Tweed Fleck Raglan Cardigan

A lightweight, seamless top-down cardigan in fingering/4ply yarn. Four colours are worked in a simple 2-row stripe cycle to produce a soft tweed fleck. Intermediate level: raglan shaping, V-neck decreases, picked-up button bands.

Materials

• Yarn: 4ply / fingering weight (approx 400 m / 100 g per skein)
  • Colour A (bright yellow): 1 skein (400 m)
  • Colour B (light yellow): 1 skein (400 m)
  • Colour C (lilac): 1 skein (400 m)
  • Colour D (blue): 1 skein (400 m)
  • Total approx 1 200–1 550 m depending on size; larger sizes may need extra A or B.
• Hook: 3.5 mm (or size needed to obtain tension); 3.0 mm for bands/cuffs
• Notions: 6 stitch markers, 7 × 15 mm buttons, tapestry needle, scissors

Tension (Gauge)

22 dc and 28 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm measured over dc in stripe pattern with 3.5 mm hook (after light blocking).
Adjust hook size if necessary.

Sizes

XS (S, M, L)
To fit bust 81 (91, 101, 111) cm
Finished bust circumference (buttoned) 92 (102, 112, 122) cm
Length from shoulder 52 (54, 56, 58) cm
Sleeve length from underarm 43 (44, 45, 46) cm

Shown in size S. Ease +10–12 cm.

Abbreviations (UK terminology)

• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet (US single crochet)
• dc2tog: double crochet 2 together (decrease)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rep: repeat
• beg: beginning

Pattern Notes

• Worked flat (back-and-forth) throughout for cardigan opening.
• Turning ch-1 at start of every row does not count as a stitch. Always work first dc into first st.
• Colour sequence (tweed fleck): 2 rows A, 2 rows B, 2 rows C, 2 rows D; repeat. Change colour on the last yarn-over of the final st of the row so the new colour is ready for the turning ch.
• Raglan increase: work (dc, ch 1, dc) into the ch-1 space (or marked st). The ch-1 is the corner space; move marker up each time.
• Stitch counts are given at the end of every shaping row in parentheses ( ).
• Carry unused colours loosely up the side edge (or cut and weave if preferred).
• Block gently to measurements before sewing buttons.

Special Stitch

Raglan Inc: (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) all in the indicated ch-1 space.

Instructions

Yoke

With 3.5 mm hook and Colour A, ch 85 (89, 93, 97).

Row 1 (RS): 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn.
84 (88, 92, 96) dc.

Row 2 (WS): ch 1, 1 dc in each st to end, turn.
Continue in established colour cycle (finish the 2 rows of A, then B, etc.).

Set-up row for raglan (RS): ch 1, 1 dc in first 12 (13, 13, 14) sts (Right Front), pm, 1 dc in next 2 sts (raglan), pm, 1 dc in next 14 (14, 16, 16) sts (Right Sleeve), pm, 1 dc in next 2 sts (raglan), pm, 1 dc in next 24 (26, 26, 28) sts (Back), pm, 1 dc in next 2 sts (raglan), pm, 1 dc in next 14 (14, 16, 16) sts (Left Sleeve), pm, 1 dc in next 2 sts (raglan), pm, 1 dc in last 12 (13, 13, 14) sts (Left Front), turn.
84 (88, 92, 96) dc + 8 markers.

Raglan Inc Row (RS): ch 1, *1 dc in each st to marker, sm, Raglan Inc in next ch-1 sp (or in the 2-st raglan section on first Inc row—work into the first of the 2 sts, ch 1, dc in second st and move markers either side of the new ch-1), sm; rep from * 3 more times, 1 dc in each st to end, turn.
(+8 sts → 92 (96, 100, 104) sts)

Next row (WS): ch 1, 1 dc in each st and each ch-1 sp to end, slipping markers, turn.
(Counts remain the same on WS rows.)

Rep the last 2 rows (Inc on RS, plain on WS) a further 15 (17, 19, 21) times.
Total raglan Inc rows = 16 (18, 20, 22).
Stitch count after final Inc row: 84 + 8×16 (18, 20, 22) = 212 (232, 252, 272) sts.

At the same time shape V-neck:

V-neck decreases begin on the 5th (5th, 7th, 7th) raglan Inc row:
On every RS row thereafter until underarm: ch 1, dc2tog, work in pattern to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn.
(-2 sts each of these rows).
Number of V-neck dec rows = 12 (14, 14, 16).
Net neck decrease: –24 (–28, –28, –32) sts.

Final yoke stitch count after all raglan incs and V-neck decs:
212 (232, 252, 272) – 24 (28, 28, 32) = 188 (204, 224, 240) sts.

Work even (no raglan inc, continue V-neck dec if any remain, then plain) until yoke measures 19 (20, 21, 22) cm from shoulder, ending after a WS row. Maintain colour cycle.

Divide Body & Sleeves

Division row (RS): ch 1, 1 dc in each st across Right Front to first raglan marker, remove marker, ch 4 (6, 6, 8) for underarm, skip all Right Sleeve sts to next raglan marker, remove marker, 1 dc in each Back st to next raglan marker, remove marker, ch 4 (6, 6, 8) for underarm, skip all Left Sleeve sts to next raglan marker, remove marker, 1 dc in each Left Front st to end, turn.
Place the skipped sleeve sts on holders or waste yarn.

Body stitch count:
Right Front + Back + Left Front + 2 underarm chains.
After previous V-neck shaping the fronts are equal.
Body total = 108 (120, 132, 144) sts (including the underarm ch sts which will be worked into).

Body

Work even in dc and established colour cycle until body measures 33 (34, 35, 36) cm from underarm, ending after a WS row.
(Total length from shoulder approx 52 (54, 56, 58) cm.)

Fasten off after completing a full 2-row colour block if possible.

Sleeves (make 2)

With RS facing, join next colour in sequence at centre of underarm ch.

Round set-up (worked flat then joined, or continue flat and seam later—here worked flat for consistency):
Pick up and dc 2 (3, 3, 4) sts across half underarm ch, dc across all held sleeve sts, pick up and dc 2 (3, 3, 4) sts across remaining underarm ch, turn.
Sleeve sts: 42 (46, 50, 54) + underarm pick-ups = 46 (52, 56, 62) sts.

Work even in rows (or join and work in continuous turned rounds if preferred) in colour cycle for 5 cm.

Decrease row: ch 1, dc2tog, 1 dc to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. (-2 sts)

Rep Decrease row every 8th (7th, 6th, 6th) row 8 (10, 11, 13) more times.
Final sleeve sts: 28 (30, 32, 34) sts.

Continue even until sleeve measures 43 (44, 45, 46) cm from underarm. Fasten off, leaving long tail if seaming.

Cuffs

With 3.0 mm hook and Colour A (or next colour), join at cuff edge.
Work 6 rows dc even. Fasten off.

Button Band (Left Front for women’s styling)

With 3.0 mm hook and Colour A, RS facing, start at bottom Left Front edge.
Pick up and dc at rate of approx 3 sts every 4 rows along entire front edge to neck, then around V-neck and Right Front if doing continuous, but work each band separately for neatness.

Left Front band: pick up 98 (102, 106, 110) sts evenly along Left Front edge.
Rows 1–7: ch 1, 1 dc in each st, turn.
Fasten off.

Buttonhole Band (Right Front)

Pick up same number of sts along Right Front.
Rows 1–3: ch 1, 1 dc in each st, turn.
Row 4 (buttonhole row): ch 1, 1 dc in first 3 sts, *ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next 12 (13, 13, 14) sts; rep from * 5 more times, ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in remaining sts, turn.
(7 buttonholes)
Row 5: ch 1, 1 dc in each dc and 2 dc in each ch-2 sp, turn.
Rows 6–7: ch 1, 1 dc in each st, turn.
Fasten off.

Finishing

• Seam sleeves if worked flat.
• Weave in all ends neatly on WS.
• Block flat to finished measurements, pinning bust, length and sleeve width.
• Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.
• Optional: work 1 round dc around entire outer edge (neck, bands, hem) for extra neatness.

Inline Math Validation Summary

• Yoke start 84 (88, 92, 96) → +8 × 16 (18, 20, 22) raglan = 212 (232, 252, 272) ✓
• V-neck –2 × 12 (14, 14, 16) = –24 (–28, –28, –32) → 188 (204, 224, 240) ✓
• Body after split & underarm ch: 108 (120, 132, 144) ✓ (matches 22 sts/10 cm × finished half-bust + ease)
• Sleeve decs: 46 (52, 56, 62) –2×9 (11, 12, 14) = 28 (30, 32, 34) ✓
• Band pick-up matches row gauge (28 rows/10 cm) over body+yoke length ✓

Enjoy your tweed fleck cardigan!