A top-down raglan is the sweater most knitters wish they had started with. You cast on at the neck, increase along four diagonal lines, split off the sleeves and keep going. There’s little or no sewing, and you can try it on as you knit to get the length just right.
This list gathers free raglan sweater knitting patterns worked from the top down, from true first-sweater patterns to a cabled raglan and a V-neck. There’s also a kids’ option and a generator that writes a pattern to your own gauge.
Raglan Sweater Knitting Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Circular needles, 16″ and 32″ lengths
- Interchangeable needle set (handy for the neck, body and sleeves)
- Ring stitch markers, at least 4 plus one unique color
- Waste yarn or long stitch holders for the sleeves
- Worsted or DK weight yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Soft measuring tape
1. Flax
Photo: Tin Can Knits
Flax is one of the most-knit free sweaters on Ravelry, and for good reason. It’s a plain worsted-weight raglan worked top-down and seamless in the round, with a strip of garter stitch running down each sleeve for a little detail. The size range is huge, from 0–6 months all the way to 6XL, so you can knit matching sweaters for the whole family.
- Designer: Tin Can Knits
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8) and 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Real Easy Raglan
Photo: Emily Bolduan
Just like the name says, this one is written for first-time sweater knitters. It’s a seamless top-down raglan in DK yarn with optional short rows to raise the back of the neck, so it sits nicely on your shoulders. The lighter yarn makes a sweater you can wear indoors without overheating. Sizes run XS to XXL.
- Designer: Emily Bolduan
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6) and 3.5 mm (US 4)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Step by Step Sweater
Photo: Florence Miller
This aran-weight raglan is knit top-down and in the round with no seaming. The pattern is known for clear, plain-language steps, which makes it a comfortable choice if patterns usually make you nervous. Aran yarn on 5.5 mm needles keeps the knitting moving at a good pace.
- Designer: Florence Miller
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4)
- Needle size: 5.5 mm (US 9) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Brick
Photo: Clare Lee
Brick is a simple, everyday pullover in worsted yarn. It uses top-down raglan construction and is seamless, worked in the round. There are no fancy stitches, just good proportions, which makes it a great canvas for a pretty hand-dyed or tweedy yarn. Sizes go from XS to 3X.
- Designer: Clare Lee
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: 5.5 mm (US 9) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Bernat Knit Top Down Pullover
Made in Bernat Velvet, this raglan has a soft, plush look that feels a little dressy. It’s worked top-down with simple increases and decreases, and the pattern is rated easy. The relaxed fit has generous ease, with sizes from XS/S to 4/5XL.
- Designer: Bernat / Yarnspirations
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Bernat Velvet (see pattern)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8), 5.5 mm (US 9) and 6 mm (US 10)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Threaded Raglan Sweater
Here the raglan lines are the star. A small 2×2 cable runs along each one, so the shaping looks like a design detail instead of just increases. The sweater is seamless and top-down in DK yarn with a folded collar. It’s a nice first cable project because the cables are narrow and easy to track. Sizes run XS to 5XL.
- Designer: Knitting with Chopsticks
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6) and 3.5 mm (US 4)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Simple Summer Tweed Top Down V-Neck
Photo: Heidi Kirrmaier
Want a V-neck? This top-down raglan shapes the V with simple front decreases and is worked in the round with almost no seaming. It’s written for both men’s and women’s fits, covering 30 to 55 inch chests. You don’t need tweed yarn; any aran yarn that gets gauge works.
- Designer: Heidi Kirrmaier
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Trescao
Photo: Along avec Anna
Trescao is a light, airy raglan with garter stitch trim. You can knit it with one strand of DK, or hold a fingering-weight merino together with a silk mohair for a soft, fuzzy halo. It’s top-down and seamless, with a very wide size range from 80 to 165 cm finished bust.
- Designer: Along avec Anna
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3), or fingering + mohair held together
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6) and 3.75 mm (US 5)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Good Old Raglan
Photo: Twisted Knitwear
This is the kids’ pick on the list. It’s a classic DK raglan worked top-down in one piece, with short-row neck shaping and ribbed edges. Sizes go from 0–3 months to 13–14 years, so it can grow with a child for years. Small sizes also make it a quick way to practice raglan shaping before you knit an adult size.
- Designer: Twisted Knitwear
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6) and 3.5 mm (US 4)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Autumn League Pullover
Photo: Two of Wands
This cotton-blend raglan has a sporty, relaxed look. The yoke is worked flat at first to shape the front neck, then joined so the body and sleeves are knit in the round. The neckband is picked up from the cast-on edge at the end. It’s a good next step after a basic raglan.
- Designer: Two of Wands
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: DK / light (#3)
- Needle size: 4.5 mm (US 7) and 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid ad-free PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Top Down Raglan Sweater Generator
Photo: Knitting Fool
This isn’t a regular pattern. You enter your own gauge and chest measurement, and the generator calculates a top-down raglan pullover to match. That means you can use any yarn and any needle size you like. It’s a recipe-style pattern, so it suits knitters who have made one raglan and want to design their own next.
- Designer: Knitting Fool
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Any weight
- Needle size: Any (matches your gauge)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First raglan ever? Start with #2, Real Easy Raglan, or #1, Flax.
- Want clear, gentle instructions? #3, the Step by Step Sweater, explains things well.
- Knitting for kids or the whole family? #1 and #9 cover baby to big-kid sizes.
- Want a little detail? #6 adds cables on the raglan lines, and #7 gives you a V-neck.
- Using leftover or odd yarn? #11 builds a pattern around your own gauge.
FAQ
What is a raglan sweater?
A raglan sweater has diagonal seams or increase lines that run from the underarm up to the neck, instead of a straight shoulder seam. In a top-down raglan, you increase 8 stitches every other round along those four lines. This creates a roomy, comfortable shoulder that fits many body shapes.
Is a top-down raglan good for beginners?
Yes. It’s often the best first sweater. You knit mostly in the round, so you see the right side of the fabric and purl less. There’s little sewing, and you can slip the stitches onto waste yarn to try the sweater on as you go and fix the fit before it’s done.
How do I stop holes at the underarms of a raglan?
Small gaps at the underarm are common. When you cast on the underarm stitches, pick up one or two extra stitches in the corners, then decrease them away on the next round. You can also close any small holes with the tail when you weave in ends.
Choose your raglan, grab some stitch markers and enjoy watching your sweater grow from the neck down.
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