Understanding a Top-Down Raglan Sweater

Knitting patterns are like reading computer code and if you're a visual person, it's really hard to make sense of everything. You're trying to imagine what all the increases and stitch counts are going to look like but, especially if you're a beginner, it can get overwhelming fast.

The chart below shows a simple visual of a top-down raglan sweater. I usually suggest this construction for beginners because it’s seamless, easy to understand and gives a nice fit on most bodies, so it seemed the best one to illustrate for you.

 

 

The numbers you see represent rows as the piece is worked back and forth. You'll start at number 1 (which begins the back neck and shoulders) and eventually join in the round and keep knitting in circles (not shown), but this helps show how the neckline and yoke takes shape and how your increases are placed.

Some increases shown as an upside down V are placed along the outer edges to form the front neckline curve. Sometimes the spacing and regularity of those increases will change slightly to make a smoother curve.

Then you've got the four columns of increases which appears here as a "9" or an "e". They create shaping down each side of the shoulder so the sweater fits your body properly and they always lean away from the column.

So this is what you're aiming for. Four columns of increases (usually every second row) and some form of shaping at edges for the neckline.

Once you can picture how it all comes together, following the pattern feels much easier and less overwhelming. You’ll start to see the shaping take form on your needles and know that you're right on track.

Happy knitting!