Celebration Raglan

  

This is my first TOP DOWN sweater design.

If you're reading this right now and you've never crocheted a sweater from 

the top down, this is a great one to try.

Since this is MY first, I made it very simple, it's perfect for beginners.

The same stitch throughout, easy to size, and can be customized to your length of choice.

And speaking of firsts - this is the first time I've used fingering yarn.

It took hours to find my 3.75mm hook (I've never used it before)!

That being said, I made this work up easily and kept in mind that this 

might be your first top down as well.

My friends at WeCrochet have sponsored this post and sent me this beautiful yarn to use for this sweater. Check out this close up!

Hawthorne Speckle Hand Painted yarn is a joy to work with.

The ever changing palette of colours change the look of every row.

However, since it is hand painted, colours may vary from skein to skein,

which makes every skein unique!

It's 80% Fine Superwash Highland Wool, and 20% Nylon.

Check all the gorgeous Hawthorne Speckle Hand Painted Yarn: click HERE.

Now let's get into the pattern!

I called this the Celebration Raglan because I released it on my 39th Birthday!

Plus, I'm celebrating that I'm safe at home with my family and taking in my last year being 30-something :)

Notes before you begin:
-this sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down using half double crochets throughout
-your initial chain (neckline) does not count as a row
-the top (yoke) is worked in the round with increases in each row
-the ch 1 does NOT count in each round
-once the yoke is complete and fits over your chest (try it on as you go), you will join to make spaces for the sleeves and work the body all the way down in the round until you are satisfied with the length
-The sleeves are worked in the round by attaching yarn (try it on as you go to achieve the sleeve length you want)
-there will be a few decreases towards the bottom of each sleeve to create the "balloon" affect - you can definitely  keep your sleeves as is with no decrease and just sl st as your last row
-please email me if you have ANY questions othcrochetnook AT gmail DOT com

OTH Crochet Nook Pattern: Celebration Raglan

Materials:
Crochet Hook 3.75mm
Stitch Markers

Yarn:
Hawthorne Speckle Hand Painted Yarn in Tie Dye
(Fingering weight will do)
*I used 4 hanks for size medium*

Gauge:
4" x 4" = 15 sts x 16 rows

Sizes:
Indicated as follows: S (M, L, XL, XXL)
This pattern can be customized to the exact size you need, follow along and send me questions any time!

My yoke: 30 rows
My body: 35 rows

Legend:
Ch - Chain
HDC - Half Double Crochet
Sl St - Slip Stitch
HDC2TOG - Joining 2 stitches with 1 HDC


Ch 92 (96, 100, 104, 108) (chain any # that can be multiplied by 4, as long as it fits comfortably around your neck, this will be the neckline of your sweater.)

Join in the round with a sl st in first stitch without twisting.

Row 1: HDC in every stitch, join with sl st to join, ch 1. (92, 96,100, 104, 108)

Row 2: Ch 1. *HDC in 22 (23, 24, 25, 26), 2HDC in the next, repeat from * 3 more times, sl st in top of Ch 1.

*Now place a stitch marker in each "2HDC" - this way you won't have to count anymore, keep working HDC's in the round and increasing with "2HDC" where you stitch marked.  It's easy to see the increase stitches, they look like a "v"

This is the YOKE of your sweater.
Keep working in the round with increases until you reach the desired length for your yoke.
Keep trying on the yoke over your head and onto your shoulders and decide when it fits perfectly over you chest area and you can pull it under your armpits. 

(*make sure you have the same amount of HDCs in between each increase, or the yoke won't line up evenly.  You want it to comfortably fit under the armpit)

*When you have completed your yoke, you will make space for sleeves and work the body of the sweater.

MAKING SPACE FOR SLEEVES:
Work HDCs until you get to the first stitch marker (increase), now join (with a SL ST) to the 2nd stitch marker, continue HDCs until you get to the 3rd stitch marker and join it (with a SL ST) to the 4th stitch marker.

Your yoke should now look like the image below:

BODY:
Continue working HDCs in the round.
Last row: SC around once, sl st in the last st, fasten off.

SLEEVES (2):
Attach yarn to center of armpit.

Row 1: Ch 1. HDCs in every stitch (working in the round), sl st to join.
Row 2: repeat Row 1 until you have reached the desired length of your sleeve (you can keep trying it on as you go!)

Last row: SC around to finish sleeve off, sl st in last st, fasten off (or skip this step and scroll down to create the balloon sleeve)

Optional - BALLOON SLEEVE:
Instead of finishing the sleeve off with single crochets, here is how you can create the balloon sleeve

Your last 15 rows of each sleeve will work up like this:

Row 1: *HDC2TOG, HDC in the next 10, repeat from * until round ends, sl st to join. 
(no need to be exact here, just complete HDC2TOG for every 10sts, or until the round ends)

Row 2: Ch 1. HDC around in every stitch, sl st to join

Row 3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: Repeat row 2
Row 5- 10: Repeat row 1
Row 11 - 15: Repeat row 2
Sl st around for finished look, fasten off.

Optional - FINISH NECKLINE
Attach yarn to neckline and do one round of single crochet.
SL ST twice, fasten off.

And you're done!

Time to celebrate with your Celebration Raglan!!

Can't wait to see yours!

Tag me @OTHCrochetNook

Use: #OTHCelebrationRaglan

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The Celebration Raglan is a FREE Crochet Pattern part of a collaboration with my friends at WeCrochet. This post contains affiliate links.