An Awesome Guide to Top-Down Raglan Design

If you’re at all interested in designing your own top-down sweaters, you need to read, follow, reread and absorb Kristen TenDyke’s amazing blog post all about how she designs top-down raglans. She uses Excel to help her with math, which is substantial, but logical. Thus the suggestion about rereading this piece, maybe a few times.

It’s a great resource for anyone looking to understand the process and mechanics behind designing a top-down raglan sweater. Kristen breaks down the steps in a clear and easy-to-understand way, including helpful tips and tricks along the way. From determining gauge and stitch counts, to shaping the neckline and calculating increases, her post covers it all.

Another great aspect of this post is the use of Excel to help with the math. Not everyone is comfortable with math and calculations, but Kristen’s use of Excel makes it accessible and easy to understand. The included pattern is also a great way to put the information into practice and see the math in action.

Overall, Kristen’s blog post is a must-read for anyone looking to design their own top-down raglan sweaters. It’s a comprehensive guide that will help demystify the process and give you the confidence to create your own unique designs.

There’s a simple raglan sweater pattern included in the post so you can sit with that and go through all the math if it helps you to see what’s happening.

This is so smart and helpful for anyone who wants to make up their own patterns for this knitting staple. Thanks for sharing, Kristen!

Have you ever written your own pattern for a sweater or another garment? I’d love to read about it.

[Photo via Kristen TenDyke.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a pair of handmade bed socks, isn’t there? They are practical, pretty, and just the sort of project that feels like it belongs beside a cup of tea, a good film, and a basket of wool that is pretending not to be overflowing.

This vintage Bed Socks knitting pattern is one of those sweet little patterns that still feels useful today. Originally from the Jaeger Hand-Knit Series No. 44, the design features a simple garter-stitch foot, a ribbed cuff, eyelet holes, a crochet chain tie, and little tassel-style pom-poms at the front. The original pattern even describes them as “a very acceptable present,” and honestly, I don’t think much has changed there.

These would make a lovely handmade gift for someone who is always cold, someone recovering or resting, or anyone who appreciates a bit of old-fashioned comfort. They would also be beautiful as a Mother’s Day gift, a winter birthday present, a Christmas stocking filler, or a “just because you deserve cozy feet” project.

The pattern itself is delightfully simple in construction. The socks are knitted flat, beginning at the lower edge, with the foot worked in garter stitch before moving into the ribbed upper section. The decorative eyelet row allows for a crochet chain cord to be threaded through, and the finishing tassels give the socks that charming vintage look. The top edge is finished with a row of double crochet, which adds a neat handmade touch.

The original measurements list the socks as approximately 10½ inches from the top to the lower edge of the heel, with a 9¾ inch foot length, and the pattern notes that the size can be adapted. As with many vintage knitting patterns, modern knitters will want to check gauge carefully and choose a soft yarn that feels comfortable against the skin. A cozy wool blend, soft acrylic, or washable yarn would all work depending on whether you are making these for everyday use or as a special gift.

I especially love that this pattern has that “giftable” quality without being a massive project. It is small enough to feel achievable, but still special enough that the finished pair looks thoughtful. And let’s be honest, handmade socks with pom-poms are always going to beat a last-minute candle from the supermarket.

The PDF version has been cleaned up and formatted for easier reading while keeping the original vintage design intact. It also includes a modern pink mockup image and the original vintage scan, so you get both the historical charm and a fresh idea of how the finished socks could look today.

If you enjoy vintage knitting patterns, cozy handmade gifts, or quick projects that feel useful rather than just decorative, this sweet little bed socks pattern is a lovely one to add to your collection.

You can find the Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern PDF in the CraftGossip Etsy store.

For supplies, this is also a nice stash-friendly project. A soft yarn from Mary Maxim or Amazon would work well, and if you make pom-poms regularly, a small pom-pom maker is one of those inexpensive tools that saves a surprising amount of fiddling.

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