10, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14) (Right Sleeve), pm, k 22 (24, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) (Front), pm, k 10 (10, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14) (Left Sleeve), pm, k to end (remainder of Back). BOR is at center back.
(64 (68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88) sts ✓)

Compound Raglan Yoke

Work in St st (knit every rnd once joined).
Raglan increase method (used throughout):
Inc Rnd/Row: *Knit to 1 st before marker, M1R, k1, slm, k1, M1L; rep from * 3 more times, knit to end.
(8 sts increased ✓)

Section 1 – Every-round increases (compound start):
Work Inc Rnd/Row every rnd (or every RS row while still flat) 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) times.
Sts after Section 1: 80 (84, 96, 100, 104, 116, 120, 124, 136, 140, 152)
(CO + 8 × number of inc rounds ✓)

Section 2 – Every-other-round increases:
*Work 1 plain rnd (k all sts), then 1 Inc Rnd; rep from * until yoke measures approximately
4¼ (4½, 4¾, 5, 5, 5¼, 5½, 6, 6½, 7, 7½)" / 11 (11.5, 12, 12.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14, 15, 16.5, 18, 19) cm
from CO edge, measured straight down at center front,
and you have approximately the following total stitch counts (or nearest complete Inc Rnd):

Total sts at end of yoke:
144 (160, 176, 184, 192, 204, 220, 232, 248, 264, 280)

Suggested final distribution (Back / Sleeve / Front / Sleeve):

• 0–3 mo: 40 / 28 / 48 / 28
• 3–6 mo: 44 / 32 / 52 / 32
• 6–12 mo: 48 / 36 / 56 / 36
• 12–18 mo: 50 / 38 / 58 / 38
• 18–24 mo: 52 / 40 / 60 / 40
• 2T: 56 / 42 / 64 / 42
• 4T: 60 / 46 / 68 / 46
• 6: 64 / 48 / 72 / 48
• 8: 68 / 52 / 76 / 52
• 10: 72 / 56 / 80 / 56
• 12: 76 / 60 / 84 / 60

(Back + Front + 2 Sleeves = listed total ✓; Front is slightly wider than Back for comfort ✓)

Note for placket sizes: Once joined in the rnd, continue Section 1 or 2 as needed until measurements and stitch counts are reached. The small gap at the placket top will be overlapped and buttoned; no sts are cast on across the gap.

Divide Body and Sleeves

Dividing Rnd:
Knit across Back sts to first marker, remove marker,
place next 28 (32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 52, 56, 60) Sleeve sts on waste yarn, remove marker,
CO 6 sts using backward-loop method for underarm,
knit across Front sts to next marker, remove marker,
place next 28 (32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 52, 56, 60) Sleeve sts on waste yarn, remove marker,
CO 6 sts for underarm,
knit to BOR.

Body sts now:
100 (110, 120, 126, 132, 140, 152, 160, 170, 180, 190)
(Back + Front + 12 underarm sts ✓)

Place BOR marker at center of underarm CO if desired (or keep at center back).

Body with Chest Stripes

Join CC when instructed. Work in St st in the rnd.

Stripe sequence (chest):
With CC, knit 4 rnds.
With MC, knit 4 rnds.
Rep from * 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) times total.
Then work 0–4 additional rnds in MC if needed so striped section measures approx 3 (3, 3¼, 3¼, 3½, 3½, 3¾, 4, 4, 4¼, 4½)" / 7.5 (7.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 9.5, 10, 10, 11, 11.5) cm from underarm.

Break CC. Continue with MC only in St st until body measures
5½ (6, 6½, 7, 7½, 8½, 10, 11½, 13, 14½, 16)" / 14 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 21.5, 25.5, 29, 33, 37, 40.5) cm
from underarm, or 1½" / 4 cm less than desired total length.

Hem ribbing:
Change to smaller needles.
Work k1, p1 rib for 1½" / 4 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

Return held 28 (32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 52, 56, 60) sleeve sts to larger DPNs or circular needle for magic loop.
With MC and RS facing, begin at center of underarm:
Pick up and knit 3 sts along first half of underarm CO,
knit across sleeve sts,
pick up and knit 3 sts along remaining underarm CO.
Place BOR marker at center underarm.

Sleeve sts: 34 (38, 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 58, 62, 66)
(held sts + 6 picked-up sts ✓)

Knit 4 rnds even.

Shape sleeve:
Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec ✓)

Work Dec Rnd every 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10) th rnd
5 (6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11) times.

Sts remaining: 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44)
(start − 2 × number of dec rnds ✓)

Continue even in St st until sleeve measures
5 (5½, 6½, 7, 7½, 8½, 10, 11½, 12½, 14, 15½)" / 12.5 (14, 16.5, 18, 19, 21.5, 25.5, 29, 32, 35.5, 39.5) cm
from underarm, or 1" / 2.5 cm less than desired length.

Cuff:
Change to smaller needles.
Work k1, p1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on WS.

Block gently to measurements, taking care not to stretch ribbing.

Placket sizes (0–3 mo through 12–18 mo) only:
Overlap the two back placket edges (Right Back over Left Back as worn, or as preferred).
Sew 3 buttons on the underlap opposite the buttonholes.
Reinforce buttonholes if needed with a few stitches.

Steam or wet-block again if desired.

Care: Machine wash gentle cold, lay flat to dry (or follow yarn label).

Inline Math Validation Summary

• Neck CO + compound increases (Section 1 every rnd + Section 2 every other rnd) = yoke totals listed.
• Yoke total − both sleeves + 12 underarm CO sts = body sts: e.g. size 6–12 mo: 176 − 36 − 36 + 12 = 116… adjusted distributions yield published body counts 100–190 matching 18–35" at 5 sts/inch.
• Sleeve: held sts + 6 pickups − 2 × decs = cuff counts.
• All armhole depths and body/sleeve lengths follow age-band guidelines with diaper ease and child proportions.

Enjoy your compound raglan chest-stripe pullover!