Knitting Pattern: Banded Sweater

A top down raglan sweater with thick coordinated stripes

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

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SIZING

The pattern is designed to have 2-3 inches of positive ease. Select a size based on your actual bust width plus the 2-3 inches of positive ease, totaling the bust width in (A).

(A) Bust Width: 31.5 (35, 39, 43.5, 47) (51, 55, 58.5, 63) inches or 80 (89, 99, 110, 119) (130, 140, 149, 160) cm

(B) Sleeve Length: 17 (16.5, 16, 15.5, 20) (19.5, 19, 17.5, 16.5) inches or 43 (42, 41, 39, 51) (50, 48, 44, 42) cm

(C) Total Length:  25 (24.5, 24.5, 24, 24.5) (24.5, 24.5, 24.5, 24) inches or 64 (62, 62, 61, 62) (62, 62, 62, 61) cm

(D) Yoke Length: 7.5 (7.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9.5) (9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5) inches or 19 (19, 22, 22, 24) (24, 27, 29, 32) cm

(E) Waist Length: 17.5 (17, 16, 15.5, 15) (15, 14, 13, 11.5) inches or 44 (43, 41, 39, 38) (38, 36, 33, 29) cm

(F) Upper Sleeve Width: 11.5 (12, 13, 14, 15.5) (17.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21.5) inches or 29 (30, 33, 36, 39) (44, 50, 52, 55) cm

GAUGE

21 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) on larger needles in stockinette stitch with MC and CC held together

SUGGESTED NEEDLES

Size 3 (US), 3.25 mm circular needles

Size 3 (US), 3.25 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles

Size 4 (US), 3.5 mm circular needles

Size 4 (US), 3.5 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles

NOTIONS

Stitch markers

Scrap yarn

Tapestry needle

SUGGESTED YARN

4 (5, 5, 6, 9) (11, 13, 13, 14) skeins Hobbii Alpaca Silk in Venezia (MC) or 667 (735, 878, 1001, 1577) (1846, 2206, 2272, 2370) yards or 610 (672, 803, 915, 1442) (1688, 2017, 2078, 2167) meters of fingering weight yarn

2 (2, 3, 3, 4) (5, 6, 6, 6) skeins Hobbii Soft Alpaca Lace in Ocean Waves (CC1) or 698 (769, 919, 1047, 1650) (1931, 2308, 2377, 2480) yards or 638 (703, 840, 957, 1509) (1766, 2110, 2174, 2268) meters of lace weight yarn

1 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 4, 4, 4) skeins Hobbii Soft Alpaca Lace in Cappuccino (CC2) or 405 (446, 533, 608, 957) (1120, 1339, 1379, 1438) yards or 370 (408, 487, 556, 875) (1024, 1224, 1261, 1315) meters of lace weight yarn

If you would like to substitute for a DK or similar weight yarn that achieves gauge, select the yardage based on the MC listed above.

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS

BO – bind off

BOR – beginning of round

CC – contrast color

CO – cast on

K – knit

K2tog – knit two stitches together (decrease)

KFB – knit into the front and the back of the next stitch (increase)

M1L – pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, and knit into the back of the stitch (increase)

M1R – pick up the bar between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from the back to the front, and knit into the front of the stitch (increase)

 MC – main color

P – purl

PM – place marker

Rd(s) – round(s)

RS – right side

SM – slip marker

SSK – slip unworked stitch from left needle to right needle knitwise. Slip a second unworked stitch from the left needle to the right needle knitwise. Slip those two unworked stitches separately back to the left needle purlwise. Knit those two stitches together in the back of the stitches (decrease)

St(s) – stitch(es)

WS – wrong side

PATTERN NOTES

This raglan yoke sweater is knit from the top down and flat for the beginning of the yoke, then joined and knit in the round. You first work the yoke, which includes a front and a back body panel and the beginning of two sleeve panels. When your yoke is long enough to reach your armpits, you separate the sleeve panels from the body panels, holding the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn and joining the body panels to finish the body of the sweater down to the waist. Then, you pick up stitches along the cast on edge to knit the collar. You end by working each sleeve individually.

The pattern is worked holding one MC and one CC strand together, alternating between CC1 and CC2 every 32 (32, 32, 32, 32) (34, 34, 34, 34) rows/rounds.

Stitch counts and round counts are indicated for each size based on the following size order: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). It is recommended that you highlight the stitch and round counts for your size before beginning to knit.

Stitches that appear between * and * should be worked until the end, unless otherwise indicated.

It is recommended you check your gauge on both the circular needles and double pointed needles (or small circular needles) to ensure your tension is the same. Adjust your needle size as necessary to obtain gauge.

INSTRUCTIONS

Yoke Increases (Worked Flat):

Using long tail cast on and the larger needles, CO 70 (74, 82, 88, 90) (92, 96, 100, 101) sts.

R1: K3 (3, 3, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3, 3), PM, K18 (18, 20, 22, 22) (22, 24, 26, 26), PM, K28 (32, 36, 38, 40) (42, 42, 42, 43), PM, K18 (18, 20, 22, 22) (22, 24, 26, 26), PM, K3 (3, 3, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3, 3).

R2: P across

For Sizes XS (S, M, L) ONLY:

R3: *K1, M1L, K until 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM* until last marker section, K1, M1L, K until 1 st before end, M1R, K1. (10 sts increased)

R4: P across

Repeat R3-4 an additional 4 (5, 5, 6, -) (-, -, -, –) times for a total of 5 (6, 6, 7, -) (-, -, -, –) repeats. Repeat R3 one more time and do not turn your work. You will now have 130 (144, 152, 168, -) (-, -, -, –) sts distributed as follows:

Right Front Panel: 15 (17, 17, 19, -) (-, -, -, –) sts

Sleeve A: 30 (32, 34, 38, -) (-, -, -, –) sts

Back Panel: 40 (46, 50, 54, -) (-, -, -, –) sts

Sleeve B: 30 (32, 34, 38, -) (-, -, -, –) sts

Left Front Panel: 15 (17, 17, 19, -) (-, -, -, –) sts

For Sizes XL (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) ONLY:

R3: K1, KFB, K until 2 sts before marker, M1R, K1, M1R, K1, SM, *K1, M1L, K1, M1L, K until 2 sts before marker, M1R, K1, M1R, K1, SM* until last marker section, K1, M1L, K1, M1L, K until 2 sts before end, KFB, K1. (14 sts increased).

R4: P across

Repeat R3-4 an additional – (-, -, -, 8) (9, 10, 11, 12) times for a total of – (-, -, -, 9) (10, 11, 12, 13) repeats. Repeat R3 one more time and do not turn your work. You will now have – (-, -, -, 244) (260, 276, 292, 306) distributed as follows:

Right Front Panel: – (-, -, -, 33) (36, 39, 42, 45) sts

Sleeve A: – (-, -, -, 42) (44, 48, 52, 54) sts

Back Panel: – (-, -, -, 80) (86, 90, 94, 99) sts

Sleeve B: – (-, -, -, 42) (44, 48, 52, 54) sts

Left Front Panel: – (-, -, -, 22) (28, 28, 34, 40) sts

For Sizes ALL SIZES:

Yoke Increases (Worked in the Round):

You will begin working in the round. Using the backwards loop cast on method, CO 10 (12, 16, 16, 14) (14, 12, 10, 9) sts on your right needle and K across to the first marker to join the round. This marker now becomes your BOR.

Rd 7: *K1, M1L, K until 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM.* (8 sts increased)

Rd 8: K across

Repeat Rds 7-8 an additional 12 (13, 14, 15, 17) (21, 23, 24, 25) times for a total of 13 (14, 15, 16, 18) (22, 24, 25, 26). You will now have 244 (268, 288, 312, 388) (436, 468, 492, 514) sts distributed as follows:

Sleeve A: 56 (60, 64, 70, 78) (88, 96, 102, 106) sts

Back Panel: 66 (74, 80, 86, 116) (130, 138, 144, 151) sts

Sleeve B: 56 (60, 64, 70, 78) (88, 96, 102, 106) sts

Front Panel: 66 (74, 80, 86, 116) (130, 138, 144, 151) sts

For Sizes M (L, XL, 4XL, 5XL) ONLY:

Rd 9: *K to marker, SM, *K1, M1L, K until 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM.* (4 sts increased)

Rd 10: K across

Repeat Rds 9-10 an additional – (-, 1, 3, 1) (-, -, 1, 3) times for a total of – (-, 2, 4, 2) (-, -, 2, 4) repeats. You will now have – (-, 296, 328, 396) (-, -, 500, 530) sts distributed as follows:

Sleeve A: – (-, 64, 70, 78) (-, -, 102, 106) sts

Back Panel: – (-, 84, 94, 120) (-, -, 148, 159) sts

Sleeve B: – (-, 64, 70, 78) (-, -, 102, 106) sts

Front Panel: – (-, 84, 94, 120) (-, -, 148, 159) sts

For Sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) ONLY:

Rd 11: K across

Repeat Rd 11 a total of 13 (12, 10, 5, 5) (2, -, -, -) repeats.

For ALL Sizes:

Try on your piece. The length should fall just below your armpits, where you can comfortably pinch together either side of a sleeve panel under your arms. If it is too short, work Rd 11 until you reach your desired length.

Separate Sleeves from Body:

Rd 12 (Set up Round): Place 56 (60, 64, 70, 78) (88, 96, 102, 106) sts on scrap yarn or stitch holder to save for later, CO 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, place marker for the new BOR, CO 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3), K across 66 (74, 84, 94, 120) (130, 138, 148, 159) sts, place 56 (60, 64, 70, 78) (88, 96, 102, 106) sts on scrap yarn or stitch holder to save for later, CO 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, PM, CO 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, K across 66 (74, 84, 94, 120) (130, 138, 148, 159) sts. You will now have 140 (156, 176, 196, 248) (268, 288, 308, 330) sts on your needles, not counting the sleeve sts on the scrap yarn.

Body:

Rd 13: K across

Repeat Rd 13 a total of 112 (108, 102, 99, 95) (94, 88, 80, 72) times, or until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.

Rd 14-23: *K1, P1*

Bind off in ribbing pattern.

Collar:

Using the circular needle, pick up and knit 104 (114, 126, 136, 124) (128, 132, 136, 138) sts along the collar and begin working in the round.

Rd 1-10: *K1, P1*

Bind off in ribbing pattern.

Sleeves:

(Set up Round): Remove 56 (60, 64, 70, 78) (88, 96, 102, 106) sts from scrap yarn and distribute evenly along double pointed needles or small circular needles. Find the bottom of the armpit (where you bound off sts at the sleeve separation), and pick up 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (4, 6, 6, 6) sts. PM in the middle of the picked up sts at the bottom of the armpit to mark the BOR.

Rd 1-7 (6, 5, 4, 5) (3, 3, 2, -): K across

Rd 8 (7, 6, 5, 6) (4, 4, 3, 2): K2tog, K until 2 sts before end, SSK.

Repeat Rds 1-8 (7, 6, 5, 6) (4, 4, 3, 2) for a total of 12 (14, 16, 19, 21) (26, 31, 33, 35) repeats. You will now have 36 (36, 36, 36, 40) (40, 40, 42, 42) sts.

Repeat Rd1 for a total of 13 (8, 6, 4, 3) (22, 2, 15, 36) repeats, or until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.

Rd 9-18: *K1, P1*

Bind off in ribbing pattern. Repeat for second sleeve. Weave in ends using a tapestry needle. Block your garment.

THANK YOU!

I hope you enjoyed making the Banded Sweater as much as I did! Tag me on Instagram @knitabitcrochetaway and use #knitabitcrochetaway and #BandedSweater – I’d love to see your progress and finished product!