Do you ever fall in love with a yarn which then literally talks to you and says, "make me into this"? Well, this is how the sweater came about. I stumbled upon Blue Sky Alpacas Hand Spun Organic Cotton, and once I knit up a gauge swatch, I knew something snuggly had to be created.

This is a straightforward raglan – always fun to sew up, even for those of you who despise the finishing process – with a bit of a twist. The cables along the sleeves elongate the arms [always a good thing], and the repeat of the cable framing the face softens the look. 

Being somewhat of a hippy [meaning curvy] girl, I love to have a slight A-line shape that skims the body rather than forcing my shape into a rectangle.  This piece is great for all seasons since it is made from the cotton – great for a cover up on the beach all the way through the winter months!

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64.5] inches
Length: 20[21, 21.5, 22.5, 24, 24, 25, 25, 25] inches at center back

MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue Sky Alpacas Hand Spun Organic Cotton [100% organic cotton; 132yd/120m per 68g skein]; color: #60 Natural Cream; 11[12, 14, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 pair US #6/4mm straight needles

Tools
Stitch holder
Stitch markers
Yarn needle

GAUGE
24 sts/33 rows = 5 inches in stockinette st
Important: Note that gauge is measured over 5 inches, not 4.

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Measurements shown in schematic include selvedge sts.

C12B: Slip next 6 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k6 from left needle, k6 from cable needle.

C12F: Slip next 6 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k6 from left needle, k6 from cable needle.
ssp: Slip next 2 sts knitwise, one at a time, to right needle. Slip them both, purlwise, back to left needle. Purl them together through their back loops.

Braid Cable (Worked over 18 sts):
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K18.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-12 [WS]: P18.
Row 5 [RS]: K6, C12F.
Rows 7, 9 [RS]: K18.
Row 11 [RS]: C12B, k6.
Repeat Rows 1-12 for Braid Cable.

Mattress Stitch is recommended for the seams in this garment.

Instructions for basic crochet stitches can be found here.

Crab Stitch (Also called Reverse Single Crochet): 
Tutorial with photos and a video can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Decrease Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Work 7 rows in stockinette st.

Repeat these 8 rows 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] times more, then work Decrease Row once more. 78[88, 98, 108, 116, 126, 136, 146, 156] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 12[12.5, 12.5, 12.5, 13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Raglan Armholes:
BO 3[4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 72[80, 90, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140] sts.

Sizes XS, S Only:
Work Decrease Row as above.

Work 3 rows in stockinette st.
Repeat these 4 rows once more. 68[76, -, -, -, -, -, -, -] sts.

All Sizes:
Work Decrease Row as above.
P 1 row.

Repeat these 2 rows 21[23, 29, 32, 35, 33, 34, 31, 27] times more. 24[28, 30, 34, 36, 48, 54, 68, 84] sts.

Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X Only:
Work Decrease Row as above.
Next Row [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, ssp, p2.
Repeat these 2 rows 1[2, 5, 9] times more. -[-, -, -, -, 40, 42, 44, 44] sts.

All Sizes:
BO remaining 24[28, 30, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44, 44] sts.

FRONT
Work as for Back to beginning of raglan armhole shaping.

Shape Raglan Armholes and Neckline:
Next Row [RS]: BO 3[4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts, k28[32, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62] (29[33, 38, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63] sts on right needle) and place all sts just worked on st holder for left front; BO 14 sts, k to end. 32[37, 42, 47, 51, 56, 61, 66, 71] sts.
Next Row [WS]: BO 3[4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts, p to end. 29[33, 38, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63] sts.

Upper Right Front:
Shape armhole edge as for Back; at the same time, shape neckline edge as follows:
Neckline Decrease Row [RS]: K2, ssk, work to end, shaping armhole edge as set.
Work 25[13, 11, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 5] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 26[14, 12, 8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6] rows 1[3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 11] times more.

Continue in pattern until armhole shaping is complete.
BO remaining 3 sts.

Upper Left Front:
Place held sts on needle and join yarn with WS facing. P 1 row (a WS row).

Shape armhole edge as for Back; at the same time, shape neckline edge as follows:
Neckline Decrease Row [RS]: Work to last 4 sts, shaping armhole edge as set; k2tog, k2.
Work 25[13, 11, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 5] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 26[14, 12, 8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6] rows 1[3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 11] times more.

Continue in pattern until armhole shaping is complete.
BO remaining 3 sts.

SLEEVES
CO 58[58, 62, 62, 66, 66, 70, 70, 70] sts. Beginning with a RS row, work 4 rows in stockinette st.

Next Row [RS]: K19[19, 21, 21, 23, 23, 25, 25, 25], p1, work Row 1 of Braid Cable over next 18 sts, p1, k to end.

This row establishes pattern for sleeve: center 18 sts are worked following Braid Cable pattern, with 1 st worked in reverse stockinette st at each side of cable; all other sts are worked in stockinette st.
Work 1 more row in pattern.

Increase Row [RS]: K2, m1, work in pattern to last 3 sts, m1, k2.
Work 29[19, 19, 13, 11, 7, 7, 5, 5] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 30[20, 20, 14, 12, 8, 8, 6, 6] rows 1[3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14] times more, then work Increase Row once more. 64[68, 74, 78, 84, 88, 94, 98, 102] sts.

Continue in pattern until work measures 17 inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Raglan Sleeve Cap:
BO 3[4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 58[60, 66, 70, 76, 78, 82, 84, 86] sts.

Decrease Row [RS]: K2, ssk, work in pattern to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Work 3 rows in pattern.
Repeat these 4 rows 9[10, 9, 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 7] times more. 38[38, 46, 48, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70] sts.

Work Decrease Row. Work 1 WS row in pattern.
Repeat these 2 rows 4[4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20] times more, removing markers on last row. 28 sts.

Next Row [RS]: K2, p2tog, k20, p2tog, k2. 26 sts.
Next Row [WS]: P2, k1, p20, k1, p2.
BO all sts.

HOOD
CO 38[40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 48] sts. Work in stockinette st until work measures 25 inches, or double the desired length of the hood. BO all sts.

FINISHING

Join yarn to lower edge of body at side seam.
Work 1 round single crochet around lower edge.
Work 1 round crab stitch, then bind off.

Hood and Neckline Edging:
CO 21 sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K18 (counts as Row 1 of Braid Cable), p1, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, k1, p18 (counts as Row 2 of Braid Cable).

These two rows set pattern for edging: Braid Cable is worked over first 18 sts, next st is worked in reverse stockinette st, last 2 sts are worked in stockinette st.

Continue in pattern until piece is approximately long enough to fit along vertical edges of front neckline and around hood. Do not bind off.

Sew CO edge of cable to bound off sts at center of front neckline.

Attaching stockinette st edge to neckline and hood edge, sew edging in place, adjusting length of edging by working more rows or ripping back as needed.

Sew live sts of edging in place behind CO edge of edging on WS of piece.

Weave in remaining ends. Lightly steam block edging if desired.

Jennifer has lived in NYC for the past 13 years, which is a constant source for inspiration for her designs. Her company KnowKnits creates the GoKnit Pouches, along with other accessories, making knitters’ lives more mobile and convenient.

Her husband, Bruno, and golden, Oscar, are amazed that she never tires of knitting.