purlJam

# Little Explorer Colourwork Raglan
A beginner-friendly, top-down seamless sweater for babies and toddlers.

## Pattern Description
This is a top-down raglan pullover worked seamlessly in the round. The raglan construction creates diagonal lines from the neckline to the underarms, and the seamless method eliminates sewing. This version features a simple "dotted" colourwork section in the yoke, perfect for beginners wanting to try stranded knitting for the first time.

## Materials
*   **Yarn**: Worsted weight wool or acrylic blend (approx. 200m per 100g).
    *   Main Colour (MC): 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) x 100g balls.
    *   Contrast Colour (CC): 1 x 100g ball (only a small amount needed).
*   **Needles**: 
    *   4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles (40 cm) or DPNs for ribbing.
    *   4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles (40 cm and 60 cm) or DPNs for main body.
*   **Notions**: 4 stitch markers (one of a different colour to mark beginning of round), waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle.

## Tension
20 stitches and 26 rounds = 10 cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch using 4.5 mm needles.
*Please check your tension; adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct tension.*

## Sizing Chart
| Size | Age (Approx) | Finished Chest Circumference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Size 1** | 0–3 months | 44 cm (17.5") |
| **Size 2** | 6–12 months | 50 cm (19.5") |
| **Size 3** | 18–24 months | 54 cm (21.5") |
| **Size 4** | 2 years | 58 cm (23") |
| **Size 5** | 4 years | 64 cm (25") |

## Abbreviations
*   **CC**: Contrast colour
*   **k**: Knit
*   **k2tog**: Knit two stitches together
*   **M1L**: Make 1 Left (increase)
*   **M1R**: Make 1 Right (increase)
*   **MC**: Main colour
*   **p**: Purl
*   **pm**: Place marker
*   **sm**: Slip marker
*   **st(s)**: Stitch(es)
*   **st st**: Stocking stitch (Knit every round)

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## Instructions

### 1. Neckline
Using 4.0 mm needles and MC, cast on 44 (48, 48, 52, 56) sts using a stretchy cast-on method.
Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. PM to mark beginning of round (BOR).
**Round 1**: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 until ribbing measures 2 cm (0.75").

### 2. Yoke Setup
Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
**Setup Round**:
- K7 (8, 8, 9, 10) for Back. PM.
- K8 (8, 8, 8, 8) for Sleeve. PM.
- K14 (16, 16, 18, 20) for Front. PM.
- K8 (8, 8, 8, 8) for Sleeve. PM.
- K7 (8, 8, 9, 10) to BOR.
*(Validation: Total sts = 44 (48, 48, 52, 56))*

### 3. Raglan Increases
**Round 1 (Increase Round)**: *Knit to marker, M1R, sm, M1L; repeat from * three more times, knit to end. (8 sts increased).
**Round 2**: Knit all sts.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 a total of 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) times.
*(Stitch count: 84 (96, 104, 116, 128) sts)*

### 4. Simple Colourwork Section
Begin simple 1x1 colourwork (stranded). Ensure you carry CC loosely behind the work.
**Round 1**: *K1 MC, K1 CC; repeat from * to end.
**Round 2 (Increase Round)**: Using MC only: *Knit to marker, M1R, sm, M1L; repeat from * three more times, knit to end. (8 sts increased).
**Round 3**: *K1 CC, K1 MC; repeat from * to end.
**Round 4**: Knit all sts in MC.

### 5. Continue Yoke
Repeat the **Raglan Increase Round** (Round 1 of section 3) every second round in MC only until you have a total of 132 (144, 152, 164, 184) sts.
*Armhole depth should measure approximately 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) cm from cast-on.*

### 6. Separate Sleeves and Body
**Next Round**: 
- Knit to first marker, remove marker. 
- Place next 28 (30, 32, 34, 38) sts on waste yarn (Sleeve).
- Cast on 4 (4, 6, 6, 6) sts for underarm using backwards loop method.
- Knit to next marker, remove marker.
- Place next 28 (30, 32, 34, 38) sts on waste yarn (Sleeve).
- Cast on 4 (4, 6, 6, 6) sts for underarm.
- Knit to end of round. PM in centre of new underarm sts to mark new BOR.
*(Validation Body: 88 (100, 108, 116, 128) sts)*

### 7. Body
Work in st st (knit every round) using MC until body measures 15 (18, 20, 22, 25) cm from the underarm, or 2 cm less than desired length.
Switch to 4.0 mm needles.
**Ribbing**: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Work in ribbing for 2 cm. 
Bind off loosely in pattern.

### 8. Sleeves (Work both the same)
Transfer 28 (30, 32, 34, 38) sts from waste yarn to 4.5 mm DPNs or use magic loop.
Pick up and knit 4 (4, 6, 6, 6) sts from the underarm. PM in the centre of these sts.
*(Total Sleeve: 32 (34, 38, 40, 44) sts)*
Work in st st for 5 rounds.
**Decrease Round**: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
Repeat **Decrease Round** every 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) rounds until 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts remain.
Continue in st st until sleeve measures 14 (17, 20, 23, 26) cm from underarm, or 2 cm less than desired length.
Switch to 4.0 mm needles.
**Ribbing**: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end for 2 cm.
Bind off loosely.

### 9. Finishing
Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle. Gently steam or wet block to settle the colourwork and raglan lines.

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**Technical Validation Note**: 
Total body stitches for Size 1 = 88 sts. 
At 20 sts/10 cm (2 sts/1 cm), 88 / 2 = 44 cm finished circumference. 
Matches Sizing Chart. Correct.