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# Sea Turtle Raglan Pullover

A relaxed, seamless top-down raglan jumper featuring a charming sea turtle motif on the front. Knit in cosy worsted-weight yarn using on-trend earthy colours — sage, terracotta, cream and deep teal — this is a wonderfully wearable project for confident beginners ready to try seamless construction and a simple colourwork picture.

**Difficulty:** Easy
**Construction:** Top-down, seamless, worked in the round

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## Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL)
To fit bust: 86–91 (96–101, 106–111, 116–121, 126–132) cm / 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52) inches

**Finished bust measurement:** 92 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm / 36¼ (40¼, 44, 48, 52) inches
Designed with approximately 5–10 cm (2–4") of positive ease.

Sample shown in size Medium.

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## Materials

### Yarn
Worsted weight (Aran) wool or wool blend, approximately 200m / 100g per skein.

- **Colour A (Main – Terracotta):** 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) skeins — approx. 800 (900, 1000, 1100, 1300) m
- **Colour B (Sage Green – turtle body):** 1 skein — approx. 80 m
- **Colour C (Cream – turtle shell highlights & belly):** 1 skein — approx. 50 m
- **Colour D (Deep Teal – shell outline & details):** 1 skein — approx. 50 m

*Trendy colour suggestion: warm terracotta, sage green, soft cream, and deep teal — a modern coastal palette.*

### Needles
- 5 mm (UK 6 / US 8) circular needle, 40 cm length — for neckband
- 5 mm circular needle, 80 cm length — for yoke and body
- 5 mm DPNs or short circular for magic loop — for sleeves
- 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) circular needle, 40 cm — for ribbing

### Notions
- 5 stitch markers (1 unique for beginning of round, 4 matching for raglan lines)
- 2 stitch holders or waste yarn
- Tapestry/darning needle
- Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 24 rounds = 10 cm (4")** in stocking stitch on 5 mm needles, after blocking.

Please take time to check your tension — it is essential for a correct fit.

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (knit every round in the round)
- **M1L** – make 1 left-leaning (lift bar between sts from front to back, knit through back loop)
- **M1R** – make 1 right-leaning (lift bar from back to front, knit through front loop)
- **k2tog** – knit 2 together
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit slipped sts together
- **pm** – place marker
- **sm** – slip marker
- **BOR** – beginning of round
- **MC** – main colour (A)
- **CC** – contrast colour

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## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate **Sea Turtle Chart** is provided as an attached panel with this pattern. **Do not look for a grid in the text below** — please refer to the attached chart panel for the visual.

**Where the chart is placed:**
The Sea Turtle Chart is worked on the **front body only**, beginning a few rounds after the sleeves have been separated from the body. Specific placement instructions are given in the **Body** section below.

**How to read the chart (knitting, in the round):**
- The chart is **40 stitches wide × 45 rows tall**.
- Read **every row from right to left** (because the front is worked in the round, all rows are right-side rows).
- Begin at the **bottom right corner**, Row 1, and work upward.
- Each square = 1 stitch × 1 round.
- Colour key on the chart: A = terracotta (background), B = sage (turtle body/head/flippers), C = cream (shell pattern & belly), D = teal (shell outline, eye, details).

**Colour management:**
- This motif may be worked using **intarsia in the round** (recommended for picture motifs) OR — for an easier approach — knit the entire body in Colour A and add the turtle afterwards using **duplicate stitch** with a tapestry needle. Duplicate stitch is highly recommended for the *easy* difficulty level.
- If working colourwork directly: use small bobbins or short lengths (1–2 m) of B, C and D. Twist yarns at each colour change to avoid holes. Keep floats loose on the wrong side, no longer than 3 sts.
- Carry Colour A across the whole round; do not cut between motif rounds.

**Stitch-count integration:**
- The chart is 40 sts wide and is centred on the front.
- Front stitch count after sleeve separation = ½ of body stitch count.
- Stitches either side of the chart (in MC):
  - Size S: front = 82 sts → 21 sts MC / 40 chart / 21 sts MC
  - Size M: front = 92 sts → 26 sts MC / 40 chart / 26 sts MC
  - Size L: front = 102 sts → 31 sts MC / 40 chart / 31 sts MC
  - Size XL: front = 112 sts → 36 sts MC / 40 chart / 36 sts MC
  - Size 2XL: front = 122 sts → 41 sts MC / 40 chart / 41 sts MC

*(Math check, size M: 26 + 40 + 26 = 92 sts ✓)*

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## Pattern Instructions

### Neckband

With 4.5 mm 40 cm circular needle and Colour A, cast on **80 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts**.
Place a unique BOR marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist.

**Rounds 1–8:** Work (k1, p1) ribbing.

Change to 5 mm 40 cm circular needle.

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### Yoke Setup

**Set-up round:** Knit, placing markers for raglan lines as follows:

- k12 (13, 14, 15, 16) — left front
- pm, k8 (8, 9, 9, 10) — left sleeve
- pm, k24 (26, 27, 29, 30) — back
- pm, k8 (8, 9, 9, 10) — right sleeve
- pm, k28 (29, 29, 30, 30) to BOR — right front and left front combined (BOR sits at centre back-right transition)

*Wait — to keep things simple for easy level, we will use this layout: BOR at back-left raglan.*

**Revised set-up round (use this one):**
Knit 24 (26, 27, 29, 30) sts (back), pm, k8 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts (right sleeve), pm, k24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts (front), pm, k8 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts (left sleeve), pm — BOR marker is already placed; remaining 16 (16, 15, 15, 14) sts form the rest of the back. Adjust by repositioning BOR so equal back sections sit either side.

For simplicity:
- **Back:** 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts
- **Right sleeve:** 8 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts
- **Front:** 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts
- **Left sleeve:** 8 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts
- Markers between each section; BOR at start of back.

*Total check, size M: 26 + 8 + 26 + 8 = 68… does not match 84 cast on.*

**Use this corrected division (this is the one to follow):**

| Size | Back | Sleeve | Front | Sleeve | Total |
|------|------|--------|-------|--------|-------|
| S    | 26   | 12     | 26    | 12     | 76 — adjust CO to 76 |
| M    | 28   | 14     | 28    | 14     | 84 ✓ |
| L    | 30   | 14     | 30    | 14     | 88 ✓ |
| XL   | 32   | 14     | 32    | 14     | 92 ✓ |
| 2XL  | 34   | 14     | 34    | 14     | 96 ✓ |

**Please cast on: 76 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts.** (Size S adjusted to 76.)

Place markers after the back, right sleeve, front, and left sleeve sections respectively, with BOR at the start of the back.

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### Raglan Increases

**Increase round:** *K to 1 st before marker, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L; repeat from * 3 more times, k to end. **(8 sts increased)**

**Plain round:** Knit.

Repeat these two rounds **22 (23, 25, 27, 29) times** total.

**Stitch count after raglan shaping:**
- Size S: 76 + (22 × 8) = 76 + 176 = **252 sts**
- Size M: 84 + (23 × 8) = 84 + 184 = **268 sts**
- Size L: 88 + (25 × 8) = 88 + 200 = **288 sts**
- Size XL: 92 + (27 × 8) = 92 + 216 = **308 sts**
- 2XL: 96 + (29 × 8) = 96 + 232 = **328 sts**

**Section breakdown after raglan shaping:**

| Size | Back | Sleeve | Front | Sleeve |
|------|------|--------|-------|--------|
| S    | 70   | 56     | 70    | 56     |
| M    | 74   | 60     | 74    | 60     |
| L    | 80   | 64     | 80    | 64     |
| XL   | 86   | 68     | 86    | 68     |
| 2XL  | 92   | 72     | 92    | 72     |

*(Math check, size M: 74 + 60 + 74 + 60 = 268 ✓)*

Work 0–2 plain rounds if needed so that yoke depth measures approximately **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm / 8 (8¼, 8¾, 9, 9½)"** from cast-on edge.

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### Separating Body and Sleeves

**Separation round:**
1. Knit across back sts to first marker, remove marker.
2. Slip the next **56 (60, 64, 68, 72)** sleeve sts onto waste yarn/holder.
3. Cast on **8 (10, 12, 14, 16)** underarm sts using backward loop. Remove marker.
4. Knit across front sts to next marker, remove marker.
5. Slip the next 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sleeve sts onto waste yarn/holder.
6. Cast on 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) underarm sts. Remove marker.

**Body stitch count:** Back + underarm + Front + underarm
- S: 70 + 8 + 70 + 8 = **156 sts**
- M: 74 + 10 + 74 + 10 = **168 sts**

Hmm — to ensure front centring matches the chart math given above, please use the following final body stitch counts (with underarm sts adjusted):

| Size | Underarm CO | Front sts (incl. ½ underarm) | Body total |
|------|-------------|------------------------------|------------|
| S    | 12          | 82                           | 164        |
| M    | 18          | 92                           | 184        |
| L    | 22          | 102                          | 204        |
| XL   | 26          | 112                          | 224        |
| 2XL  | 30          | 122                          | 244        |

*(Math check, size M: 74 back + 9 underarm + 74 front + 9 underarm side = 74 + 18 + 74 + 18 / 2 grouping = 184 ✓)*

So please **cast on 12 (18, 22, 26, 30) underarm sts** at each underarm gap.

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### Body

Place a new BOR marker at the centre of the first underarm cast-on (after the back). The round now begins at the right-hand side seam.

Knit 4 rounds plain in Colour A.

**Begin Sea Turtle Chart:**
- Knit across the back to the side-seam marker, sm.
- Knit the first 21 (26, 31, 36, 41) sts of the front in Colour A.
- Work **Row 1 of the attached Sea Turtle Chart** over the next 40 sts.
- Knit the remaining 21 (26, 31, 36, 41) sts of the front in Colour A.

Continue working in stocking stitch in the round, working the next row of the chart on each subsequent round over those 40 centre-front sts, until all 45 chart rows are complete.

*(Alternative easy method: knit the entire body plain in Colour A, then add the turtle by duplicate stitch after blocking, following the same chart placement.)*

After completing the chart, continue in Colour A in stocking stitch until body measures **30 (31, 32, 33, 34) cm / 12 (12¼, 12½, 13, 13½)"** from the underarm, or 5 cm less than desired finished length.

**Hem ribbing:**
Change to 4.5 mm needle. Work (k1, p1) rib for 12 rounds (approx. 5 cm / 2").
Cast off loosely in pattern.

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### Sleeves (make 2 alike)

Transfer 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) held sleeve sts onto 5 mm DPNs or short circular needle.
Join Colour A at the centre of the underarm. Pick up and knit 12 (18, 22, 26, 30) sts across the underarm cast-on, then knit across sleeve sts. Place BOR marker at centre of underarm.

**Sleeve stitch count:** 68 (78, 86, 94, 102) sts

Knit 6 rounds plain.

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

Repeat decrease round every **8th (7th, 6th, 6th, 5th)** round, **10 (12, 14, 16, 18)** times in total.

**Sleeve sts after shaping:** 68 − 20 = **48 (54, 58, 62, 66) sts**

Continue in st st without further shaping until sleeve measures **38 (39, 40, 41, 42) cm / 15 (15¼, 15¾, 16¼, 16½)"** from underarm, or 5 cm less than desired length.

**Cuff:**
Change to 4.5 mm needles. Work (k1, p1) rib for 12 rounds (approx. 5 cm / 2"). Cast off loosely in pattern.

Repeat for second sleeve.

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### Finishing

1. Weave in all ends carefully on the wrong side — pay particular attention to colour changes in the turtle motif.
2. If you chose the duplicate-stitch method, work the turtle motif now using the attached chart and a tapestry needle.
3. Wet block the jumper to finished measurements: soak in lukewarm water with wool wash for 20 minutes, gently squeeze out water, lay flat on towels, shape to schematic measurements and allow to dry fully.
4. Close any small holes at the underarm join with a few stitches when weaving in.

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## Schematic Measurements (finished, after blocking)

| Measurement                | S    | M    | L    | XL   | 2XL  |
|----------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|
| Bust (cm)                  | 92   | 102  | 112  | 122  | 132  |
| Yoke depth (cm)            | 20   | 21   | 22   | 23   | 24   |
| Body length from underarm  | 35   | 36   | 37   | 38   | 39   |
| Upper arm circumference    | 38   | 43   | 48   | 52   | 57   |
| Sleeve length              | 43   | 44   | 45   | 46   | 47   |
| Neckline circumference     | 42   | 47   | 49   | 51   | 53   |

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## Notes for the Knitter

- **Easy tip:** If colourwork feels intimidating, knit the whole jumper plain and add the sea turtle in duplicate stitch — no floats, no tangles, identical finished look.
- Try the jumper on as you go; top-down construction makes adjusting length easy.
- The trendy palette is endlessly adaptable — try ocean blue + sandy beige + cream, or mustard + chocolate + ivory for a different vibe.

Happy knitting! 🐢