Raglan shaping question

G J · 04-18-2009, 11:50 PM

I've never done an adult-size top-down raglan and am trying to figure out how far down I knit before I split for the sleeves. I'm making Knitty's Amused. The math says it will be 63" around, which seems WAY too big. I know it goes around the shoulders and everything, but it's still not long enough to meet under the arms. I have found some comments on Ravelry that the raglan shaping makes for "wings" under the arms.
I'm making the size small b/c others have said it runs big....(I have about a 36" chest, upper arm is about 11.5" and my stitch gauge is 4.3 stitches/" and row gauge is 6.75 stitches/".) Is that enough info?

Karina · 04-19-2009, 09:56 AM

Gina I think Amused do run big. I went up a size because the yarn I used looked too loose on a 5.5mm needle and I used a 5mm. Have decided to frog with only one sleeve to go because I think it is too big.

If you are worried about not doing enough row to get the length, why don't you just carry on knitting a few more rows without increasing before you divide up the stitches into sleeves and body. this is my first sweater knitted all in one. But it seemed to me there was a lot of room to maneuver to make it fit.

Maybe someone with more experience will give you other suggestions.

suzeeq · 04-19-2009, 03:02 PM

Best thing to do is try it on. See where it meets under your arms and how it fits. This pattern doesn't have underam sts which is why I think it gets fabric bunching at the underarms. Work till it just about meets there, then divide your sts, only add about 6 or 8 sts at the underam to the body. Then pick up in those sts at the sleeve. You can decrease some of the extra away on the following rounds. Adding underam sts helps it to fit better. It looks as though it's to be worn over at least a camisole, so it should be a bit larger, but check your gauge on the sweater to make sure you haven't relaxed a bit while knitting.

G J · 04-19-2009, 05:23 PM

Thanks to you both! Karina, i knew you started it, but never saw the FO! Sorry you had to frog back a ways. Are you going to pick it up again? I wish I had more experience with raglans! I'm just not sure HOW it's supposed to fit and WHERE the underarms are supposed to meet. After the crappy week I had, my brain isn't functioning like it should!

Karina · 04-19-2009, 05:36 PM

Gina sorry you had a crappy week, hope next week is better for you. I will definitely make it again. Just have not had the heart to frog the thing yet, so am working on a few other things and when I fell ready I will do the deed and start again.

One thing I did do was put in a lifeline through all the stitches, with enough room to try the sweater on, and when I had knitted a couple of inches after taking the sleeve stitches off the needle I tried it on. That way it is easy to rip back to the lifeline and take away stitches or add some. Like Sue's Idea of adding stitches under the arm.

suzeeq · 04-19-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

I'm just not sure HOW it's supposed to fit and WHERE the underarms are supposed to meet.

You have 2 front sections, 2 sleeves and a back section. The underams come together where the sleeve 'edges' meet the front and back sections. They should just touch together or be about an inch from meeting.

Most top down raglans have you CO an inch or 2 of sts on the body section - knit the front, put sleeve on holder, CO x sts, knit the back, put other sleeve on holder, CO x sts, knit the other front. This allows for some ease in the underarm area and fits better than those patterns that don't have the extra sts.