Raglan: Learning, Info, and Tips

Dear users and authors,
Raglan is a popular technique. In this thread, you can discuss it and learn more. Have fun!

Free patterns and blog posts can be shared here. Please do not post paid patterns.

Too bad no one has posted anything yet. I would have been really interested in this topic. I’d love to learn it.

Best regards, Sylvia

When it’s not so hot anymore, things will get better with this thread here. :-)

Okay, now it’s not so hot anymore.
How’s the raglan going along?

My knitted raglan project is on hold for now.

I make top-down raglan (RVO) and start as follows:
Cast on enough stitches or crochet enough chain stitches so that it fits loosely over your head.
This requires a little bit of math to divide the stitches correctly between the front, back, and sleeves.
Example: 100 stitches on the needle means 40 each for the front and back = 80, and 10 each for the sleeves.
The corresponding stitches are marked so they’re easy to identify for the increases.
Continue increasing until the front and back can be worked in one piece (without sleeves).
Finally, work the sleeves.

Thanks for getting this started, CreatOwl.

The increase points are at the 4 markers. Since I prefer knitting, I’ll explain it that way:

I always knit the stitches before and after the marker on the right side. The increases are then always made before and after those stitches. There are several ways to do this.

For example, you can make an increase from the strand between the stitches or double the stitch (knit it twice). There are good videos online showing how to do this.

I always make the increases every other row.

When knitting raglan, I always have the “hole problem” at the increase points. It doesn’t matter whether I increase from the strand between the stitches or knit two stitches from a single stitch. Is there perhaps another trick I can use? 

If you knit the stitches twisted from the strand between the stitches, there shouldn’t actually be any holes.

When increasing stitches, I make a yarn over both before and after the marked stitches.

I also have the problem with unwanted holes when I knit a stitch from the strand between stitches.

I usually work two knit stitches into one stitch. That way, there are no holes.
First insert the needle from the back, then from the front—and only then remove the stitch from the left needle.
This works without leaving holes.

Personally, I generally prefer raglan worked from the bottom up.
It’s easier (for me) to calculate, and it looks nicer because I can then make increases on both the right and left sides.

Of course, it’s a matter of personal taste.

For those who find it easier to double the stitches:
Insert the needle in the front first—then in the back.

Could someone explain it for crocheters like me, for example? Unfortunately, I don’t know how to knit. That would be really nice.

Thanks and best regards, Sylvia

What I wrote above also applies to crocheting, Sylvia.
By the way, my first RVO (the red-and-yellow sweater in my signature) is crocheted.

Since I’m very short, starting from the top works better for me.

Thank you, CreatOwl.

Thank you, CreatOwl, from me as well. You explained it very well for us raglan beginners.
I haven’t tried it yet—I’m eager to, but I just haven’t had the time. But I’ll get around to it soon
.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone

I’m glad my explanation is clear :)

I’m bumping this thread again. Maybe someone would like to add something?