Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,
Finally! I finished the top-down raglan yesterday. Last week got so hectic that I didn’t quite get it done and I was so close. As I bound off the second sleeve, my daughter (The Collector or TC) was sitting right next to me. I wove in a few ends as she watched. As soon as I snipped off the final end she promptly snatched the sweater and threw it on. It looks so good on her even if it is a little big.
I told her now that she had it on she had to let me take a few photos. That’s the price you pay.
I can’t begin to describe the squish and warmth of the Grape Jelly Sweater yarn. I made my sweater roomy because I live in a cold climate and I will wear layers underneath. In the fall I will wear this to soccer games as a jacket. Can’t wait to throw it on and run out the door. Although it is so soft I wouldn’t need to wear layers at all.
TC has her own fairy garden in the back corner of our yard. She tends to it daily although some of her plant selection didn’t fare well in the shady spot. Live and learn.
Here’s the scoop. I am running a very casual knitalong so you can all make your own Easy Top-Down Raglan with me. You can join in at any time, no worries. When we finish as a group I will gather all of the information and put it up here on Spud says! as a free pattern so you can start any time even after we are done.
The difference for this knitalong is that we are using a formula or recipe to make our sweater. That means I will be giving you simple, easy to follow guidelines to make a sweater that will fit you! You will have to use your calculator and your tape measure along the way. I promise it is not difficult. One of the greatest benefits to making this type of sweater is that you can try it on as you go. Trying the sweater on tells you how long to make the body and sleeves, where to stop on your armhole increases and when to join the body, how long to make the neck scoop, etc.
I will be writing out exactly how I made my version of the sweater with all specifics on how I made it to fit me. If you are about my size you can make the same sweater I made but I want you to make a sweater that is perfect for your body.
I kept it simple and straightforward. I believe you can’t get any simpler than a stockinette stitch body and arms with a garter stitch edging on a top-down raglan.
Lookin’ good!
The Easy Top-Down Raglan Knitalong will officially start next week, Monday, August 23rd. This week I want you to gather your materials and to make a swatch to check your gauge. The wound skein above is the Grape Jelly that is the left over 6th skein that I just broke into. I didn’t use much of it.
Here is the yarn requirement for Spud & Chloë Sweater in skeins and bust measurement in inches.
Bust measurement in inches – number of skeins of S&C Sweater:
32 inches – 5 skeins
34 inches – 5 skeins
36 inches – 6 skeins (This is the sample size that fits me perfectly!)
38 inches – 6 skeins
40 inches – 6 skeins
42 inches – 6 skeins
44 inches – 7 skeins
46 inches – 8 skeins
48 inches – 8 skeins
50 inches – 8 skeins
52 inches – 8 skeins
54 inches – 9 skeins
There you have it! I worked up my sweater in US size 7 needles using 24-inch circulars and a set of 4 double-pointed needles. The gauge is at 5 stitches per inch. Please make a swatch to make sure you are getting the correct gauge.
Other things you’ll need:
Tape measure
Yarn needle
Scissors
That should do it! I’ll be back soon to announce who our special guest sweater expert is. I am so excited she is joining us for this project. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Design Coordinator extraordinaire and resident social butterfly, keeping you up to date on her wee cousin Chloë and her pal Spud. Find her musings at 
What cracks me up is that I have the same duvet/pillow covers as you!
That print is actually on a chair and footstool. It is from Pottery Barn and I am sure they make it in pillows, too. I love it. It is called Serafina.
Hi Susan, our KAL group at Threads and More in Brisbane Australia have been waiting with excitement for your Raglan Sweater KAL … can’t wait to knit along with you! Perfect timing too, as we have just finished the Candy Striped Cardi and need a new project WooHoo!!
Yay!!!! It is such a fun little sweater! Keep me posted.
I have 4 skeins of Watermelon. Oh just that one more skein…
Does the sweater have any ease? (Here I go sounding like I actually know what I’m talking about. Ha!) I guess I’m just surprised that the 36 is the size you have because, well, you seem tiny! And I mean that in a good way
.
My bust measures 36 inches and the sweater measures at 36 inches. You could make it smaller to have negative ease, 0 ease, or positive ease. It is one of those sweaters that could be worn any way!
Perfect, just what my customers need. I have been inundated with requests for raglan today
I can’t wait to start. Will any worsted yarn work? What other yarns do you recommend?
Since this is the Spud & Chloë website and blog it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be recommending other yarns:)
What Spud and Cloe yarn is used for this sweater?? need to purchase
Spud & Chloë Sweater in Grape Jelly!!!
…just ordered “Watermelon” from loop in Philly (https://www.loopyarn.com/Detail.asp?ProductID=52895) – can’t wait to start! The one you made for your daughter came out great…just love that grape jelly
Oh good! Loop is a great shop. Actually that is my sweater in an adult medium size that my daughter is wearing. Love the color, too.
Thanks for the link! None of my LYS carry S&C! Just ordered Cider from Loop. Be gentle Susan – this is my first sweater!
Can’t wait to get started! This will be my first full sweater…and I can make more:)
I would love to follow along. I don’t have much time,so I’m slow, but I’ll try to keep up.
I have been looking for an easy sweater-knit along. I’ll hurry and look for yarn so I can swatch.
I really really really would love to knit up this sweater, but I have never attempted to knit clothing. Words like “negative/positive ease” sound like I may be out of my element…. that being said, I REALLY want to try it out. Maybe this sweater can be my “white tanktop”??
oh no, no, no…. this is going to be kept very simple: negative ease is when a garment is knit smaller than your measurements. for example, if I knit my sweater to measure 34 inches at the bust and I have a 36 inch bust I would have 2 inches negative ease. At 36 inches for the sweater measurement at my 36 inch bust would be 0 ease and if I knit the sweater at 38 inches for my 36 inch bust it would have 2 inches positive ease.
You don’t even have to worry about that at all. I would take my bust measurement and knit to that measurement for my first sweater.
You can do it! Don’t be nervous to try. Jump in.
Thank you so much for the encouragement…. I’LL GIVE IT A GO!
If my sweater comes out looking even half as good as your sweater, I’m going to consider you my knitting Yoda… also, this will totally turn into a new knitting addiction. I have seen so many sweater patterns that I have fallen in love with, but I’ve always been afraid to try it out.
Thanks again!
Yay!!! Don’t worry about it, you’ll do just fine.
Negative / positive / o ease finally explained in a simple way!!!!
Thanks Susan
You just made my day!
angel
Negative ease – the garment is smaller than your bust measurement to have a tighter fit
0 ease – the garment is the same measurement as your bust measurement to fit exactly
Positive ease – the garment is bigger than your bust measurement to have a loose fit
Hi,is there anything special that I need to do to join this KAL or is this open to anyone?
Thanks
Nope! Just join in and have fun! It would be great if people left comments and I will have a thread going on Facebook, Twitter and the Ravelry forum group.
I am going to join in. I like my sweaters a little big though. I have never made a sweater (or any knit clothing ftm) but this seems simple enough. I’m excited!
I like my sweaters big, too. In fact I only wear loose and roomy clothes in general. This sweater is ultra-comfy!
I am excited about knitting this (it would be my first sweater!) but I would like to ask you a question first…can you tell me what the length of the sweater that you made is? I have a long torso, and I would like to know if I might need an extra skein before I go yarn shopping. Thank you!
Sure! The sweater I made is 23 inches long and you saw how much I had left in the 6th skein. I made the 36 inch bust size.
I would definitely order an extra skein in the same dye lot if you are at all worried about it.
I was going to order extra too but forgot and my order has already been shipped….GGRRR???? not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. it looks like though sizes 36-40 all require the same yarn and I’m hoping that I’ll be ok…
Thank you so much for the answer! Looks like I will purchase that extra skein!
That’s the first day of school for us, what a perfect way to send them off…a trip to my lys and a new project! I’m excited to do this, it’ll be my first sweater too.
I love how your sweater came out!! It looks beautiful
Thank you so much, Susan, for this sweater knit-along. I like that the neck is a bit bigger than most so that whatever is underneath shows, and I won’t feel choked!
Looking forward to joining you all – and I’ll try to keep up. I do know that it is NOT a contest; it’s just that a little nudge goes a long way for me, so I’ll keep focused on at least this one project! Now, just so long as it doesn’t turn super-hot and humid again!
Cheers!
Irene in MI
I am all about the loose fitting neck! I hate anything tight around my neck!
I’m excited Susan – I’ve been dragging along on the tea party cardi – not too excited about garment knitting with 110 humiture here in NE FL but hopefully fall is around the corner and it will be cooler in a month or so. I hate ordering online but the closest S&C stockist is 2 hrs away – boohiss – thanks for the KAL – should be fun – Melody
Ok, it it really that simple? I’ve never done a sweater by a formula before and although it looks easy, I don’t want to invest a lot of money on lovely yarn and get totally frustrated because of the pattern.
Kim
Susan, I know you like loose fitting sweaters, but I like them to be fitted (except for the neck, which I have to have it loose). Would you teach us how to make the sweater fitted during the KAL? Thanks. Lucy
You can make it any size you like so it can be fitted. I will talk about waist shaping, too. You can add that in.
I’ll knit along! I’ve been wanting to do a top down sweater and this is the perfect opportunity. Stitches Midwest is this weekend…I wonder if I can find your yarn there so I don’t have to order it online???? I’m going to look when I’m there. I love the name of the yarn you used. It makes me want to go make a peanut butter & jelly sandwich!!
Hi Susan; Bought my S & C Sweater in “Moonlight” this afternoon and knitted up a swatch. It IS soft and squooshy like you said. Very nice. Looking forward to your knit-a-long.
Cheers, Carol.
This will be my FIRST sweater! Bought my S&C Sweater in “Cider”. I’m very excited to join the knit a long.
Oh, I think Cider would be the best ever! I might have to make one in Cider myself. I am a pumpkin lover and that color is so dreamy.
Starting my swatch!!
Hi Susan,
Ordered my yarn yesterday and can hardly wait to start knitting! Thanks for putting this KAL together – it should be loads of fun! This will be my first sweater and I’m really excited that it’s from the neck down and love the color of grape jelly:)
Laura T
Hi Susan, This will be my first sweater and I’m eager to start!! I ran to Stitchers Crossing on my lunch hour and they didn’t have 6 skeins in any of the colors I was looking for.
I know you posted that they have a S&C order placed….did they tell you when they expect it? The woman I talked to today didn’t have any idea. Thanks!! -Robin
Oh no! I know yesterday they had several colors with 6 skeins (I though I saw Toast and Turtle in larger numbers). I wonder if people stopped in and bought out the Sweater. You should call and ask to place a special order. Pick out the color you’d like to make your sweater. They are so kind and I’ve placed special orders there before and they didn’t mind a bit.
Ask for Gael or Sharon.
You’re right about the Toast and Turtle.
I shouldn’t have looked at the color choices before I stopped in because I had my heart set on Grape Jelly or Moonlight or Firecracker… otherwise I’m sure I would have been happy with either of those colors. I will call and place an order once I can decide on just one color. Thanks!
Oh, funny! They had colors but not any of the colors you wanted. They should be able to get it pretty quickly since it’s just in Minnesota. It usually only takes a day or two to arrive when they send me stuff!
This would be a great sweater for fall! I’m hoping to get my yarn soon!!
I’ve never done a KAL…I dont know what I’m in for but looking forward to it!
Anything I have to do special? How do I enter?
thanks
biddy05 (rav)
This is a very casual knitalong. You can just follow along and join in and comment or ask questions along the way. There will be a thread on the Friends of Spud & Chloë ravelry forum group where people can post photos or comments or progress reports. No formal sign up is needed.
Susan! Thank you for sponsoring this knit-a-long! I can’t wait to buy some Spud and Chloe and get started!
This is my first KAL, can’t wait to get started.
Ok, I think I’m in. Shepherds Choice in Anoka carries the S & C yarn line. I’ll stop in today and check out the yarn.
Kim
Not that I really have time to KAL, but I promised my son a new sweater. Do you think this one is uni-sex enough? Or just for girls?
sure! i think it could be unisex no problem.
I would love to join this KAL, is this sweater adjustable in the upper arm/armwhole depth? I have large upper arms and find it difficult to try to refigure a pattern to fit so I just knit the graduated rectangle of a sleeve, but would love to work this pattern.
My understanding is that this would be perfect for you. You keep increasing the yoke until you are about 1 inch below your underarms before you join to work the body in the round. At this point you can add several inches of stitches at the underarm to increase the armhole and the body circumference.
susan
I want to be in, but the care instructions for S&C Sweater say tumble dry until damp, then BLOCK. I can’t see myself blocking a sweater every time I wash it. Is that really necessary for a superwash wool/cotton blend?
No! I don’t block every time. I think it is more like tumble dry until damp, lay flat to finish drying. It is not a problem at all.
OK, I did it! Had to order LAKE from Jimmy Beans so I may be a couple of days behind, but it will be worth it! This is my first adult sweater (and my first KAL), and I’m putting a lot of trust in you, Susan. ;o)
I’m so excited!!
We will have fun, I have no doubts and in the end you will have a sweater.
I bought my yarn today at the Knitting Tree “sweater” in a dark rich blue, don’t remember the name and am ready to go. I gave a bunch of knitting books to St. Vincent’s and among them was “Custom Knits” so I’m off to their store tomorrow to see if I can buy it back. This is a fun idea. Just finished tea leaf child’s cardigan and 2 butterfly rings in Fine, which little Audrey loved. Wish I could clone myself for all these fun projects!
Hi Sooz!!! What? The Knitting Tree has Spud & Chloë!! Cool!
I think that color is called Moonlight. You are so funny giving your darn books away. Go quick to get it back. I donate to St. Vinnie’s so often you wouldn’t believe it. We have that box across the street and I fill that thing up.
Awww… I want to make that little tea leaves so much. I am thrilled you are joining the knitalong.
thanks for writing.
Are you sure you’re going to keep that? It looks great on her!
Actually, I have to give all of my samples to the company so I don’t get to keep any of the items I’ve made for the blog including the Grape Jelly sweater. That’s why I am taking all of my scraps and making another one for her with loads of stripes.
I am ordering my yarn– can’t decide on a color!! This is my first KAL
Sounds like fun. I never make anything for myself. I do have a copy of CUSTOM KNITS. Love to join you!
Sounds like fun. I never make anything for myself. I do have a copy of CUSTOM KNITS. Thanks for the invitation.
I bought the grape jelly yesterday for my very own version. This will be my 3rd top for me out of sweater – love it!
Oh, I’d love to join this KAL! My first! I had to order my yarn, as Stitcher’s Crossing didn’t have the color I wanted in stock. I’ll probably be a bit behind, but I’m in.
Susan in Madison
I want to join too. Count me in.
Merci.
Val./France
All of your posts have convinced me to join in the KAL.
It will be my first sweater! I love the grape jelly color, but it seems to be sold out online, so I’m having a tough time choosing between Firecracker and Moonlight. I’ll be a bit behind because I’m ordering the yarn tonight, but I’m excited to begin once it gets here!
Curious about the gauge.
You give 5 stitches to the inch. What about rows?
I’ve always known gauge to be # stitches by # rows or am I whistling in the wind LOL
angel
It won’t matter here because you are measuring length. As soon as it is light out this morning I will measure and let you know.
Thanks Susan!
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