Top-Down Raglan Crochet Sweater
Seamless hdc pullover from the neck down, with chain-space raglan lines. Try it on as you go.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4) soft wool or blend.
- Hook
- H-8 (5 mm)
- Sizes
- Any size (size charts). Example: women’s M, bust 37 in, finished chest about 40 in (102 cm), upper arm 11 in.
- Example gauge
- 13 sts and 10 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in hdc
- Yarn needed
- About 1,550 yd (1,420 m) worsted.
- Stitch multiple
- 2 for the rib
US terms. The UK name follows in brackets the first time each stitch appears. Turning chains don’t count as stitches unless a step says so. See US vs UK crochet terms and crochet abbreviations.
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body (B) | (bust + 2–4 in) × sts per in | 40 × 3.25 = 130 | Cast-On Calculator |
| Neck | about 0.4 × B: back 18, sleeves 8, front 18, + 4 corner sts | 56 sts | By hand |
| Front/back at split | B ÷ 2 − underarm (6) | 65 − 6 = 59 → 60 | By hand |
| Sleeve at split | (upper arm + 2 in) × sts per in − 6 | 42 − 6 = 36 | Size Charts |
| Rounds | front: (60 − 18) ÷ 2 = 21; sleeves: (36 − 8) ÷ 2 = 14 | 7 body-only rounds | By hand |
| Sleeve decreases | (42 − cuff 26) ÷ 2 | 8, every 4th rnd | By hand |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- H-8 (5 mm)
- 4 locking markers
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Hdc swatch in the round, washed.
Instructions
Neck
Join every round with a sl st (UK ss) to the first st; the ch at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
Ch 56 and join without twisting (or work 56 foundation hdc (UK htr)). Mark the corner sts: 19, 28, 47 and 56. (Back = 1–18, sleeve = 20–27, front = 29–46, sleeve = 48–55.)
Yoke
Rnd 1: Ch 1, *hdc in each st of the section, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in the corner st; rep from * around.
Rnds 2–14: Ch 1, *hdc in each st to the corner ch-1 sp, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in the ch-1 sp; rep from * around.
Rnds 15–21 (body only): Work as rnd 2, but hdc2tog (UK htr2tog) over the first 2 and last 2 sleeve sts. Sleeves stay at 36; front and back keep growing.
Check: back 60, front 60, sleeves 36. Try it on: the yoke should reach your underarm.
Split
Ch 1, hdc across the back, ch 6, skip the sleeve (and its corner spaces), hdc across the front, ch 6, skip the second sleeve. Join. (132)
Body
Hdc around until the body is 12 in (30 cm) from the underarm. Rib: 1 rnd dc (UK tr), then *FPdc (UK FPtr), BPdc (UK BPtr)* for 2 in. Fasten off.
Sleeves
Join at the centre of the underarm chain. Hdc in each underarm ch and each sleeve st (42).
Hdc2tog at the start and end of every 4th round, 8 times (26). Work to 15 in, then the rib as for the body for 2 in.
Neckband
Work 1 rnd of dc into the foundation, then 2 rnds of *FPdc, BPdc*.
Finishing
- Weave in ends, closing gaps at the underarms.
- Wet block.
Designer’s notes
- Crochet rounds are tall, so every round is an increase round. That’s why the yoke only needs 21.
- Turn at the end of each round (and work the next in the other direction) to stop the seam line leaning.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: yoke rounds (goal 21). Counter 2: sleeve rounds (decrease every 4th).
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.