If you love my Classic Raglan Cardigan, you’re also going to love the Crochet Top Down Raglan Cardigan!
I set out to create a raglan cardigan that is easy to make, but also a great everyday cardigan.
This crochet raglan garment pattern is written for sizes XS to 5XL, is skill level easy & use yarn weight 4 medium.
Find more: 44+ free crochet cardigan patterns collection.
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The Yarn
To crochet this cardigan I used Lion Brand Yarn – Basic Stitch Premium.
It was my first time trying this yarn & it exceeded my expectations.
It’s soft, great to work with & seems to be holding up well for care & washing as well.
It comes in many beautiful colors!
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The Perfect Stable Cardigan Crochet Project
Sometimes you just need a basic garment for your wardrobe, just like the Crochet Top-Down Raglan Cardigan.
It doesn’t have any fancy details, just the simple features over the shoulders.
A raglan cardigan also have a great fit & is easy to use in all occasions.
Since you like the Crochet Top Down Raglan Cardigan, these might interest you too?
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How Long Does It Take To Crochet That?
How long it takes to crochet something varies depending on your skill & how fast you crochet. But that isn’t a helpful answer is it?
Well, I’ve developed a yarn calculator to help you get the answer to this question.
It will help you calculate exactly how much time you’ll spend crocheting a project.
All you need to know is how much yarn you will use on the project in either meters, yards or skeins. Then crochet your test square & time it.
Buy the Top Down Raglan Cardigan Pattern
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Crochet Top Down Raglan Cardigan – The Free Crochet Pattern
Top Down Raglan Cardigan Pattern Summary
The Crochet Top Down Raglan Cardigan is the perfect basic crochet cardigan for women.
Choose between sizes from XS to 5XL or customize it to your own by following the size adjustments.
The cardigan doesn’t have fancy stitches, & all you need to know is basic crochet stitches such as single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet & chains.
Pick your favorite color & make this basic garment for your wardrobe.
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Materials Needed
Crochet Hook
Size 6.5 mm / US: K – 10.5 / UK: 3
Hook I used: Symphonie Rose Crochet Hooks from Knitpro
Yarn
Yarn used:
Lion Brand Yarn – Basic Stitch Premium in color Slate.
Yarn amount used:
- XS: 4 skeins
- S: 5 skeins
- M: 5 skeins
- L: 6 skeins
- XL: 6 skeins
- 2XL: 7 skeins
- 3XL: 8 skeins
- 4XL: 8 skeins
- 5XL: 9 skeins
Yarn characteristics:
- 4 medium yarn, worsted weight yarn
- 100 % premium acrylic
Other Materials Needed
- Yarn Needle
- 4 stitch markers
- Scissors
Gauge
Measured over half double crochet stitches crocheted in rows:
13 stitches & 12 rows per 10 cm / 4”.
Notes
- This crochet pattern is written in US terms.
- All measurements given are unblocked.
- Note that measurements are given as exact as possible. But crochet tension & technique might give variations in the result, that changes from person to person.
- Read pattern instructions carefully before beginning to make sure you understand everything. It might save you hours frogging your work & crocheting it again!
- Make a gauge swatch that measure at least 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches using the stitch the gauge is given for. If your swatch matches the gauge, you’re good to go. If the gauge is wrong, you might need to change your hook. Go up in crochet hook size if your stitches are smaller & go down in crochet hook size if your stitches are bigger. Learn more about testing gauge.
- Check yarn info if you want to find an alternative or test your yarn against the gauge. Learn more about substituting yarn.
- This pattern is written for 9 sizes, where the different sizes is given in parenthesis like this: XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL. If just one number is given, it applies to all sizes. I recommend that you highlight or circle the size you’re making before you begin to make the pattern easier to follow. Size adjustments are added under the heading “Size & Measurements”.
- At the end of each row, the stitch count is given in parenthesis.
- Yoke is worked in rows from the neck downwards. Piece is divided after yoke at underarms to form armholes. Body and sleeves are worked separately downwards.
Size & Measurements
Size Notes
- This pattern is written to have a standard fit, that means about 5-10 cm ease. Learn more about mastering ease in crochet garments.
- Take measurements to find the size that fits the best.
Size Adjustments
- Note: Any size adjustments affect yarn usage & you might need more/less yarn than suggested.
Sleeves:
- For all sizes: Best places to adjust length on sleeve is by adding or reducing rows are: After row 1 before decreasing, or after row 47 before starting edge on row 48.
- For all sizes: Skip decreases to make the arm wider.
- For all sizes: Decrease more frequently in the same manner to make the arm narrower.
Body:
- For all sizes: Adjust length by adding or reducing rows at the end.
Diagram
Abbreviations
- beg = begin
- ch = chain(s)
- ch-space = refers to a space made of chains previously made
- dc = double crochet
- FSC = foundation single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- hdc2tog = crochet together 2 stitches with half double crochet
- PM = place marker
- RS = right side
- sc = single crochet
- sk = skip
- sl st = slip stitch
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- tr = treble crochet
- WS = wrong side
We try our best to include all crochet abbreviations in the list above for the crochet pattern, but sometimes we may forget one or two.
Learn more about crochet abbreviations & find a complete list on our Crochet Abbreviations & Terms post.
Stitches You Will Need
Foundation Single Crochet Stitch(FSC):
Written description:
Step 1: Ch 2 st.
Step 2: Insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, pull up a loop. Yo and pull through first loop (making “chain”). Yo and pull through both loops on hook.
Step 3: Insert hook into previous “chain” you made (It should look like you go through a resemblance of a “normal” st, with 2 strands of yarn), pull up a loop, yo and pull through first loop (making “chain”). Yo and pull through both loops on hook.
Repeat step 3 until you’ve made enough stitches. *2nd ch in step 1 makes 1 st, step 2 makes 1 st & every time step 3 is repeated you make 1 st.
Crochet Together 2 Half Double Crochet Stitches (hdc2tog)
Used to decrease stitches.
Written description: Yarn over, draw up a loop from the next st, draw up a loop from the stitch after that, you have 4 loops on the hook, yo, pull through all loops on the hook.
Hdc2tog photo and video tutorial.
Crochet Top Down Raglan Cardigan Instructions
Yoke
Note: All sizes beg with 66 stitches at the neck. If you would like a wider neck, beg with 82 ch, work rows 1-3 with 81 stitches, then repeat rows 3-4 until you reach the stitch count for your size.
Ch 66 st.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 3rd ch from hook, sc 1 in each st across, turn (65 st).
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc 1 in each st, turn (65 st).
Row 3: Hdc 1 directly in 1st st (no ch), *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in next st*, repeat from *to* until you have 1 st left, hdc 1 in last st, turn (65 st).
Mark off corners like this:
- Count 11 st from last st made, place marker (PM) in that stitch.
- Count another 10 st, PM in that stitch
- Count another 24 st, PM in that stitch
- Count another 10 st, PM in that stitch
- It should be 10 stitches left after that.
Row 4*: Hdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), *hdc 1 in each st until 1 st before marker, hdc 3 in next st, tr 1 in next st, hdc 3 in next st*, repeat from *to* 3 more times, hdc 1 in each st until end of row (=81 st).
*:
– When working into the marked stitch, move marker to the new stitch & keep moving it each row.
– If the stitch on the previous row was a ch, work into the ch-space instead of the ch.
Repeat row 3-4 until you have crocheted 14 (18) 20 (24) 28 (30) 34 (36) 40 rows. Stitch count will increase with 16 stitches each time you repeat row 4. ending with 161 (193) 209 (241) 273 (289) 321 (337) 369) st.
Do not fasten off, continue directly on body.
Body
Continue where you left of on the yoke.
Row 1: Hdc directly in 1st st (no chain), hdc 1 in the next 22 (26) 28 (32) 36 (38) 42 (44) 48 st, FSC 4, sk 33 (41) 45 (53) 61 (65) 73 (77) 85 st (making armholes), hdc 1 in the next 49 (57) 61 (69) 77 (81) 89 (93) 101 st, FSC 4, sk 33 (41) 45 (53) 61 (65) 73 (77) 85 st (making armholes), hdc 1 in the next 23 (27) 29 (33) 37 (39) 43 (45) 49 st, turn (= 103 (119) 127 (143) 159 (167) 183 (191) 207 st).
Row 2: Hdc directly in 1stt st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st, turn (= 103 (119) 127 (143) 159 (167) 183 (191) 207 st).
Row 3-47: Rep row 2.
Row 48:Ch 2 st (counts as 1st st), dc 1 in each st, turn (= 103 (119) 127 (143) 159 (167) 183 (191) 207 st).
Row 49: Ch 1 (counts as 1st st), sc 1 in each st, turn (= 103 (119) 127 (143) 159 (167) 183 (191) 207 st).
Fasten off & cut yarn.
Sleeves
Repeated 2 times to make 2 sleeves.
Attach yarn with the right side facing.
Attach yarn in the 3rd FSC under the arm (one of the middle FSC stitches made on the body).
Only size XS (S) M:
Row 1: Hdc directly in 1st st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st from prev row, turn (= 37 (45) 49 st).
Row 2: Rep row 1.
Row 3: Hdc2tog directly in 1st & 2nd st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st until you have 2 st left, hdc2tog in the last 2 st, turn (= 35 (43) 47 st).
Row 4 – 15 (27) 30: Repeat rows 1-3, 4 (8) 9 more times.
Stitch count will continue decreasing by 2 every third row, starting with 35 (43) 47 stitches on row 3 & decreasing to 27 (27) 29 stitches on row 15 (27) 30.
Row 16 (28) 31 – 47: Rep row 1 (=27 (27) 29 st).
Only size (L) XL (2XL):
Row 1: Hdc directly in 1st st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st from prev row, turn (= (57) 65 (69) st).
Row 2: Hdc2tog directly in 1st & 2nd st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st until you have 2 st left, hdc2tog in the last 2 st, turn (= (55) 63 (67) st).
Row 3 – (28) 34 (36): Repeat rows 1-2, (13) 16 (17) more times.
Stitch count will continue decreasing by 2 every second row, starting with (55) 63 (67) stitches on row 2 & decreasing to (29) 31 (33) stitches on row (28) 34 (36).
Row (29) 35 (37) – 47: Rep row 1 (= (29) 31 (33) st).
Only size 3XL (4XL) 5XL:
Row 1: Hdc2tog directly in 1st & 2nd st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st until you have 2 st left, hdc2tog in the last 2 st, turn (= 75 (79) 87 st).
Row 2 – 4 (6) 10 : Rep row 1.
Stitch count will continue to decrease by 2 every row, starting with 75 (79) 87 stitches on row 1 & decreasing to 69 (69) 69 stitches on row 4 (6) 10.
Row 5 (7) 11: Hdc directly in 1st st (no chain), hdc 1 in each st from prev row, turn (= (69) 69 (69) st).
Row 6 (8) 12 – 41 (41) 45: Repeat row 1 and 5 (7) 11 every other row, 18 (17) 17 times.
Stitch count will continue decreasing by 2 every second row, starting with 69 (69) 69 stitches on row 5 (7) 11 & decreasing to 33 (35) 35 stitches on row 41 (41) 45.
Row 42 (42) 46 – 47: Rep row 5 (7) 11 (=33 (35) 35 st).
All sizes:
Row 48: Ch 2 (counts as 1st st), dc 1 in each st, turn (=27 (27) 29 (29) 31 (33) 33 (35) 35 st).
Row 49: Ch 1 (counts as 1st st), sc 1 in each st, turn (=27 (27) 29 (29) 31 (33) 33 (35) 35 st).
Fasten off & cut yarn.
Front Edges
Right front: From WS, join yarn with a sl st in the top corner.
Left front: From WS, join yarn with a sl st in the bottom corner.
Row 1*: Ch 2 (counts as 1st st), dc 1 evenly along the front of the cardigan, turn (= 61 (65) 67 (71) 75 (77) 81 (83) 87 st).
Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as 1st st), sc 1 in each st, turn (= 61 (65) 67 (71) 75 (77) 81 (83) 87 st).
*Crochet 1 stitch per sc and hdc row, 2 per dc row.
Fasten off & cut yarn.
Finishing
Seam the sleeves with the yarn used with the wrong side facing, either with slip stitches & a hook or stitching with a needle.
Fasten threads & weave in ends.
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