The Willow Sweater- Crochet Raglan Sweater

I love a good crochet raglan sweater! Are you a fan of top down designs? Or do you like working from the bottom up?  The Willow Sweater is top down or “raglan” style! I haven’t really made too many crochet patterns from the top down. It was fun being able to try it on as I went! 

This sweater has no seams and no sewing. Thats definitely a plus. I have to admit though, I don’t mind sewing pieces together and I think my favorite will always be bottom up sweaters in separate pieces. Each time you finish a panel it’s like checking off a task and it seems to go quicker for me! 

I love the look of a cozy cowl on a crochet raglan sweater but you could also easily leave it off. It would save you yarn, time and be less bulky in the warmer months! 

Sweaters are definitely my favorite thing to design. Check out these free ones on my blog! The Coffee Shop Cardigan, The Cozy Boyfriend Cardigan, and The Color Block Cape!

 

Description: This cozy crochet raglan sweater is worked from the top down. Don’t let that intimidate you, it’s very simple and fun to do! The pattern is seamless and works the same stitch throughout. If you aren’t a fan of cowl necks, it is easy to remove and keep a simple neckline.

LINKS: 

• Get the ad-free PDF from Ravelry or add it to your queues to save for later! 

• Get the ad-free PDF from Etsy, here!

Materials:

• Worsted (4) Weight Yarn- ZZ Twist (3.5oz/100g/246yd) 6(7,7,7,8,8,8,9,9) Skeins. 1,470(1515,1575,1655,1725,1805,1900,1950,2000 yards)

• 4.25mm Crochet Hook

• Yarn Needle

Sizes:

XS(S,M,L,XL,2X,3X,4X,5X)

Gauge: 4X4”= 17 Esc by 15 rows

Pattern Notes:

• This pattern is worked from the top down. The cowl is added last.

• This sweater is seamless, you will be working in continuous rounds and using a stitch marker to keep your place throughout.

• Make your sweater longer by adding rounds before you begin the ribbing. I recommend trying your crochet raglan sweater on as you go!

Abbreviations (US Terms):

Fsc- Foundation Single Crochet

Esc- Extended Single Crochet

Ch- Chain

Sp- Space

Hdc- Half Double Crochet

Fphdc- Front Post Half Double Crochet

Bphdc- Back Post Half Double Crochet

Hdc2tog- Half Double Crochet 2 Together

Increasing Double: To increase double means to add 1 more extra St in the increase indicated. For Ex. to increase on sleeves only– Work across to first Ch Sp, (1Esc, Ch 1, 2Esc) Work across to next Ch Sp, (2Esc, Ch 1, 1Esc), Work across to next Ch Sp, (1Esc, Ch 1, 2Esc), work across to next Ch Sp (2Esc, Ch1, 1 Esc) Work to end. Be sure to note if you need to increase double on body OR sleeve if double increasing is required.

 

Size Chart-

Pattern: 

Round 1: 74 (78, 80, 82, 84, 84, 86, 90, 90) Fsc. Join to the first St to form a circle. Be sure to not twist your work. Place St marker and move it up with each round. (74 (78, 80, 82, 84, 84, 86, 90, 90) Sc)

Round 2: 12 (14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 17, 17) Esc, Ch2, 13 (11, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11) Esc, Ch 2, 24 (28, 30, 30, 31, 31, 32, 34, 34) Esc, Ch 2, 13 (11, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11) Esc, Ch 2, 12 (14, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17)  Esc. (74 (78, 80, 82, 84, 84, 86, 90, 90) Esc) Note- Ch Sp does not count as a St here and throughout.

Round 3: Work 1 Esc in each St until first Ch Sp. (1 Esc, Ch 2, 1 Esc) into the Ch Sp. *1 Esc in each St until next Ch Sp. (1 Esc, Ch 2, 1 Esc) into the Ch Sp. Repeat from * 2 more times. 1 Esc in each St to end. (82 (86, 88, 90, 92, 92, 94, 98, 98) Esc)

Repeat Round 3 for another 17 (19, 20, 19, 22, 20, 15, 16, 16) rounds. (Increasing by 8 stitches after each round). You will have a total of (218 (238, 248, 242, 268, 252, 214, 226, 226) stitches at the end of your last completed round.

Size XS and S: go to dividing round. 218 (238) sts total / 49 (51) per sleeve / 60 (68) for back and front / 120 (136) total body stitches 

Size M: work one more round, increasing on sleeves only (do not increase on body). Go to dividing round. 252 sts total / 54 per sleeve/ 72 for back and front / 144 total body stitches 

Size L: work four more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Go to dividing round.  290 sts total / 59 per sleeve/ 86 for back and front / 172 total body stitches

Size XL: work four more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Go to dividing round. 316 sts total / 65 per sleeve/ 93 for back and front / 186 total body stitches

Size 2X: work two more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Next four rounds, increase double on both body and sleeve. Go to dividing round. 340 sts total / 73 per sleeve/ 97 for back and front / 194 total body stitches

Size 3X: work six more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Next six rounds, increase double on both body and sleeve. Go to dividing round.  382 sts total / 79 per sleeve/ 112 for back and front / 224 total body stitches 

Size 4X: work six more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Next seven rounds, increase double on both body and sleeve. Go to dividing round.  410 sts total / 85 per sleeve/ 120 for back and front / 240 total body stitches

Size 5X: work ten more rounds, increasing double on body and single on sleeve. Next 5 rounds, increase double on both body and sleeve. Go to dividing round.  426 sts total / 85 per sleeve/ 128 for back and front / 256 total body stitches

 

NOTE: 

Size XS: total yoke rows 20 / Yoke length 5.25”

Size S: total yoke rows 22 / Yoke length 5.75”

Size M: total yoke rows 24 / Yoke length 6.25”

Size L: total yoke rows 26 / Yoke length 7”

Size XL: total yoke rows 29 / Yoke length 7.75”

Size 2X: total yoke rows 29 / Yoke length 7.75”

Size 3X: total yoke rows 30 / Yoke length 8”

Size 4X: total yoke rows 32 / Yoke length 8.5”

Size 5X: total yoke rows 34 / Yoke length 9”

120 (136, 144, 172, 186, 194, 224, 240, 256)

You will now be splitting the sleeves (dividing round)-

Round 21 (23, 24, 27, 30, 30, 31, 33, 35) : 1 Esc in each St until first Ch Sp. Work 1 Esc into Ch Sp. Ch 4 (4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), skip over all stitches in between this Ch Sp and the following Ch Sp. Work 1 Esc into next Ch Sp. Continue with 1 Esc in each St until you reach the next Ch Sp. 1 Esc into the Ch Sp. Ch 4 (4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), skip over all stitches in between this Ch Sp and the following Ch Sp. 1 Esc into the Ch Sp. 1 Esc into each remaining St to end. (124 (140, 148, 176, 190, 198, 228, 244, 260) Esc)

Round 22 (24, 25, 28, 31, 31, 32, 34, 36): 1 Esc in each St until you reach the Ch 4 (4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4) Sp. Work 4 (4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4,4, 4) Esc into the Sp. 1 Esc in each St until the next Ch Sp, work 4 (4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4) Esc into the Sp. 1 Esc in each St to end. (132 (148, 158, 184, 198, 206, 236, 252, 268) Esc)

Rounds 23 (25, 26, 29, 32, 32, 33, 35, 37)-69 (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 75, 77, 77): 1 Esc in each St around. (132 (148, 156, 184, 198, 206, 236, 252, 268) Esc)

Round 70 (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 76, 78, 78): 1 Hdc in each St around. (132 (148, 156, 184, 198, 206, 236, 252, 268) Hdc)

Round 71 (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 77, 79, 79): *1 Fphdc, 1 Bphdc* Repeat around.

Rounds 72 (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 78, 80, 80)- 74 (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 80, 82, 82): Repeat round 71( 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 77, 79, 79).

Tie off.

 

 

 

Sleeves (X2): 

Join yarn at the bottom of the armhole opening with a Sl St and place St marker. 

Round 1: 55 (57, 61, 65, 71, 79, 85, 91, 91) Esc around the opening. (55 (57, 61, 65, 71, 79, 85, 91, 91) Esc)

Rounds 2- 50 (53, 52, 55, 54, 54, 54, 57, 57): 1 Esc in each St around. (55 (57, 61, 65, 71, 79, 85, 91, 91) Esc)

Round 51 (54, 53, 56, 55, 55, 55, 58, 58): *7 (6, 8, 6, 8, 11, 10, 8, 8) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (49 (50, 55, 57, 64, 73, 78, 82, 82) Esc)

Round 52 (55, 54, 57, 56, 56, 56, 59, 59): * 6 (5, 7, 5, 7, 10, 9, 7, 7) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (43 (43, 49, 49, 57, 67, 71, 73, 73) Esc)

Round 53 (56, 55, 58, 57, 57, 57, 60, 60): * 5 (4, 6, 4, 6, 9, 8, 6, 6) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (37 (36, 43, 41, 50, 61, 64, 64, 64) Esc)

Round 54 (57, 56, 59, 58, 58, 58, 61, 61): * 4 (3, 5, 3, 5, 8, 7, 5, 5) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (31 (29, 37, 33, 43, 55, 57, 55, 55) Esc)

Sizes Small and Large stop decreasing.

Round 55 (n/a, 57, n/a, 59, 59, 59, 62, 62): * 3 (n/a, 4, n/a, 4, 7, 6, 4, 4) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (25 (n/a, 31, n/a, 36, 49, 50, 46, 46) Esc)

Sizes XS, M, and XL stop decreasing.

Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X ONLY [NOTE Round 60 (60, 63, 63)]:*6 (5, 3, 7) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. (43 (43, 37, 41) Esc)

Sizes 4X and 5X stop decreasing. 

Sizes 2X and 3X ONLY [NOTE Round 61 (61)]: *5 (4) Esc, Esc2tog* repeat around. 1 Esc in last. 37 (36) Esc)

All sizes EXCEPT sizes XL and 3X: 

Round 56 (58, 58, 60, n/a, 62, n/a, 64, 64): 1 Hdc in each St around until you reach last 2 sitches. Hdc2tog. [NOTE- if your previous round ended with an odd number you will be making 1 decrease in this round so you have an even stitch count.] (24 (28, 30, 32, 36, 36, 36, 36, 40)  Hdc)

All sizes:

Rounds 57 (59, 59, 61, 60, 63, 62, 65, 65)-60 (62, 62, 64, 63, 66, 65, 68, 68): *Fphdc, Bphdc* repeat around. 

Tie off.   

 

Collar:

Join yarn at the back of the neck opening at seam with a Sl St. 

Round 1: Work 1 Esc in each St around. (74 (78, 80, 82, 84, 84, 86, 90, 90) Esc)

Rounds 2-20: Repeat round 1. 

Tie off.

Weave in all ends of your crochet raglan sweater!

 

 

I hope you guys love this top down crochet raglan sweater as much as I do! Be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your makes!