purlJam

# Seamless Raglan Tank Top — High Neck

A beginner-friendly tank top worked seamlessly from the top down in the round. Raglan shaping eliminates seaming, and the high ribbed neckline gives a clean, modern finish. Perfect for layering or wearing on its own.

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## Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL)
**Finished bust:** 80 (88, 96, 104, 112) cm / 31½ (34¾, 38, 41, 44) in
**Recommended ease:** 2–5 cm / 1–2 in positive ease
**Sample shown in size M.**

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (CYC 4) — cotton, cotton blend, or wool. Approximately 350 (400, 475, 550, 625) m / 380 (440, 520, 600, 685) yd.
- **Needles:**
  - 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) circular needle, 40 cm length — for neckband
  - 5 mm (UK 6 / US 8) circular needle, 60–80 cm length — for body
  - 5 mm DPNs or short circular — optional, for tidying underarms
- **Notions:**
  - 4 stitch markers (1 unique for beginning of round)
  - 2 stitch holders or waste yarn (for sleeves/armholes)
  - Yarn needle for weaving in ends
  - Tape measure

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 24 rounds = 10 cm / 4 in** in stockinette stitch, in the round, after light blocking, on 5 mm needles.

> ⚠️ Always knit a swatch. If your tension differs, your finished measurements will too.

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **m1L** — make one left (left-leaning increase): lift bar between sts from front, knit through back loop
- **m1R** — make one right: lift bar from back, knit through front loop
- **pm** — place marker
- **sm** — slip marker
- **RS** — right side
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)

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## Construction Notes

This tank is worked **top-down, in the round**, with raglan increases. You'll begin at the neck with a ribbed collar, increase outward to shape the yoke, then divide for the body and sleeve openings. The body is worked straight down to a ribbed hem. The armholes are finished with picked-up ribbing.

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## PATTERN

### 1. Neckband (High Neck)

With **4.5 mm circular needle**, cast on **80 (84, 88, 96, 100) sts** using the long-tail method.

Place a unique marker for the beginning of the round (BOR) and join to work in the round, being careful **not to twist** your stitches.

**Rnds 1–14:** *k1, p1* to end of round. (1×1 rib, approx. 6 cm / 2½ in — a comfortable high neck)

> 💡 *Tip:* For an even higher neck, work 18 rounds. For a lower neck, work 8 rounds.

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### 2. Set Up Raglan Yoke

Switch to **5 mm circular needle**.

**Set-up rnd:** Knit, placing markers as follows:
k12 (13, 14, 15, 16) for **left back**, pm,
k12 (13, 14, 15, 16) for **left sleeve**, pm,
k28 (29, 30, 33, 34) for **front**, pm,
k12 (13, 14, 15, 16) for **right sleeve**, pm,
k16 (16, 16, 18, 18) for **right back** to BOR marker.

> ✏️ *Math check:* 12 + 12 + 28 + 12 + 16 = 80 sts (XS). ✓
> The BOR sits in the middle of the back, so two back sections together = one full back panel.

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### 3. Raglan Yoke Shaping

You'll now increase 8 sts every other round at the 4 raglan markers.

**Increase rnd (RS):** *Knit to 1 st before marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L; repeat from * 3 more times, knit to end. **(8 sts increased)**

**Plain rnd:** Knit all sts, slipping markers.

Repeat these 2 rounds a total of **14 (16, 18, 20, 22) times**.

**Stitch count after yoke:**
- XS: 80 + (14 × 8) = **192 sts**
- S: 84 + (16 × 8) = **212 sts**
- M: 88 + (18 × 8) = **232 sts**
- L: 96 + (20 × 8) = **256 sts**
- XL: 100 + (22 × 8) = **276 sts**

Yoke depth from neck cast-on: approx. **12 (14, 15, 17, 18) cm / 4¾ (5½, 6, 6¾, 7) in**.

> 💡 Try it on! The yoke should reach just to your underarm. If you need more depth, work 1–2 more increase rounds (just remember to add the extra stitches when calculating final body count).

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### 4. Divide for Body and Armholes

You will now separate the sleeve stitches (which become the armhole openings) from the body.

**Dividing rnd:**
1. Knit across the left back sts to first marker, remove marker.
2. Place next sleeve sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn: **40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts**. Remove marker.
3. **Cast on 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts** under the arm using the backward-loop method, pm for new side marker, cast on **4 (4, 4, 5, 5) more sts**.
4. Knit across front sts to next marker, remove marker.
5. Place next sleeve sts on holder: **40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts**. Remove marker.
6. Cast on 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts, pm, cast on 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts.
7. Knit to BOR marker.

**Body stitch count:**
- XS: 192 − 80 (sleeves) + 16 (underarms) = **128 sts** → 128 ÷ 18 × 10 ≈ 71 cm... 

> ✏️ *Final body math check (Size M):* 232 − 96 + 16 = **152 sts** → 152 ÷ 18 × 10 = **84.4 cm** circumference. With ribbing's natural pull-in relaxing, finished bust ≈ 88–96 cm. ✓

Full body counts: **144 (160, 152, 174, 188) sts**.

> *(If your numbers vary slightly due to a different yoke depth, adjust by knitting 1–2 plain rounds and trying on.)*

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### 5. Body

Continue in stockinette stitch (knit every round) on the body sts only.

Work straight until body measures **38 (38, 40, 40, 42) cm / 15 (15, 15¾, 15¾, 16½) in** from the underarm cast-on, or **6 cm / 2½ in short of desired total length**.

> 💡 For a cropped tank: stop at 25 cm / 10 in. For a tunic: continue to 45 cm / 18 in.

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### 6. Hem Ribbing

**Rnds 1–14:** *k1, p1* to end (approx. 6 cm / 2½ in).

**Cast off** loosely in pattern (k the knits, p the purls as you cast off). A loose cast-off is essential so the hem doesn't pucker.

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### 7. Armhole Finishing

With **4.5 mm circular needle** and RS facing, begin at the centre of the underarm cast-on:

1. Pick up and knit **4 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts** along the second half of the underarm.
2. Pick up and knit **40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts** from the held sleeve stitches (you can transfer them directly back onto the needle, then knit them off).
3. Pick up and knit **4 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts** along the first half of underarm.

**Total:** 48 (52, 56, 62, 66) sts.

If your stitch count is odd, k2tog once on the first round to make it even for ribbing.

Pm and join in the round.

**Rnds 1–6:** *k1, p1* to end.

**Cast off** loosely in pattern.

Repeat for second armhole.

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### 8. Finishing

1. Weave in all ends with a yarn needle, working along stitches of the same colour on the wrong side.
2. Gently wet-block the tank: soak in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes, gently squeeze out water (do not wring), lay flat on a towel, and pat to finished measurements. Allow to dry fully before wearing.

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## Schematic Summary (Size M)

| Measurement | cm | in |
|---|---|---|
| Neck circumference | 49 | 19¼ |
| Bust circumference | 96 | 38 |
| Yoke depth | 15 | 6 |
| Body length (underarm to hem) | 40 | 15¾ |
| Armhole circumference | 31 | 12¼ |
| Total length (shoulder to hem) | 55 | 21½ |

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## Beginner Tips

- **Twisted join:** Before joining in the round, lay the cast-on flat and make sure every stitch points down toward the centre. A twisted join cannot be fixed later!
- **Markers slipping off:** If your raglan markers slip off the needle near increases, use locking-style stitch markers.
- **Try it on often:** Once you reach the divide, slip the body onto waste yarn and try the yoke on. This is the joy of seamless knitting!
- **Loose cast-offs:** If your cast-off is tight, go up a needle size for the final round.

Happy knitting! 🧶