If you are looking for a raglan sweater knitting pattern free PDF that is classic, practical, and full of texture, the Youth Granite Sweater is one of my favorite free sweater knitting patterns for kids.
This design gives you a polished handmade sweater without requiring complicated stitch work, making it a great option when you want something timeless but still interesting to knit. The all-over bumpy texture adds beautiful dimension while keeping the knitting repetitive enough to enjoy, and the folded ribbed neckline gives the finished sweater a clean, professional look.
This raglan sweater knitting pattern free PDF is written for youth sizes 3 years through 14 years, making it a versatile pattern whether you are knitting for toddlers, school-age kids, or teens. Because it is worked top down in the round, you can easily adjust the body or sleeve length as needed for growing children. The seamless construction also means less finishing work at the end, which is always a win in my book.
If you love knitting sweaters but hate sewing pieces together afterward, this pattern solves that problem beautifully. The top-down raglan construction keeps everything seamless and lets you try the sweater on as you go if needed. It is one of those patterns that looks polished and detailed while still being approachable for confident beginner sweater knitters.
The textured stitch pattern gives the Youth Granite Sweater extra visual interest without relying on cables or lace, making it a great unisex option for everyday wear. Whether you knit it for family photos, school outfits, or simply to keep a child warm through colder months, it is a sweater that works hard in a handmade wardrobe.
What Materials Do You Need for This Raglan Sweater Knitting Pattern Free PDF?
To knit this youth sweater, you will need Cascade 220 Superwash or Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Both yarns work beautifully for this design and provide excellent stitch definition so the textured pattern really stands out. Cascade 220 Superwash creates a more washable everyday garment, while Berroco Ultra Alpaca gives the sweater a softer, slightly warmer finish.
You will also need 4.5mm circular needles for the main body and 4.25mm circular needles for the ribbing. Using the smaller needle size for the folded neck, cuffs, and hem helps create a crisp finished edge that gives the sweater structure.
A few additional helpful tools include stitch markers, a tapestry needle, and waste yarn or stitch holders for holding the sleeves while you work the body. Since this sweater is worked in the round, circular needles make the entire project much easier to manage.
One of my favorite things about this yarn pairing is how well both options highlight texture. Since the Granite stitch pattern is the star of this design, choosing a smooth yarn with strong stitch definition makes a big difference in the final result.
If you prefer a softer or more elevated version of the sweater, Ultra Alpaca gives it a beautiful drape and warmth. If you need something practical for active kids, Cascade 220 Superwash is hard to beat.
How Is This Youth Raglan Sweater Constructed?
This raglan sweater knitting pattern free PDF is worked from the top down in the round, beginning at the folded ribbed neckline. After the neck is completed, raglan increases shape the yoke until the sweater reaches the underarms. The sleeves are then separated onto hold while the body is worked to length.
Once the body is complete, the sleeves are placed back on the needles and worked in the round to finish the sweater. This construction method makes it easy to customize sleeve and body length if you need to adjust for different proportions or growing kids.
Because the sweater is seamless, finishing is minimal. Other than weaving in ends, you are essentially done once the knitting is complete—which is always one of my favorite parts of top-down sweater patterns.
The folded neckline gives this sweater an especially polished look and helps it hold its shape beautifully over time. It creates a thicker collar that feels intentional and professional rather than floppy or stretched out.
If you have never worked a folded neck before, do not worry—it is much simpler than it looks and adds a high-end detail that makes the sweater feel extra special.
Looking for More Youth Sweater Knitting Patterns?
If you love the Granite texture, I also have several coordinating and similar sweater patterns you may enjoy:
- Baby Granite Sweater
- Men’s Granite Sweater
- Youth Noah Sweater
- Youth Michael Pullover
- Youth Saffron Sweater
These patterns give you several options if you want to knit matching family sweaters or simply enjoy this style of textured garment. I always love designing collections that let you reuse favorite stitch patterns across multiple sizes and silhouettes.
Whether you prefer simple texture, classic raglans, or more detailed lace and cable sweaters, these related designs give you plenty of options for future projects once you finish this one.
The Youth Granite Sweater is one of those wardrobe staple patterns that never really goes out of style. Its clean silhouette and subtle texture make it easy to pair with everything from jeans to dress clothes.
If you enjoy knitting practical garments that actually get worn, this is a pattern worth keeping in your library.
Youth Granite Sweater Pattern
MATERIALS AND INFO
Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14)yrs
Materials: Approximately 3, 3 (3, 3) 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4, (5, 5) balls of Cascade 220 Superwash Worsted (219y/100g), needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 7(US) 4.5mm circular needles and dpn, 6(US) 4mm circular and dpn
Gauge (tension): 20sts & 28 rows to make 10cm square, using size 7(US) 4.5mm needles working in stockinette stitch
To Fit Chest size: 55, 57 (59, 61) 64, 67 (70, 73) 76, 79 (82, 90) cm/21.75, 22.5 (23.25, 24) 25.25, 26.5 (27.5, 28.75) 30, 31 (32.25, 35.5) in
METHOD
Granite Sweater is top-down seamless raglan in an easy-care yarn with a simple texture. Created for our 2nd child, I wanted a quick knit with a touch of texture to layer easily for him. Granite was my very first sweater design. This newer version is updated for my 5th child. The updated version has better fit on the neck and raglan increases based on what I have learned over the last few years. The new version has the same great aesthetic of the original but with an awesome fit.
Abbreviations can be found on the last page. Designed with approximately 8–9 cm / 3–3.5 in of positive ease.
Note: choose size based on bust measurement for best fit
GRANITE STITCH PATTERN:
Rounds 1-3 – knit around
Round 4 – (K1, k1b) repeat around
1X1 RIB PATTERN
1×1 Rib: [K1, P1] repeat around.
RAGLAN INCREASES
Raglan Increase Round – [K1, M1L, knit to 1 st before next marker, M1R, k1, sm] repeat 3 more times, then knit to end of round. 8 sts increased.
NECK
Provisional cast on using smaller circular needle: 72, 72 (76, 76) 80, 80 (84, 88) 88, 92 (92, 100) sts.
Join in the round, taking care not to twist, and place a beginning-of-round marker.
Work in K1P1 ribbing for 6 cm / approximately 2.25 in.
Switch to larger needles.
Join hem of collar by knitting the active stitches together with the provisional cast on stitches LOOSELY.
YOKE
Set up round –k30, 30 (32, 32) 34, 34 (36, 38) 38, 40 (40, 44) pm, k6, pm, k30, 30 (32, 32) 34, 34 (36, 38) 38, 40 (40, 44), pm, k6
Begin Granite Stitch Pattern
RAGLAN SHAPING ROWS/ROUNDS
Work raglan increases as described above every other round 13, 14 (13, 14) 13, 16 (15, 16) 16, 15 (18, 17) times, then every 4th round 2, 2 (3, 3) 4, 3 (4, 4) 5, 6 (5, 7) times
Then work 3 rounds without increases
STITCH COUNT CHECK
Once all the raglan increases have been completed you will have 192, 200 (204, 212) 216, 232 (236, 248) 256, 260 (276, 292) sts on your needles divided as follows:
60, 62 (64, 66) 68, 72 (74, 78) 80, 82 (86, 92) sts (front),
36, 38 (38, 40) 40, 44 (44, 46) 48, 48 (52, 54) sts (sleeve),
60, 62 (64, 66) 68, 72 (74, 78) 80, 82 (86, 92) sts (back),
36, 38 (38, 40) 40, 44 (44, 46) 48, 48 (52, 54) sts (sleeve)
DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES
Remove markers as you get to them.
Work across the front sts, place the next 36, 38 (38, 40) 40, 44 (44, 46) 48, 48 (52, 54) sts on a holder or waste yarn (left sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 6 (4, 6) sts (left underarm), knit 60, 62 (64, 66) 68, 72 (74, 78) 80, 82 (86, 92) sts (back), place the next 36, 38 (38, 40) 40, 44 (44, 46) 48, 48 (52, 54) sts on a holder or waste yarn (right sleeve), cast on using the backwards loop method 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 6 (4, 6) sts (right underarm), knit to beginning of round marker. 128, 132 (136, 140) 144, 152 (156, 164) 168, 176 (180, 196) sts
SWEATER BODY
Work in Granite Stitch Pattern until the piece measures 19, 20 (21.5, 23) 24, 25.5 (26.5, 28) 29, 30 (31.5, 34.5) cm/7.5, 8 (8.5, 9) 9.5, 10 (10.5, 11) 11.5, 11.75 (12.5, 13.5) in from the underarm.
Switch to smaller circular needle.
Switch to smaller circular needles and work in K1P1 ribbing for 4 cm / 1.5 in.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
SLEEVES
Keeping in granite stitch pattern as already established, work each sleeve one at a time as follows: Pick up 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 4 (3, 4) sts from underarm, work 36, 38 (38, 40) 40, 44 (44, 46) 48, 48 (52, 54) sts of the sleeve on the holder, pick up 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 4 (3, 4) sts from underarm on to larger double pointed needles, place marker at center underarm to keep track of the beginning of round. 42, 44 (44, 46) 46, 50 (50, 52) 54, 56 (58, 62) sts
Work 7, 9 (9, 11) 11, 11 (11, 13) 13, 15 (15, 15) rounds in already established granite stitch pattern.
DECREASES
Decrease 1 st at each side of marker as follows:
Every 12th round 0, 0 (4, 2) 4, 5 (5, 6) 6, 7 (7, 6) times,
then every 10th round 5, 4 (0, 3) 0, 0 (0, 0) 0, 0 (0, 2) times.
32, 36 (36, 36) 38, 40 (40, 40) 42, 42 (44, 46) sts remain.
Continue in Granite Stitch Pattern until sleeve measures 18, 20 (21.5, 23.5) 24.5, 25.5 (27, 29) 30.5, 32 (32.5, 35) cm/7, 8 (8.5, 9.25) 9.75, 10 (10.5, 11.5) 12, 12.5 (12.75, 13.75) in from the underarm, or to desired length.
CUFF
Switch to smaller DPNs. Work in K1P1 ribbing for 4 cm / 1.5 in. Bind off in pattern.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block as desired.
ABBREVIATIONS
K – knit
K1B – Knit 1 below: Insert the right needle into the stitch one row below the next stitch on the left needle and knit it. Allow the stitch above it to drop from the left needle as the new stitch is completed.
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
M1L – With left needle pick up strand between 2 stitches front to back. Knit through back loop
M1R – With left needle pick up strand between 2 stitches back to front. Knit through front loop
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together
If you make one, I would love to hear how it turned out—leave a comment below and let me know what yarn and color you used!
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