Simple Raglan Pullover with Sleeve Eyelets

A straightforward top-down raglan pullover worked seamlessly in the round. Diagonal raglan lines run from the crew neck to the underarms; sleeves feature easy eyelet rounds. No seaming required. Ideal for easy-level knitters trying seamless raglan construction.

Difficulty

Easy

Sizes

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

Finished Measurements

• Bust circumference: 96 (106, 116, 126, 136) cm / 37¾ (41¾, 45¾, 49½, 53½) in
• Yoke depth (neckband cast-on edge to underarm): 20 (21.5, 23, 24.5, 26) cm / 8 (8½, 9, 9¾, 10¼) in
• Upper arm circumference: 32 (35.5, 38, 42, 46.5) cm / 12½ (14, 15, 16½, 18¼) in
• Body length from underarm to hem (including rib): 43 (45, 45, 47, 47) cm / 17 (17¾, 17¾, 18½, 18½) in
• Sleeve length from underarm to cuff edge (including rib): 44 (45, 46, 47, 47) cm / 17¼ (17¾, 18, 18½, 18½) in
• Positive ease: approx. 5–10 cm / 2–4 in at bust

Shown in size Medium.

Yarn

DK-weight yarn (approx. 100–120 m / 110–130 yd per 50 g) Approx. metreage: 950 (1050, 1200, 1350, 1500) m / 1040 (1150, 1310, 1480, 1640) yd

Choose a smooth wool or wool-blend DK so the raglan lines and sleeve eyelets stay crisp.

Needles

• 5.5 mm (UK 5) circular needle, 60–100 cm long, for yoke and body
• 5.5 mm (UK 5) DPNs or short circular for sleeves
• 5 mm (UK 6) circular and DPNs for ribbing (optional; use 5.5 mm throughout if you prefer)

Adjust needle size to obtain tension.

Notions

• Stitch markers (4 raglan markers + 1 unique beginning-of-round marker)
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Tension

18 sts and 29 rounds = 10 cm / 4 in over stocking stitch in the round on 5.5 mm needles, after blocking. (Take time to check tension — both stitch and row counts affect fit.)

Abbreviations (UK)

• BOR — beginning of round
• cm — centimetres
• CO — cast on
• dec — decrease
• DPN(s) — double-pointed needle(s)
• inc — increase
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 together (right-leaning dec)
• m — marker
• M1L — make one left (lift strand between sts from front to back, k through back loop)
• M1R — make one right (lift strand between sts from back to front, k through front loop)
• p — purl
• pm — place marker
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• sm — slip marker
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• st st — stocking stitch (knit every rnd)
• yo — yarn over

Notes

• Worked top-down in one piece. Try on as you go to confirm yoke depth and body/sleeve length.
• Raglan increases: 8 sts every increase round (2 sts at each of 4 raglan lines).
• Sleeve eyelets are worked only on the sleeves after separation, as decorative eyelet rounds.
• 2×2 rib pulls the neckline in; do not size up the cast-on.
• Inline counts use size order: S (M, L, XL, 2XL).

Pattern

Neckband

With smaller needles (if using) and long-tail or cable cast-on, CO 80 (88, 96, 100, 108) sts. Place unique BOR marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end. Work rib as set until neckband measures 3.5 cm / 1½ in from cast-on edge.

Change to larger needles if using separate rib needle.

Set-up for raglan

Set-up rnd: K 34 (38, 42, 44, 46) (Back), pm, k 6 (6, 6, 6, 8) (Sleeve), pm, k 34 (38, 42, 44, 46) (Front), pm, k 6 (6, 6, 6, 8) (Sleeve). BOR marker is already in place at start of Back — 4 raglan markers + BOR.
(80 (88, 96, 100, 108) sts ✓)

Yoke

Work in st st (knit every rnd) with raglan increases as follows.

Inc rnd: *K to next m, M1L, sm, M1R; rep from * 3 more times. (8 sts increased)
Next rnd: Knit.

Rep last 2 rnds a further 21 (24, 25, 29, 31) times — 22 (25, 26, 30, 32) increase rnds worked in total.
Stitch count after all increases:
256 (288, 304, 340, 364) sts.
(Check: 80+8×22=256; 88+8×25=288; 96+8×26=304; 100+8×30=340; 108+8×32=364 ✓)

Section counts:

• Back: 78 (88, 94, 104, 110) sts
• Each sleeve: 50 (56, 58, 66, 72) sts
• Front: 78 (88, 94, 104, 110) sts
  (Back: 34+2×22=78; Sleeve: 6+2×22=50; same logic for all sizes ✓)

Work even: Continue in st st with no further increases until yoke measures 20 (21.5, 23, 24.5, 26) cm / 8 (8½, 9, 9¾, 10¼) in from cast-on edge (including neckband), or to desired armhole depth. Try on: raglan lines should reach the underarm comfortably.

Separate body and sleeves

Separation rnd:
K 78 (88, 94, 104, 110) Back sts,
place next 50 (56, 58, 66, 72) Sleeve sts on holder or waste yarn,
cable CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts,
k 78 (88, 94, 104, 110) Front sts,
place next 50 (56, 58, 66, 72) Sleeve sts on holder,
cable CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts.

Body now has 172 (192, 208, 228, 244) sts.
(78+78+8+8=172; 88+88+8+8=192; 94+94+10+10=208; 104+104+10+10=228; 110+110+12+12=244 ✓)
Place a marker at centre of one underarm if desired for side reference; keep BOR at start of Back (or move BOR to centre of an underarm — either is fine).

Body

Work even in st st until body measures 38 (40, 40, 42, 42) cm / 15 (15¾, 15¾, 16½, 16½) in from underarm, or 5 cm / 2 in less than total desired length.

Hem ribbing
Change to smaller needles if using.
Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
(172 (192, 208, 228, 244) ÷ 4 = 43 (48, 52, 57, 61) reps ✓)
Work rib until hem measures 5 cm / 2 in.
Cast off loosely in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

Return 50 (56, 58, 66, 72) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs or short circular.
With RS facing, starting at centre of underarm, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along first half of underarm CO, knit sleeve sts, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along remaining underarm CO.
58 (64, 68, 76, 84) sts.
(50+8=58; 56+8=64; 58+10=68; 66+10=76; 72+12=84 ✓)
Place BOR at centre underarm.

Knit 1 rnd, decreasing 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) sts as needed — counts already even.

Sleeve eyelet pattern

Work sleeves in st st with eyelet rounds as follows:

• Rnds 1–7: Knit.
• Rnd 8 (eyelet): *K2tog, yo; rep from * to end.

Rep Rnds 1–8 for eyelet pattern.
(All sleeve counts even, so eyelet rnd lands cleanly ✓)

Sleeve shaping

At the same time, shape sleeve with decreases:
Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk (or k2tog), k1. (2 sts dec)

Work dec rnd on the next non-eyelet rnd, then every 8th (7th, 7th, 6th, 6th) rnd 10 (13, 15, 19, 23) more times (11 (14, 16, 20, 24) dec rnds total), until 36 (36, 36, 36, 36) sts remain.
(58−2×11=36; 64−2×14=36; 68−2×16=36; 76−2×20=36; 84−2×24=36 ✓)
If a planned dec rnd falls on an eyelet rnd, work the decreases on the following plain rnd instead and keep eyelets uninterrupted.

After decreases, continue eyelet pattern (or plain st st if preferred near cuff) until sleeve measures 39 (40, 41, 42, 42) cm / 15¼ (15¾, 16¼, 16½, 16½) in from underarm, or 5 cm / 2 in less than desired length. End after a plain rnd (not an eyelet rnd).

Cuff
Change to smaller needles if using.
Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
(36 ÷ 4 = 9 reps ✓)
Work rib for 5 cm / 2 in.
Cast off loosely in rib.

Rep for second sleeve.

Finishing

Weave in all ends neatly on WS.
Block flat or steam-block to finished measurements, opening the sleeve eyelets gently.
Do not overstretch the ribbed neckband, cuffs, or hem.

Schematic measurements (blocked)

Tips for success

• Mark the first eyelet round with a locking marker so the 8-round rhythm is easy to track.
• When trying on the yoke, slip sleeve sts to waste yarn and rest the work on the underarms — the diagonal raglan should sit comfortably without pulling.
• If you want a slightly wider neck, work the neckband on the larger needle; for a snugger neck, use a needle 0.5 mm smaller for the rib only.
• Eyelet rounds create a light, airy sleeve; for fewer eyelets, work the eyelet rnd every 12th round instead of every 8th.

Enjoy your seamless raglan.