Cotton V-Neck Raglan Pullover

A seamless top-down raglan pullover with a classic V-neck, worked in soft worsted-weight cotton. Diagonal raglan lines, minimal finishing, and an easy try-on-as-you-go construction make this an ideal intermediate project.

Difficulty

Intermediate

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

Shown in size Medium with approximately 2–4" / 5–10 cm positive ease.

Finished Measurements

• Bust circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm
• Yoke depth at center back (approx): 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm
• V-neck depth from shoulder (approx): 8" / 20.5 cm
• Body length from underarm to hem: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm including ribbing
• Upper arm circumference: 13.5 (14.75, 16.5, 17.5, 19.25)" / 34.5 (37.5, 42, 44.5, 49) cm
• Sleeve length from underarm: 18 (18.5, 19, 19, 19.5)" / 45.5 (47, 48.5, 48.5, 49.5) cm including cuff
• Cuff circumference: 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight cotton (or cotton blend), approximately 200 yd / 183 m per 100 g

• 1100 (1250, 1400, 1550, 1700) yd / 1005 (1145, 1280, 1415, 1555) m
• 6 (7, 7, 8, 9) skeins Suggested: Cascade Ultra Pima, Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, or similar soft worsted cotton

Needles

• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle, 32" / 80 cm or longer (body)
• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle, 16" / 40 cm and/or DPNs (sleeves and upper yoke)
• US 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle, 32" / 80 cm and 16" / 40 cm (ribbing)
• Or sizes needed to obtain gauge

Notions

• Stitch markers (4 raglan markers + 1 unique BOR marker + locking markers)
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• Optional: scrap yarn for lifelines

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rnds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked. Take time to check gauge. Cotton can relax; block your swatch.

Abbreviations (US)

• BOR: beginning of round
• 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, 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
• rnd(s): round(s)
• RS: right side
• sm: slip marker
• ssk: slip, slip, knit (slip 1 knitwise twice, knit those 2 sts together through back loops)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch
• WS: wrong side
• wyib: with yarn in back
• wyif: with yarn in front

Notes

• Pullover is worked top-down. V-neck yoke is begun flat; when V depth is reached the work is joined and continued in the round.
• Raglan increases: On RS rows/rnds, work to 1 st before raglan m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L. 8 sts increased per raglan inc row/rnd.
• Neck increases (flat section only): At each neck edge on designated RS rows, work M1 inside the edge st to create a clean V slope.
• Short-row back-neck shaping is included for improved fit (recommended).
• Keep raglan “seam” stitches (the k1 on each side of each marker) distinct if desired for a raised raglan line; pattern treats them as plain knit.
• When instructed to work even, maintain established stitch patterns with no shaping.
• Inline counts are given as S (M, L, XL, 2XL).

Pattern Instructions

Neck Cast-On & Setup

With larger needle and using a long-tail or cable CO, CO 36 (46, 54, 64, 72) sts.

Setup row (WS): P1 (right front), pm, p4 (6, 8, 10, 12) (right sleeve), pm, p26 (32, 36, 42, 46) (back), pm, p4 (6, 8, 10, 12) (left sleeve), pm, p1 (left front). (36 (46, 54, 64, 72) sts ✓)

You now have 4 raglan markers dividing: Right Front | Right Sleeve | Back | Left Sleeve | Left Front.

Short-Row Back Neck Shaping (Recommended)

Short rows raise the back neck for a better fit. Work back and forth on larger needle.

Short Row 1 (RS): K to 1 st before 3rd marker (left back raglan), M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L, k4 (6, 8, 10, 12) sleeve sts, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L, k2 (3, 3, 4, 4) back sts, wrap next st, turn. Short Row 2 (WS): P to 1 st before 2nd marker (right back raglan), M1L-p (or p1, M1 purlwise equivalent), p1, sm, p1, M1R-p, p4 (6, 8, 10, 12), M1L-p, p1, sm, p1, M1R-p, p2 (3, 3, 4, 4), wrap next st, turn.

Short Row 3 (RS): K to wrapped st, work wrap with st, k to 1 st before next raglan m (continue raglan incs at both back raglans as established), work remaining back sts to 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts past previous short-row turning point, wrap next st, turn. Short Row 4 (WS): P to wrapped st, work wrap with st, p across back with raglan incs at both back raglans, p to 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts past previous turning point, wrap next st, turn.

Repeat Short Rows 3–4 once more (or twice more for XL/2XL if a higher back neck is desired), always working wraps together with their sts when you meet them and working raglan increases only on the two back raglan lines during these short rows.

Next row (RS): Knit across all sts to end of left front, working any remaining wraps together with their sts and working raglan increases at all 4 raglan lines (M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L at each). Neck edges: k1 (edge). (Short-row section adds a few back/sleeve sts; the main yoke counts below resume from the original CO sections and track the planned full raglan/neck increases. If you prefer to skip short rows, proceed directly to Yoke – Flat V-Neck section with all 4 raglan lines from the first RS row.)

Yoke – Flat V-Neck Section

Continue working flat (RS and WS rows) in St st (knit RS, purl WS).

Raglan increase rows (RS): K1, [neck inc if scheduled], work to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L; repeat at each of 4 raglan markers; work to last st, [neck inc if scheduled], k1. (8 raglan sts inc each raglan RS row)

WS rows: Purl all sts, slipping markers.

Schedule:

• Work a raglan increase on every RS row 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) times total for the entire yoke (flat + in-rnd). Of these, the first 28 RS rows occur in this flat section for all sizes (V depth ≈ 8" / 20.5 cm at 7 rows per inch: 28 RS + 28 WS ≈ 56 rows ✓).
• Neck increases: On RS rows, work M1 (or M1L at beg / M1R at end) inside the edge stitch at each neck edge every other RS row 12 (15, 17, 20, 22) times.
  (2 neck sts inc per neck-inc RS row)

After 28 RS raglan rows of the flat section (56 rows total flat):

• Each front: 1 + 28 (raglan) + 12 (15, 17, 20, 22) (neck) = 41 (44, 46, 49, 51) sts
  Final target fronts at underarm use remaining post-join raglan only on fronts; see Join. For clean matching to body targets, after all yoke shaping each front will be 41 (46, 50, 55, 59) sts — the extra front sts on larger sizes come from the additional 0 (2, 4, 6, 8) post-join raglan rounds (1 st per front per rnd).
  Check at join (after 28 raglan RS / 12–22 neck): fronts 41 (44, 46, 49, 51); sleeves 4+56=60 (6+56=62, 8+56=64, 10+56=66, 12+56=68); back 26+56=82 (32+56=88, 36+56=92, 42+56=98, 46+56=102).
  (Totals at join: 41+60+82+60+41 = 284 for S with neck 12 ✓; larger sizes scale with listed neck incs and same 28 flat raglan rows.)

Join for working in the round: With RS facing, join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist. The join connects the two front neck edges and forms the base (point) of the V. Place unique BOR marker at center front (join point).

Yoke – In the Round

Continue in St st in the rnd (knit every rnd).

Raglan rnds: [K to 1 st before raglan m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L] 4 times, k to BOR. (8 sts inc)

Work raglan increase every other rnd 0 (2, 4, 6, 8) more times
(N total raglan inc rows/rnds = 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) ✓).

Stitch count after all raglan increases:

• Each front: 41 (46, 50, 55, 59) sts
  (1 + N + neck incs: S: 1+28+12=41 ✓; M: 1+30+15=46 ✓; L: 1+32+17=50 ✓; XL: 1+34+20=55 ✓; 2XL: 1+36+22=59 ✓)
• Each sleeve: 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts
  (S0 + 2N: 4+56=60 ✓; 6+60=66 ✓; 8+64=72 ✓; 10+68=78 ✓; 12+72=84 ✓)
• Back: 82 (92, 100, 110, 118) sts
  (B0 + 2N: 26+56=82 ✓; 32+60=92 ✓; 36+64=100 ✓; 42+68=110 ✓; 46+72=118 ✓)
• Total: 284 (316, 344, 376, 404) sts ✓

Work even (no further raglan incs) if needed until yoke depth from shoulder CO measures approximately 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm at center back, or until desired armhole depth. End at BOR (center front).

Divide Body and Sleeves

Dividing rnd:
Knit 41 (46, 50, 55, 59) right-front sts,
place next 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) right-sleeve sts on waste yarn/holder,
CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts using backward-loop or cable CO,
knit 82 (92, 100, 110, 118) back sts,
place next 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) left-sleeve sts on waste yarn/holder,
CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts,
knit remaining 41 (46, 50, 55, 59) left-front sts to BOR.

Body sts: 41 + 8 + 82 + 8 + 41 = 180 (M: 46+8+92+8+46=200; L: 50+10+100+10+50=220; XL: 55+10+110+10+55=240; 2XL: 59+12+118+12+59=260) ✓
(180 (200, 220, 240, 260) sts = 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" at 5 sts/in ✓)

Place a marker at each underarm center if desired for side reference. Keep BOR at center front or move BOR to right underarm—center front is convenient for later neckband pickup reference.

Body

Work even in St st in the rnd until body measures 14 (14.5, 15, 15.5, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from underarm, or 2" / 5 cm less than total desired length.

Hem ribbing:
Change to smaller needle.
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2" / 5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

Return 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs or short circular / magic loop.
With RS facing, beginning at center of underarm CO, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along first half of underarm CO, knit sleeve sts, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along remaining underarm CO.
Place BOR at underarm center.

Sleeve sts: 60 + 8 = 68 (66+8=74; 72+10=82; 78+10=88; 84+12=96) ✓

Work 1" / 2.5 cm even in St st.

Shape sleeve:
Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec)

Repeat Dec rnd every 8th (7th, 6th, 6th, 5th) rnd 14 (15, 17, 18, 20) times total.
(68 − 2×14 = 40; 74 − 2×15 = 44; 82 − 2×17 = 48; 88 − 2×18 = 52; 96 − 2×20 = 56)
Final sleeve sts before cuff: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) ✓
(≈ 8 (8.75, 9.5, 10.5, 11.25)" — next ribbing draws in to finished cuff width)

Continue even until sleeve measures 16 (16.5, 17, 17, 17.5)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 43, 44.5) cm from underarm, or 2" / 5 cm less than desired length.

Cuff:
Change to smaller needles.
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2" / 5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Repeat for second sleeve.

V-Neckband

With smaller 16" / 40 cm or 32" / 80 cm circular needle and RS facing, beginning at center-front V point (BOR join):

• Pick up and knit 1 st in the V point (place removable m on this st),
• Pick up and knit approximately 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts evenly along right front V neck edge to shoulder/raglan,
• Pick up and knit 4 (5, 6, 6, 7) sts across right sleeve top/raglan neck edge,
• Pick up and knit 26 (32, 36, 42, 46) sts across back neck,
• Pick up and knit 4 (5, 6, 6, 7) sts across left sleeve top,
• Pick up and knit approximately 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts evenly along left front V neck edge to center,
• 1 st already counted at V point.

Aim for a total of roughly 108 (124, 136, 148, 160) sts (multiple of 2 for 1×1 rib). Adjust pickup density (about 3 sts per 4 rows along V edges) so band lies flat without flaring or pulling.

Join to work in the rnd. Pm at V-point st for center dec.

Ribbing rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to end, keeping V-point st as a knit st (or centered in rib).

V-miter dec rnd: Work in established rib to 2 sts before V-point st, ssk (or k2tog tbl), k1 (V st), k2tog, work in rib to end. (2 sts dec)

Repeat V-miter dec rnd every rnd, continuing k1, p1 rib elsewhere, until neckband measures 1–1.25" / 2.5–3 cm (or desired width).
Bind off loosely in rib, working the miter decreases as you bind off at center V for a sharp point.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on WS.
Block gently to finished measurements, pinning V-neck and raglan lines smooth. Cotton blooms and relaxes with blocking—do not overstretch.
Steam or wet-block per yarn label; lay flat to dry.

Optional: Reinforce V-point on WS with a few firm duplicate stitches if needed for durability.

Technical Editor notes (for knitter confidence)

• Body: 180 (200, 220, 240, 260) ÷ 5 sts/in = 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" ✓
• Raglan total inc rounds N = 28 (30, 32, 34, 36); 8N = 224 (240, 256, 272, 288) raglan sts added ✓
• Neck sts added = 2 × 12 (15, 17, 20, 22) = 24 (30, 34, 40, 44) ✓
• CO + raglan + neck = pre-divide total 284 (316, 344, 376, 404) ✓
• After underarm CO and sleeve removal, body matches gauge targets ✓
• Sleeve decs land on even rib-friendly counts ✓

Enjoy your cotton V-neck raglan!