olli - easy raglan sweater
by Gralina Frie A simple raglan sweater to wear over a shirt or with long sleeved T-shirt for a more relaxed look. The neck is designed not too tight, just right to show off the collar of a nice shirt. Knit in the round and bottom-up, this sweater just needs a minimum of seaming and edging. This sweater is a fast knit worked on large needles with double stranded yarn. A mix of good quality cotton and soft mohair gives the finished garment a soft touch with a sleek and interesting look. Pattern is suitable for the beginner/intermediate knitter that has knit, purl skills and is advancing to try raglan decreases AND knitting your husband/boyfriend/son a really nice garment.
Material:
About 950 (1050) 1150 yards / 850 (950) 1050m of DK / 8 ply yarn - at least 50% mohair. About 750 (900) 1000 yards / 700 (800) 900m) of fingering / 4 ply cotton yarn of good quality. Yarn used in this project: about 5 skeins each of black Love garn "Midnight" and "Bomuld 8/4 merceriseret". Knit with one strand of each yarn held together. Needles: US 10 - 6.0mm and 11 - 7.0mm circular needles (both short and long ones) or size needed to obtain gauge. Tapestry needle. Stitch markers. Stitch holder, a spare circular needle or scrap yarn. Gauge: 14 sts and 18 rows in stockinette sts using US 11 - 7.0mm needles = 10x10 cm/ 4x4". Size: S (M) L - please check measurements before getting started, as sizing usually differs! I've decided to call my husband's size M and used the average measurements from his favourite sweaters for this size. To some, this might be L - that's why I'd recommend you to check your target person's measurements first.
Finished measurements:
Chestcircumference: 104 (112) 120 cm / 41 (44) 47 %" (model designed as an M, as he normally wears 44-46") Length: 68 (70) 72 cm / 26 % (27 %) 28 %" Upper armcircumference: 40 (43) 45.5 cm / 15 % (17) 18"
Abbreviations:
k = knit, p=purl m1=make 1 stitch by picking up the loop between 2 sts (knit loop twisted) k2tog= knit 2 sts together. SSK = slip, slip, knit. Slip the next two stitches on the left hand needle as if to knit. Slip the two stitches back on the left needle and knit them. This way you get your raglan decreases look the same from both sides. Be careful to get the decreases in the right order when shaping raglan. The k2tog is a right-leaning decrease and the SK a left-leaning decrease. If you change the order of the decreases, you'll get a subtle seam instead of the gored seam this pattern calls for. Pattern and photos are @ Gralina Frie. Please contact me if you'd like to sell this pattern or items made from this pattern.
Sleeves:
With US 10 - 6.0mm needles C0 36 (38) 40 sts, join stitches without twisting and place marker s0 you know the beginning of your round. Work 3 rounds of 1x1 rib (k1, p1). Change to US 11 - 7.0mm needles and work 14 rounds even in stockinette sts. Next round: ?Increase round: k1, m1, k until 1 st left before marker, m1, k1 = 38 (40) 42 sts. Repeat increase round on every 6:th round 7 (8) 10 times and on every 8:th round 2 (2) 1 times = 56 (60) 64 sts. When sleeve measures 48 (52) 54 cm / 19 (20 %) 21 %" (or preferred length) cast off for underarms like this: Cast off the first 4 sts of the round, k until last 4 sts before sts marker, cast off 4 sts. Slip remaining 48 (52) 56 sts onto a stitch holder or scrap yarn. Work the second sleeve identical.
Back/Front:
With US 10 - 6.0mm needles C0 134 (144) 156 sts, join and work 5 rounds of 1x1 rib (k1, p1). Change to Us 11 - 7.0mm needles and work 14 cm/5 %" even in stockinette sts. Place 1 stitch marker at beginning of the round and 1 after 67 (72) 78 sts = marking "sideseams". Increase round: k1, m1, k until last st before stitch marker, m1, k1, slip marker, k1, m1, k until last st before stitch marker, m1, k1 = 138 (148) 160 sts. Repeat increase round on every 1oth round twice (3 increase rounds) = 146 (156) 168 sts. Work even. When piece measures 40 (42) 44 cm/15 % (16 %) 17 %", cast off for underarms like this: Cast off the first 4 sts of the round, k until 4 sts before sts marker, cast off 8 sts, k until last 4 sts before sts marker, cast off 4 sts. Break yarn.
Yoke:
Join sleeves and body like this, using the yarn from the first sleeve: k across 48 (52) 56 sts from first sleeve, place marker, k across 65 (70) 76 from body, place marker, k across 48 (52) 56 from second sleeve (break yarn), place marker, k across 65 (70) 76 from body, place marker = 226 (244) 264 sts. Shape raglan: k2, ssk, k until 4 sts before next marker, k2tog, k2, slip marker, k2, ssk, k until 4 sts before next marker, k2tog, k2, slip marker, k2, ssk, k until 4 sts before next marker, k2tog, k2, slip marker, k2, ssk, k until 4 sts before next marker, k2tog, k2 = end of round + marker. 8 sts decreased. Repeat raglan decreases as established on every 2"d round 18 (19) 21 times. Front/back pieces measures about 60 (64) 67cm/23 % (25 %) 26 %" from cast on edge = 82 (92) 96 sts. Start shaping crew neck and simultaneously continue raglan decreases as established: Cast off 10 (11) 12 sts at center front. Work back and forth in rows and continue raglan decreases on every 2nd round. Shape crew neck by casting offor neck at beginning of following rows: 3 sts x1 (once), 2 sts x 1 and 1 sts x 1 = 60 (69) 72 sts Cast off all remaining stitches, don't just slip them onto a spare needle or stitch holder. To prevent it from drooping, your garment needs the extra hold that the cast off edge gives it.
Making up:
Neckband: Pick up the cast off stitches along cast off edge at the back, then pick up stitches along the neck until you've got about 70-75 sts, join, place marker and work 2 rounds of 1x1 rib. 3'd round: cast off ribwise = 3 rounds of ribbing. Join underarm seams neatly using stitch to stitch/ horizontal seam. Fasten all yarn endings. Weave in the ends. This garment is definitely a ready-to-wear one. No need for washing or blocking!
Pattern and photos are @ Gralina Frie. Please contact me if you'd like to sellthis pattern or items made from this pattern.
