A comment in defense of raglans: My first raglan was knit over 40 years ago as a young woman in Minnesota. That extra room under the arms was wonderful for cross country skiing, allowing full range of motion of the shoulders and arms. For anyone who loves to hike, especially with hiking poles or desires that extra range of motion for outdoor activities, a raglan can’t be beat. I still have a raglan pullover with pockets that I knit all those years ago for walking with the dog. That was before short rows so the pattern had the knitter working back and forth at the beginning, slowly casting on additional stitches to the ends, then casting on for the last front stitches and continuing in the round.
wow i would not even get these gems of instructions in paid lessons at the local crafting store. things like that are far easier after a well done description session like this one here! i will be watching this vid over and over again as i take on various of sweater and pull over projects. I cannot thank you enough. you are the best!
I've been doing this intuitively without even thinking! In the beginning of the video I was thinking " but wouldn't the imbalance between front and back be fixed by adding more stitches to the underarm?" and that very moment you got into it 😂. Thank you so much for this vid, it's important for a best fitting garment
Oh girrrrl, this video is SO helpful. I am an intermediate knitter and want to expand out to understand why my beautiful, expensive yarn often knits up into sweaters that don’t fit well at all. Very annoying! I’ve managed to figure out the too deep armhole problem on tank tops but the whole ill fitting chest/neck situation was so mysterious. So thank you so much for this video. 🎉
Thank you so much for this resource. I will be watching this several times to absorb it. It is so hard to find information on the where and why to do increases to make sweaters and cardigans fit.
I have always wondered why so many patterns tell you to crochet the front and the back exactly the same way. I am definitely not the same shape or measurements in the front and the back. However, since I am new to crocheting tops and sweaters, I really don’t understand all of the changes that you were recommending. At this point, I would have to rely on a designer doing this for me. I did look at the Aztec sweater by nomad stitches, and it doesn’t mention any special modifications being made to the sweater to make it fit better, but it also does not mention the word Raglan. However, I am reluctant to believe that just because the word raglan is missing that it means the sweater is guaranteed to fit properly. Thanks for this video. It has definitely got me thinking but I am a long way from truly understanding and implementing the different modifications on my own.
This has really helped me figure out how to make raglans fit. I find most patterns have an armhole that’s is too deep and a back that is too voluminous. Thank you so much for explaining this. You are one of 2 videos out there. Awesome👏
This is incredibly informative! I have very very narrow shoulders. I have found that the raglan increases increased too fast and then I end up with the big old baggy arms. I didn't know why until I saw your video. So thank you!
I’m so glad it was helpful! After making this video I’ve found that there are some people that this shape fits beautifully without adjustments because they do actually increase at the same rate 😅, but I’m in the same category as you are and I felt like no one was talking about this struggle, particularly with cardigans!
This was an excellent video, very helpful. (I will say that as a crocheter, it's a lot easier to edit as you go since you've only got one stitch live - knitting tends to require more planning).
Thank you for this video! Very clear and informative. If you ever need inspiration to make another video like this: could you explain about circular yoke sweaters, and modifications to make them fit better? I love these types of designs but cannot get them to fit me well enough for actually wearing... sadly...
Thanks for all the tips. The one that is most elusive for me is to modify the depth of the raglan, aka the depth of the yoke. I quite like the drape of extra fabric, but cannot bear it when the underarm (armscye) falls low on my body. I've knitted a couple of raglan sweaters now, 1 top-down, 1 bottom up and pieced, where the underarm of the raglan runs nearly to my waist. As a tailor, I'm not keen on the current 'oversize', and prefer a neat fit. My holy grail would be a neatly fitted top-down raglan sleeve. I can do the back, neck and bust shaping, no problem.
Thank you. This video was so helpful! It was like a giant light went on for me. You explained perfectly. Excited to check out some more from your channel.
Amanda this was so informative and helpful!! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this video! Off to look for some patterns, will come back and list what I find 🤞🏻👍🏼 💓
Thank you Tracey! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was on the hunt for how to design a good-fitting raglan and stumbled across all of this great info and just had to share it! I wish I had known this before!
Yes I have. I like contiguous set in sleeve shirts and sweaters. B(L)ack to Life by Isabell Kreamer, edie by Esabell. And many others who do contiguous set in sleeves. Coco knits method sweaters. Many others. Road construction terms listed on pattern page to help prevent from buying patterns you will never use. I have so many of those. I wish I could sell them all back to the designer at 1/2 to 1/4 return cost. I'm willing to loose half of the cost not all. Because Ibwas mislead to believe when I bought the pattern itveould be usable and enjoyed by me. But I get to trying them on and am disappointed. I frog it or try to redesign to fit and Im not a designer but the thing that's helped the mode is an adjustable mannequin so I can shape my sweaters on it and make fitting close. GAME CHANGER ALL THE WAY.
Great video! I'm currently working on the "Go To Raglan" by Stephen West and it definitely is a modified raglan and I'm loving it. I split for arms last night and am happily going for it on the body atm. Was super pleased to note the short rows and arm and neck shaping appear to look good compare to your examples. This is my second full raglan knit and It looks so much better than my first which was not modified. So worth it. Thank you!
@@MandobugCrafts I haven't tried a shawl pattern yet but I am in love with the Painting Honeycombs one. Maybe I'll feel confident enough to try that after I finish this sweater. I just taught myself to knit a couple months ago, but man, do all those years crochet experience help so much!
I have always wondered why so many patterns tell you to crochet the front and the back exactly the same way. I am definitely not the same shape or measurements in the front and the back. However, since I am new to crocheting tops and sweaters, I really don’t understand all of the changes that you were recommending. At this point, I would have to rely on a designer doing this for me. I did look at the Aztec sweater by nomad stitches, and it doesn’t mention any special modifications being made to the sweater to make it fit better, but it also does not mention the word Raglan. However, I am reluctant to believe that just because the word raglan is missing that it means the sweater is guaranteed to fit properly. Thanks for this video. It has definitely got me thinking but I am a long way from truly understanding.
Hi Camila! unfortunately I don't feel comfortable doing that. The Cocoknits method is one that Julie Weisenberger created and dedicated an entire book to. You'll have to buy her book to learn more about the method.
You may want to look at a new channel that popped up on my feed a few weeks ago. “Crochet by Fabio” Like you he takes the time to educate and teach. I want seamless pullover patterns that I can crochet for all the guys in the family. Patterns for me and my daughters are all over RU-vid but good patterns my husband, adult sons, son in law and grandson are harder to find. Thank you for this great information! Keep making quality content!
I'm so glad it was helpful! I look forward to seeing your design! I designed a modified raglan but I haven't gotten it tested yet, but it fits so much better than the traditional style already!
I am just trying to crochet my first pullover and the pattern has a raglan sleeve with 4 chain increase at the arm hole I am a big busted gal and I would like this pullover to be wearable should I proceed with this pattern? Great info thank you soooooo much!!!@@MandobugCrafts
So helpful! Thank you… I’ve found raglans to be the first sweaters I feel somewhat happy with but the bulky back bothers me. Would love to hear how to get rid of that… do you just make the raglan with less stitches in the back so it’s not exactly a square?
Where is the cocoknits method of raglan shaping? I don't see it in the book(viewed online) and there are reviews which says that book is VERY hard to follow (in english at least) - nor do I see anything about raglan shaping on their website. Link??? (thank you!) And also (#2) the term "compound raglan" results in 0 patterns on Ravelry =:-\\\
Beautiful Modified Raglan Sweaters & Cardigans "Aztec", "Mosaic" sweaters by Nomad Stitches (paid) "Metropolis" Cardigan by Lilla Bjorn (paid) "Dandelion Crop Cardi" by We Crochet (free) "Primrose Sweater" by Outstanding Crochet 🥰Beautifully Constructed Honorable Mentions🥰 "Dreamscape" by Expression Fiber Arts (paid) "Lau Cardigan" by Linda Skuja (paid) "Leaf Yoke Sweater" by Outstanding Crochet (paid) Any crochet or knit luxury sweaters&cardigans by MYPZ (paid)
Those are all beautiful sweaters but if I'm not mistaken, they look like they are all have a circular yoke construction - where increases are placed even around the circumference of the increase row, unlike a raglan construction that has increases in the same four locations
@@MandobugCraftsahhh I understand now🥴 sorry for posting misinformation..I can delete the post to detour confusion for future viewers. I always thought top down and raglan were the same, until you explaining. Take care❣
You can make a sweater any shape you want and in any “fit” you want. This video is specifically about raglan shaping and a fit that silhouettes your body (compared to something boxy) What defines something as raglan is it’s shape. Raglan shaping is not circular. Circular shaping is called a circular yoke construction.
I wish I’d known about these issues with raglan cardigans before I made mine. I’ve tried everything, after the fact, to stop it from dropping off my shoulders. But because it isn’t shaped right it drops and I’m always tugging. I’m debating ripping it out and making another.
Informative video! You've got a new subscriber! What is the formula to convert any crochet stitch into a raglan yoke? I have shied away from a recently purchased pattern because I can't for the life of me wrap short rows around my mind...I get why, but after a few attempts my project looks distorted or I'm off count. Any tips or tutorials to point me to? Also just purchased your book recommendations. Thanks again🥰
Welcome! Thanks for subbing! I do not have a lot of experience working crochet short rows. I've only ever done them and used them in knitting patterns so unfortunately, I don't have a good resource to share with you for that technique. When it comes to making any crochet stitch a raglan, it's a lot to try to explain in a comment here but I'll try. It depends on your stitch and row gauge. The number of increases you have to do at each increase point is equal to the number of stitches you need to increase to minus the number of stitches you started with, divided by the number of rows it will take you to do it, then divide that by the number of increase points. To determine the number of stitches you need to get to, think about what your sweater looks like before dividing, you have the stitches for your front bust, cross back, and the tops of both arms, so that is the total circumference you are after, because after separating the body from the tops of the sleeves you'll be adding the underarm width which will add to both the body and the sleeve at each armpit so you'll want to make sure those measurements are not included for that portion. The Vogue Knitting Ultimate book has a great visual breakdown in it, someone needs to make a crochet version of that book!
@@MandobugCrafts WOW! Thank you so much! I'm about to hunt that book down ASAP! I can't wait to get to the point where I'm comfortable with comprehension and application of these formulas to bring fruition my personal style.
It's not only bust and cross back measurements that may necessitate modification of raglan increases + rate, but also bicep measurement. I know that is not an issue for you, but it is for many : )
The stuff you have already knit is now knit fabric. "The fabric of the sweater was knitted" = The sweater is made of fabric or cloth created with the technique of knitting rather than weaving or crocheting.
