Keyhole Neck Raglan Pullover

A comfortable, easy top-down seamless raglan pullover with a classic keyhole neckline. The small front slit is worked flat in ribbing and finished with a single button, then the yoke, body, and sleeves are knit entirely in the round—no seaming required. Perfect for worsted-weight yarn and knitters ready for their first raglan.

Difficulty: Easy
Skills used: Cast-on, knit, purl, join in the round, M1L/M1R increases, k2tog/ssk decreases, binding off, basic seaming for button.

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL)
To fit bust 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52)" / 86–91 (97–102, 107–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm
Shown in size Medium.

Finished Measurements

• Bust circumference: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)" / 96.5 (106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm
• Yoke depth (from bottom of neckband to underarm): 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm
• Body length from underarm to hem: 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm
• Sleeve length from underarm to cuff edge: 18 (18½, 19, 19, 19½)" / 45.5 (47, 48.5, 48.5, 49.5) cm
• Upper arm circumference: 11¼ (12¾, 14, 15½, 17¼)" / 28.5 (32.5, 35.5, 39.5, 44) cm

Positive ease is approximately 2–4" / 5–10 cm.

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (approx 180–200 yd / 165–183 m per 100 g)
1100 (1250, 1400, 1550, 1750) yd / 1005 (1145, 1280, 1420, 1600) m
Sample uses a smooth superwash wool blend.

Needles:

• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle, 16" / 40 cm and 24–32" / 60–80 cm, and set of DPNs (or long circular for magic loop) for ribbing
• US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, 16" / 40 cm and 24–32" / 60–80 cm, and set of DPNs (or magic loop) for stockinette

Notions:

• 4 stitch markers (plus 1 distinct BOR marker)
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• One ⅝–¾" / 15–20 mm button
• Sewing needle and matching thread for button

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows/rounds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

BOR – beginning of round
CO – cast on
k – knit
k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
M1L – make 1 left (lift strand between stitches from front to back, knit through back loop)
M1R – make 1 right (lift strand between stitches 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 (left-leaning decrease)
st(s) – stitch(es)
St st – stockinette stitch (knit every round in the round; knit on RS, purl on WS when flat)
WS – wrong side

Notes

• The sweater is worked top-down. The keyhole neckband is worked flat; the remainder is seamless in the round.
• Raglan increases: On increase rounds you will work M1R, sm, M1L at each of the four raglan markers (8 sts increased every increase round).
• Keep the BOR marker at center front (keyhole join) at all times after joining.
• When instructions give multiple numbers, they refer to sizes S (M, L, XL, 2XL). If only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
• Sleeve decreases are worked to a comfortable cuff; try on as you go and adjust length if desired.

Pattern

Keyhole Neckband

With smaller 16" / 40 cm circular needle (or DPNs), CO 112 (124, 140, 152, 172) sts using a long-tail cast-on. Do not join.

Place markers as you cast on to define the raglan sections (you will slip these markers every row):
CO 24 (26, 29, 31, 34) sts for Left Front, pm,
CO 8 (10, 12, 14, 18) sts for Left Sleeve, pm,
CO 48 (52, 58, 62, 68) sts for Back, pm,
CO 8 (10, 12, 14, 18) sts for Right Sleeve, pm,
CO 24 (26, 29, 31, 34) sts for Right Front.
(Total 112 (124, 140, 152, 172) sts ✓)

Row 1 (WS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end, slipping markers as you go.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end, slipping markers.

Repeat Rows 1–2 until neckband measures 2" / 5 cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row. The open edges at each end of the rows form the keyhole slit at center front.

Join and Begin Yoke

Change to larger needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a distinct BOR marker at the join (center front). The four raglan markers remain in place.
First round will reunite the two Front halves into one Front section of 48 (52, 58, 62, 68) sts.

Set-up rnd: Knit all sts, slipping all markers.
112 (124, 140, 152, 172) sts.

Raglan Increase Rnd:
[K to 1 st before raglan marker, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L] 4 times, k to end of rnd.
8 sts increased.

Next rnd: Knit.

Repeat the last 2 rounds 19 (21, 23, 25, 27) more times (20 (22, 24, 26, 28) increase rounds total).
Stitch count after all increases: 112 + 8 × 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) = 272 (300, 332, 360, 392) sts ✓

You now have:

• Front: 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) sts
• Left Sleeve: 48 (54, 60, 66, 74) sts
• Back: 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) sts
• Right Sleeve: 48 (54, 60, 66, 74) sts

Work even in St st (knit every rnd) if needed until yoke depth measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm from bottom of neckband.

Separate Sleeves from Body

Separation rnd:
K 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) Front sts,
place next 48 (54, 60, 66, 74) Left Sleeve sts on holder or waste yarn,
CO 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) underarm sts,
k 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) Back sts,
place next 48 (54, 60, 66, 74) Right Sleeve sts on holder,
CO 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) underarm sts.

Body now has 192 (212, 232, 252, 272) sts ✓
(Front + Back + 2 underarms = 88+88+8+8 = 192 for S, and equivalently for other sizes.)

Place BOR marker at center front and continue.

Body

Work even in St st until body measures 12 (12½, 13, 13½, 14)" / 30.5 (32, 33, 34.5, 35.5) cm from underarm, or 2" / 5 cm less than desired total length.

Change to smaller needles.
Ribbing rnd: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Work 1×1 rib for 2" / 5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

Return 48 (54, 60, 66, 74) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs or magic-loop circular.
Beginning at center of underarm, pick up and knit 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts along first half of underarm CO, knit across sleeve sts, pick up and knit 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts along remaining underarm CO.
Place BOR marker at center underarm.
56 (64, 70, 78, 86) sts ✓

Work 1" / 2.5 cm even in St st.

Decrease rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Work decrease rnd every 8th (8th, 7th, 7th, 6th) round 7 (9, 10, 12, 14) more times.
40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts remain ✓

Continue even (if necessary) until sleeve measures 16 (16½, 17, 17, 17½)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 43, 44.5) cm from underarm, or 2" / 5 cm less than desired length.

Change to smaller needles.
Work 1×1 rib (*k1, p1; repeat from *) for 2" / 5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Block gently to finished measurements.

Keyhole closure: On the RS of the Right Front neckband edge (wearer’s right), sew the button near the top cast-on corner, about ½" / 1.3 cm in from the edge and ½" / 1.3 cm down from the cast-on edge. On the opposite (Left Front) edge, make a small thread or crochet chain loop that fits snugly over the button. Alternatively, reinforce the top corners with a few tidy stitches if you prefer an open keyhole with no closure.

Steam or wet-block the neckband so the keyhole lies flat and the ribbing is even.

Enjoy your new keyhole raglan pullover!