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# Lace-Bordered Short-Sleeved Raglan Top

A seamless, top-down raglan tee with delicate lace panels at the yoke, hem, and sleeve cuffs. The bust and body are worked in a cozy seed-stitch texture that is fully opaque — perfect if you want interest without any see-through areas. An enjoyable intermediate project combining raglan shaping with simple lace repeats.

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## Sizes

| Size | Finished Bust | Ease (approx.) |
|------|---------------|----------------|
| S | 34" (86 cm) | 2–4" positive |
| M | 38" (96.5 cm) | 2–4" positive |
| L | 42" (106.5 cm) | 2–4" positive |
| XL | 46" (117 cm) | 2–4" positive |
| 2XL | 50" (127 cm) | 2–4" positive |

Instructions are written for size **S**, with **(M, L, XL, 2XL)** in parentheses. Where only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

**Sample shown in size M.**

---

## Materials

- **Yarn:** DK weight (Light #3). Approx. **900 (1000, 1150, 1300, 1450) yds** / 820 (915, 1050, 1190, 1325) m
- **Needles:**
  - US 6 / 4 mm circular needle (16" and 24–32" / 40 cm and 60–80 cm), plus DPNs or preferred method for small circumferences
  - US 5 / 3.75 mm circular (16") for neckband
- **Notions:** 4 stitch markers (1 unique for BOR), waste yarn/holders, tapestry needle

---

## Gauge

- **22 sts × 30 rounds = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette in the round, blocked.
- Seed stitch and lace panels: worked at the same needle; measure over stockinette for consistency.

*Take time to check gauge — it determines fit.*

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## Abbreviations

k, p, yo, k2tog, ssk, M1L (make 1 left), M1R (make 1 right), sl (slip), pm (place marker), sm (slip marker), BOR (beginning of round), st(s), rnd(s), rep (repeat).

**Seed stitch (worked in the round over an even number of sts):**
- Rnd 1: *k1, p1; rep from * around.
- Rnd 2: *p1, k1; rep from * around.
Rep Rnds 1–2.

**Lace Panel (multiple of 10 sts, worked in the round):**
- Rnd 1: *k2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * around.
- Rnd 2 and all even rnds: knit.
- Rnd 3: *k1, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * around.
- Rnd 4: knit.
Work Rnds 1–4 as directed (a 4-round repeat; each lace band = 8 rnds / two repeats).

*Note: yo and k2tog/ssk balance each stitch count within every 10-st repeat, so the total stitch count does not change through the lace panels.*

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## Construction Notes

Worked from the top down. The neckband and upper yoke are worked in **lace**, then raglan increases shape the yoke. After separating the sleeves, the body is worked in **seed stitch** (opaque, textured, non-see-through around the bust) down to a **lace hem**. Short sleeves are worked from the underarm to a **lace cuff**. No seaming.

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## Neckband

With US 5 / 3.75 mm 16" circular, cast on **96 (96, 100, 110, 110)** sts. Place BOR marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist.

- Work **k1, p1 ribbing** for 1" (2.5 cm).

Switch to US 6 / 4 mm needle.

**Set up raglan markers (Setup Rnd):** The cast-on is divided into front, back, and two sleeves with a marker at each of the 4 raglan points.

Distribute and place markers as follows (BOR marker begins at the back):

| Size | Back | m | Sleeve | m | Front | m | Sleeve | m (BOR) | Total |
|------|------|---|--------|---|-------|---|--------|---------|-------|
| S | 30 | pm | 12 | pm | 30 | pm | 12 | pm | 96 |
| M | 30 | pm | 12 | pm | 30 | pm | 12 | pm | 96 |
| L | 32 | pm | 12 | pm | 32 | pm | 12 | pm | 100 |
| XL | 34 | pm | 14 | pm | 34 | pm | 14 | pm | 110 |
| 2XL | 34 | pm | 14 | pm | 34 | pm | 14 | pm | 110 |

*Check: back + sleeve + front + sleeve = 30+12+30+12 = 96 for S. ✓*

---

## Yoke (with Lace Band + Raglan Increases)

### Raglan Increase Round (RI Rnd):
Work to 1 st before marker as established, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L; rep at each of the 4 markers. **8 sts increased per RI Rnd** (2 per raglan line).

### Yoke Lace Band
For a decorative top, knit **1 plain rnd**, then work **Lace Panel Rnds 1–4 once, then Rnds 1–4 again** (8 lace rnds total) across all stitches, **while simultaneously working RI Rnds on every other round** within the knit sections (increases are worked as knit stitches, not into the lace yo/decrease columns — place new sts in stockinette).

*Tip: To keep the lace repeats intact, work new raglan sts as plain knit stitches at the raglan seams; the lace repeats stay centered in each section.*

### Continue Raglan Increases
After the lace band, work in **stockinette in the round**, repeating the **RI Rnd every other round** (increase rnd, then 1 plain rnd) until you have completed:

- **17 (19, 20, 21, 23)** total increase rounds.

**Stitch count after increases:**
Total sts = cast-on + (8 × increase rounds)
= 96 + (8×17) = **232** (S)
= 96 + (8×19) = **248** (M)
= 100 + (8×20) = **260** (L)
= 110 + (8×21) = **278** (XL)
= 110 + (8×23) = **294** (2XL)

**Section counts after increases** (each raglan adds 1 st to neighboring sections per RI rnd; each RI rnd adds 2 sts to each section pair):

| Size | Back | Sleeve | Front | Sleeve | Total |
|------|------|--------|-------|--------|-------|
| S | 64 | 46 | 64 | 46 | 232 |
| M | 68 | 50 | 68 | 50 | 236* |
| L | 72 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 248* |
| XL | 76 | 55 | 76 | 55 | 262* |
| 2XL | 80 | 57 | 80 | 57 | 274* |

*To keep the pattern clean, work RI rounds until the **body sections (back + front)** reach the counts below and **sleeve sections** reach their counts; adjust final increase rounds if needed. Use these target section counts as your guide:*

| Size | Back / Front (each) | Each Sleeve |
|------|--------------------|-------------|
| S | 64 | 46 |
| M | 68 | 50 |
| L | 72 | 54 |
| XL | 76 | 57 |
| 2XL | 80 | 61 |

Work even (no increases) if needed until yoke depth measures **7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)"** / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm from cast-on at center back.

---

## Separate Sleeves & Body

Underarm cast-on per side: **CO 8 (9, 9, 10, 11)** sts at each underarm.

Working from BOR:
1. Work across **back** sts.
2. Place next **sleeve** sts on waste yarn.
3. Using backward-loop, **CO underarm sts**, pm at center of these underarm sts (new side marker), CO remaining underarm sts.
4. Work across **front** sts.
5. Place next **sleeve** sts on waste yarn.
6. **CO underarm sts** (with new BOR marker at center — this becomes your new BOR).

**Body stitch count** = back + front + (2 × underarm cast-on):

| Size | Back + Front | Underarm ×2 | Body Total | Adjust to lace mult. of 10 |
|------|-------------|-------------|-----------|-----------------------------|
| S | 128 | 16 | 144 | **140** (dec 4 evenly on next rnd) |
| M | 136 | 18 | 154 | **150** (dec 4) |
| L | 144 | 18 | 162 | **160** (dec 2) |
| XL | 152 | 20 | 172 | **170** (dec 2) |
| 2XL | 160 | 22 | 182 | **180** (dec 2) |

*Check S: 140 sts ÷ 22 × 4 = 25.5" half? No — 140 sts / 22 × 4 = 25.5 cm... let's verify circumference: 140 ÷ 22 × 4 = **25.45"** — wait, that's the full round circumference = finished bust. Correction below.*

**Bust circumference check:** body sts ÷ gauge = 140 ÷ 5.5 sts/inch = **25.5"**? 

Let me re-verify gauge: 22 sts = 4", so **5.5 sts/inch**. 140 ÷ 5.5 = 25.5". That is too small.

**Corrected body stitch counts** (to achieve stated finished bust at 5.5 sts/inch):

| Size | Finished Bust | Required Body Sts | Rounded to mult. of 10 |
|------|---------------|-------------------|------------------------|
| S | 34" | 187 | **190** |
| M | 38" | 209 | **210** |
| L | 42" | 231 | **230** |
| XL | 46" | 253 | **250** |
| 2XL | 50" | 275 | **280** |

**Reconciling:** Because the yoke section counts above yield fewer body stitches than needed, **increase evenly on the first body round** to reach the corrected body totals:

- On the first plain body rnd, increase evenly: **S: from 144→190 (inc 46); M: 154→210 (inc 56); L: 162→230 (inc 68); XL: 172→250 (inc 78); 2XL: 182→280 (inc 98).**

*Since these are large adjustments, distribute increases across two rounds (M1 evenly) to avoid puckering.* This transition round also marks the start of the **seed-stitch body**.

*Final check M: 210 ÷ 5.5 = 38.2" ✓ (target 38").*

---

## Body

With body sts on needle at corrected count and BOR at underarm:

1. **Seed stitch section:** Work in **seed stitch** (see stitch guide; even st count required — all corrected counts are even ✓) until body measures **13 (13, 13.5, 13.5, 14)"** / 33 (33, 34, 34, 35.5) cm from underarm, OR until 2.5" short of desired total length.

   *The seed stitch across the bust and torso is fully opaque — no see-through, as requested.*

2. **Lace hem band:** Work **Lace Panel Rnds 1–4 three times** (12 rnds, ≈ 1.5" / 4 cm). Stitch count unchanged.

3. **Hem edge:** Work **k1, p1 ribbing for 1" (2.5 cm).** Bind off loosely in pattern.

Total body length from underarm ≈ **16 (16, 16.5, 16.5, 17)"** / 40.5 (40.5, 42, 42, 43) cm.

---

## Sleeves (Short, with Lace Cuff)

Return one sleeve's held sts to DPNs / small circular:

- Sleeve held sts: **46 (50, 54, 57, 61)**.

Beginning at center underarm, **pick up and knit 8 (9, 9, 10, 11)** sts across the underarm cast-on, pm (BOR) at center underarm, then work across held sleeve sts.

**Sleeve stitch count:**
= held sts + underarm picked-up sts
= 46+8 = **54** (S)
= 50+9 = **59** (M) → **use even count; pick up 10 → 60**
= 54+9 = **63** (L) → pick up 8 for **62**
= 57+10 = **67** (XL) → pick up 9 for **66**
= 61+11 = **72** (2XL)

**Adjust each sleeve to an even number (seed/lace friendly):**

| Size | Sleeve Sts |
|------|-----------|
| S | 54 |
| M | 60 |
| L | 62 |
| XL | 66 |
| 2XL | 72 |

*Sleeve circumference check M: 60 ÷ 5.5 = 10.9" upper arm — for a short flutter-friendly sleeve, add ease as below.*

### Sleeve Shaping
For a comfortable short sleeve, work **2 (2, 2, 3, 3)** rounds even, then work in **stockinette in the round** for **2.5 (2.5, 2.5, 3, 3)"** / 6.5 cm from underarm.

**Optional light taper:** If a fitted sleeve is desired, work a decrease rnd (k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1) once. For a straight short sleeve, skip decreases. Keep the stitch count a **multiple of 10 for the lace cuff**, adjusting on the last stockinette round:

| Size | Adjust to mult. of 10 |
|------|------------------------|
| S | 54 → 50 (dec 4) |
| M | 60 → 60 (no change) |
| L | 62 → 60 (dec 2) |
| XL | 66 → 70 (inc 4) |
| 2XL | 72 → 70 (dec 2) |

### Lace Cuff
- Work **Lace Panel Rnds 1–4 twice** (8 rnds).
- Work **k1, p1 ribbing for 0.75" (2 cm).**
- Bind off loosely in pattern.

Total sleeve length ≈ **4.5 (4.5, 4.5, 5, 5)"** / 11.5 (11.5, 11.5, 12.5, 12.5) cm — a true short sleeve.

**Repeat for second sleeve.**

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## Finishing

1. Weave in all ends.
2. Close any small gaps at the underarms using yarn tails.
3. **Wet block** to measurements: this opens up the lace panels beautifully and evens out the seed stitch. Pin the lace borders to full width.

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## Schematic Summary (Size M)

- Neck circumference: ~17.5"
- Yoke depth: 7.5"
- Finished bust: 38.2"
- Body length (underarm to hem): 16"
- Total length (neck to hem): ~23.5"
- Sleeve length: 4.5"
- Upper sleeve circ.: ~10.9"

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## Design Feature Recap

- ✅ **Lace at top** (yoke lace band below neckband)
- ✅ **Lace at bottom** (hem lace band)
- ✅ **Lace at bottom of sleeves** (cuff lace band)
- ✅ **Non-see-through bust** (seed stitch — opaque texture, exactly as requested)
- ✅ **Short sleeves**
- ✅ **Seamless top-down raglan** (intermediate)

Enjoy your finished top!