purlJam

<pattern>

# ELEGANT RAGLAN PULLOVER

**A timeless top-down seamless raglan sweater with classic styling**

## DESIGN NOTES
This elegant pullover features clean raglan lines flowing from a ribbed crew neck to the underarms. Worked seamlessly from the top down, it offers excellent opportunities for customisation and fitting as you knit. The sport weight yarn creates beautiful drape whilst the classic silhouette ensures versatile wearability.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Sport weight yarn (5-ply)
- **Yardage required:**
  - S: 1000m (1095 yds)
  - M: 1150m (1260 yds)
  - L: 1300m (1420 yds)
  - XL: 1450m (1585 yds)
  - 2XL: 1600m (1750 yds)

**Needles:**
- 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle, 40cm (16") for neckline
- 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle, 60cm (24") for yoke
- 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle, 80cm (32") or longer for body
- 3.75mm (US 5) double-pointed needles or long circular for magic loop (for sleeves)
- 3.25mm (US 3) circular needles, 40cm (16") and 80cm (32") for ribbing
- Or sizes needed to obtain correct tension

**Notions:**
- 4 stitch markers (one in a contrasting colour for beginning of round)
- 2 stitch holders or waste yarn for holding sleeve stitches
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

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## SIZES
S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

**To fit chest:** 86-91 (97-102, 107-112, 117-122, 127-132)cm / 34-36 (38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52)"

**Finished chest circumference:** 96 (106, 116, 126, 136)cm / 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)"
*Designed with 5-10cm (2-4") positive ease for comfortable fit*

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## TENSION (GAUGE)
**24 stitches × 32 rounds = 10cm (4") in stocking stitch on 3.75mm needles, worked in the round after blocking**

**22 stitches × 32 rounds = 10cm (4") in 2×2 rib (unstretched) on 3.25mm needles**

⚠️ **Tension is critical for proper fit. Take time to swatch and adjust needle size if necessary.**

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## ABBREVIATIONS
- **k** = knit
- **p** = purl
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **pm** = place marker
- **sm** = slip marker
- **m1L** = make one left: insert left needle from front to back under strand between stitches, knit through back loop
- **m1R** = make one right: insert left needle from back to front under strand between stitches, knit through front loop
- **k2tog** = knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** = slip, slip, knit: slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, insert left needle through front of both stitches and knit together (left-leaning decrease)
- **BOR** = beginning of round

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## PATTERN NOTES

### Construction
This pullover is worked seamlessly from the top down. You'll begin with a ribbed neckband, then work the yoke with raglan increases at four points. After reaching the desired armhole depth, you'll separate the sleeves from the body, continue the body to length, then return to work the sleeves from the top down.

### Raglan Increases
Increases are worked every alternate round at four raglan "lines" (marked positions). Each increase round adds 8 stitches total:
- 2 stitches at each of 4 raglan lines = 8 stitches per increase round

The m1L (before marker) and m1R (after marker) create neat, nearly invisible increases that form attractive diagonal lines.

### Fit Notes
The pattern is written for a classic fit with 5-10cm (2-4") positive ease. Try the yoke on before separating sleeves to ensure proper fit. The body and sleeve lengths are easily adjustable.

### Marker Placement
You'll place 4 markers to separate:
- Back body
- Left sleeve  
- Front body
- Right sleeve

The contrasting marker indicates BOR at the left back raglan line.

---

## PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

### NECKBAND

With 3.25mm 40cm circular needle, cast on **104 (112, 120, 128, 136)** sts using long-tail method.

**Verification:** Stitch count is divisible by 4 for 2×2 ribbing ✓

Place BOR marker (use contrasting colour) and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

**Rounds 1-8:** *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

The neckband should measure approximately 2.5cm (1") after these 8 rounds.

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### YOKE SETUP

Change to 3.75mm 40cm circular needle.

**Setup Round (increase round):**
This round establishes raglan markers and adds initial shaping.

For all sizes:
K across back, placing markers as follows:
- K **16 (17, 18, 19, 20)** [right back]
- m1L, k1, pm (raglan marker), k1, m1R [right sleeve setup]
- K **24 (26, 28, 30, 32)** [right sleeve]  
- m1L, k1, pm (raglan marker), k1, m1R [front setup]
- K **32 (34, 36, 38, 40)** [front]
- m1L, k1, pm (raglan marker), k1, m1R [left sleeve setup]
- K **24 (26, 28, 30, 32)** [left sleeve]
- m1L, k1, pm (contrasting BOR marker), k1, m1R [back setup]
- K to end **16 (17, 18, 19, 20)** [left back]

**After setup round:** 112 (120, 128, 136, 144) sts total
- Back: 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts
- Each sleeve: 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts  
- Front: 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts

**Verification:** 
- S: 34 + 26 + 34 + 26 = 120 sts ✓
- M: 36 + 28 + 36 + 28 = 128 sts ✓
- L: 38 + 30 + 38 + 30 = 136 sts ✓
- XL: 40 + 32 + 40 + 32 = 144 sts ✓
- 2XL: 42 + 34 + 42 + 34 = 152 sts ✓

---

### YOKE RAGLAN INCREASES

**Round 1 (increase round):** *K to 1 st before marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L; repeat from * 3 more times, k to end. (8 sts increased)

**Round 2:** Knit all sts, slipping markers.

Repeat these 2 rounds **22 (24, 26, 28, 30)** more times.

**Total increase rounds worked:** 23 (25, 27, 29, 31) times
**Total stitches increased:** 184 (200, 216, 232, 248) sts

**After all yoke increases:**
Total stitch count: **296 (320, 344, 368, 392)** sts distributed as:
- Back: 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts
- Each sleeve: 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sts
- Front: 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts

**Verification for size S:** 
- Starting: 34 + 26 + 34 + 26 = 120 sts
- Increases: 23 rounds × 8 sts = 184 sts
- Final: 120 + 184 = 304 sts [Note: correcting calculation]

**CORRECTED stitch counts after increases:**
**Total stitches: 304 (328, 352, 376, 400)**
- Back: 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts [34 + 46 increases]
- Each sleeve: 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sts [26 + 46 increases]
- Front: 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts [34 + 46 increases]

**Yoke depth check:** Measure from base of neckband to needles. Should measure approximately **19 (20, 21, 22, 23)cm / 7.5 (8, 8.25, 8.75, 9)"**

💡 **Try on checkpoint:** Try the yoke on now. The raglan markers should sit at the natural shoulder line. If you need more depth, work additional increase rounds in pairs (2 more rounds = 16 more stitches, ~1cm depth).

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### SEPARATE SLEEVES FROM BODY

**Next round:**
- K across back 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts, remove marker
- Place next 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sleeve sts on holder or waste yarn, remove markers
- Using backward loop method, cast on **8 (10, 10, 12, 12)** underarm sts, pm for side
- K across front 80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts, remove marker  
- Place next 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sleeve sts on holder or waste yarn, remove marker
- Cast on **8 (10, 10, 12, 12)** underarm sts
- K to BOR marker (this marker remains as BOR)

**Body stitch count:** 176 (192, 204, 220, 232) sts

**Verification for size S:** 80 + 8 + 80 + 8 = 176 sts ✓

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### BODY

Continue working in the round in stocking stitch (knit all rounds) until body measures **32cm (12.5")** from underarm, or approximately 3cm (1") less than desired finished length.

Change to 3.25mm 80cm circular needle.

**Ribbing:**
**Rounds 1-12:** *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Body ribbing should measure approximately 3cm (1.25") after 12 rounds.

Cast off all sts loosely in pattern.

**Total body length from underarm:** Approximately 35cm (14")

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### SLEEVES (make both the same)

Transfer held 72 (78, 84, 90, 96) sleeve sts to 3.75mm DPNs or circular needle for magic loop.

**Beginning at centre underarm:**
Pick up and knit **4 (5, 5, 6, 6)** sts from underarm cast-on, pm for BOR, pick up and knit **4 (5, 5, 6, 6)** more sts from underarm, knit across sleeve sts.

**Sleeve stitch count:** 80 (88, 94, 102, 108) sts

Knit **5 (5, 5, 7, 7)** rounds even.

**Decrease round:** K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)

Repeat these **6 (6, 6, 8, 8)** rounds **12 (13, 14, 15, 16)** more times.

**After all decreases:** 54 (60, 64, 70, 74) sts remain

**Sleeve length verification:** Approximately 42cm (16