This top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids is a simple, wearable design that still feels special, and it fits right in with your collection of free sweater knitting patterns. If you’ve ever wanted a sweater that’s easy to construct but doesn’t look plain, this one solves that. It’s worked seamlessly from the top down, so you can try it on as you go and adjust the fit without guessing. The smooth stockinette body keeps things relaxing, while the lace sleeves add just enough detail to keep your interest. If you’ve been looking for a top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids that balances simple construction with a polished finish, this is it.
This is one of those sweaters that looks thoughtful without being complicated. You get the comfort of an everyday knit with a subtle lace detail that makes it stand out just enough.
It’s the kind of project you can pick up at the end of the day and actually enjoy knitting without overthinking every step. And when it’s done, it’s something your child will reach for again and again.
What materials do you need for a top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids?
To knit this top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids, you’ll need a soft DK weight yarn, size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles, stitch markers, a tapestry needle, and scrap yarn or stitch holders. I used Berroco Vintage DK because it’s durable, easy to care for, and holds the lace detail really well, which matters when you want those small stitches to actually show.
DK yarn is the sweet spot here. It’s light enough for layering but still gives structure to the lace sleeves so they don’t get lost. If you substitute yarn, look for something with similar weight and fiber so your gauge and drape stay consistent.
This combination makes the sweater practical for real life. It’s soft enough for everyday wear but sturdy enough to handle washing, which is always a win with kids’ knits.
How is this top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids constructed?
This top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids is worked from the neckline down with a gentle V-neck shape and seamless raglan increases. You’ll begin flat to shape the neckline, then join in the round and continue working the yoke. The body is knit in stockinette, while the sleeves are worked in the saffron lace pattern for a soft, slightly textured look.
Because it’s top down, you can adjust the body length, sleeve length, and neckline depth as you go. The sleeves are finished with a slight balloon shape that tapers into a ribbed cuff, giving the sweater a relaxed but polished feel.
If you’ve knit a raglan before, this will feel familiar. If not, it’s still a great introduction because the steps are straightforward and repeatable.
Looking for more patterns like this?
If you enjoy this style, there are several other patterns that pair well with it or use similar construction techniques:
• ladies saffron pullover
• youth wheat cardigan
• youth mary cardigan
• youth michael pullover
• youth granite sweater
These patterns give you a mix of textures, constructions, and styles, so you can build a well-rounded handmade wardrobe. Some lean into texture, others into simple structure, but they all keep that wearable, everyday feel.
This sweater fits right into that lineup. It’s simple enough to knit more than once, but still interesting enough that you won’t get bored halfway through.
Youth Saffron Pullover Pattern
MATERIALS AND INFO
Size: (3/4y, 5/6y) 7/8y, 9/10y (11/12y, 13/14yrs)
Materials: Approximately (635, 740) 890, 1020 (1190, 1352) yds of Berroco Vintage DK 100g/2290yds yarn needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 5(US) 3.75mm circular needles and dpn, 4(US) 3.5mm circular and dpn Gauge (tension): 24sts & 32 rows to make 10cm square, using size 6(US) 4mm needles working in stockinette stitch
Chest Measurement: (57, 61) 66, 72 (77.5, 85) cm or (22.5, 24) 26.5, 28.75 (31, 34) ins
METHOD
This pattern is a v-neck raglan worked in the round from the top down with 10cm of ease. The sleeves are held and then picked up and worked in the round. The main body is knit in stockinette while the sleeves are knit lace. The sleeves are ballon sleeves.
Saffron Stitch Pattern
In the Round
Round 1 – [k5, k2tog, yo k1, yo, ssk] Round 2 – knit across
Round 3 – [k6, yo, vdd, yo, k1] Round 4 – knit aross
Round 5 – [k5, k2tog, yo k1, yo, ssk] Round 6 – knit across
Round 7 – [ktog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k5] Round 8 – knit across
Round 9 – [k1, yo, vdd, yo, k6] Round 10 – knit across
Round 11 – [ktog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k5] Round 12 – knit across
Flat
Round 1 – [k5, k2tog, yo k1, yo, ssk] Round 2 – purl across
Round 3 – [k6, yo, vdd, yo, k1] Round 4 – purl aross
Round 5 – [k5, k2tog, yo k1, yo, ssk] Round 6 – purl across
Round 7 – [ktog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k5] Round 8 – purl across
Round 9 – [k1, yo, vdd, yo, k6] Round 10 – purl across
Round 11 – [ktog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k5] Ruond 12 – purl across
YOKE
Cast on using U.S. 6 circular needle: (52, 52) 54, 58 (60, 64) sts.
Set up row (wrong side) – p (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) front sts, pm, (6,
6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sleeve sts, pm, p (36, 36) 38, 42 (44, 48) back sts,
pm, p (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sleeve sts, pm, p (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 2) front
sts
From here on out, the front and back will be worked in stockinette while the sleeves are worked in the charted saffron stitch pattern.
RAGLAN INCREASES AND NECK SHAPING
Raglan shaping and neck shaping are worked AT THE SAME TIME.
Row 1 – work across to 1 sts before , m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern until 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit across to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, k1 (8sts increased)
Row 2 – purl across slipping markers as you come to them
Row 3 – k1, m1l, knit to 1sts before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern until 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit across to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit to 1 sts before end of row, m1r, k1 (8 sts increased)
Row 4 – purl across slipping marker as you come to them
Work rows 3-4 a total of (6, 8) 9, 9 (12, 12) times
Row 5 – k1, m1l, knit to 1sts before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern until 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit across to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit to 1 sts before end of row, m1r, k1 (8 sts increased)
Row 6 – p1, m1lp, purl to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, purl to 1 sts before end of row, m1rp, p1 (2 sts increased)
Work rows 5-6 a total of (5, 4) 4, 5 (4, 5) times
Join in the round
Round 1 – work across to 1 sts before , m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern until 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit across to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, k1 (8sts increased)
Round 2 – knit across, slipping markers as you come to them
Work rounds 1-2 for a total of (3, 4) 5, 4 (4, 5) times
Round 3 – work across to 1 sts before , m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern until 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, knit across to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, work in saffron stitch pattern to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l, k1 (8sts increased)
Round 4 – knit across, slipping markers as you come to them
Round 5 – work across in pattern, slipping markers as you come to them Round 6 – knit across, slipping markers as you come to them
Work rounds 3-6 for a of (3, 3) 3, 4 (4, 4) times
Work (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) rounds without any raglan increases.
STITCH COUNT CHECK
Once all the raglan and neck increases have been completed you will have (228, 244) 264, 280 (300, 324) sts on your needles divided as follows:
(72, 76) 82, 88 (94, 102) sts (front/back),
(42, 46) 50, 52 (56, 60) sts (each sleeve)
With (6, 8) 9, 9 (12, 12) neck increases every other row.
(10, 8) 8, 10 (8, 10) neck increases every row.
(15, 17) 19, 19 (21, 23) raglan increases every other row/round.
(3, 3) 3, 4 (4, 4) raglan increases every 4th row/round.
DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES
Remove markers as you get to them.
With right side facing, work across left front, left sleeve, and backto the marker between the back and the right sleeve.
Place (42, 46) 50, 52 (56, 60) sleeve sts on holder,
Cast on (8, 4) 10, 8 (14, 10) sts, remover marker
Knit across front (72, 76) 82, 88 (94, 102) sts, remove marker,
Place (42, 46) 50, 52 (56, 60) sleeve sts on holder, remove marker Cast on (8, 4) 10, 8 (14, 10) sts, remove marker,
Knit across back (72, 76) 82, 88 (94, 102) sts
The marker from the back/right sleeve is now your new bor marker. (160, 160) 184, 192 (216, 224) sts
SWEATER BODY
Continue in stockinette until piece measures (20, 22.5) 25, 27.5 (30, 32.5) cm (or desired length) or (8, 9) 10, 11 (12, 13) measuring from underarm (or desired length) ending after completing a round 1 of the Michael rib stitch pattern.
Switch to smaller circular needle.
Work in 1×1 rib for 4 cms or 1.5ins.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
SLEEVES
Keeping in established saffron stitch pattern, work each sleeve one at a time as follows: Pick up (4, 2) 5, 4 (7, 5) sts from underarm,
Work (42, 46) 50, 52 (56, 60) sts in pattern off the sleeve on the holder, pick up (4, 2) 5, 4 (7, 5) sts from underarm, place bor marker.
(50, 50) 60, 60 (70, 70) sts
Continue in saffron stitch pattern until sleeve measures (20, 22.5) 25, 27.5 (31, 34)cms or (8, 9) 10, 11 (12.5, 13.5) ins (or desired length) measuring from underarm ending after completing a round 6 or 12 of the saffron stitch pattern.
DECREASES
Knit (1, 0) 2, 2 (2, 5) [k2tog, k (2, 3) 2, 2 (1, 1)] across to
last (1, 0) 2, 2 (2, 5) sts, knit (1, 0) 2, 2 (2, 5)
(38, 40) 46, 46 (48, 50) sts
CUFF
Switch to smaller dpn needles
Work in 1×1 rib for 4 cms or 1.5ins. Bind off in pattern.
NECKBAND
Sew shoulder seams.
Pick up and knit (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts from left sleeve,
Pick up and knit (22, 24) 25, 27 (30, 32) down left front,
1 st at center of “v”, pm,
Pick up and knit (22, 24) 25, 27 (30, 32) sts up right front,
Pick up and knit (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts from right sleeve,
Pick up and knit (36, 36) 38, 42 (44, 48) sts from back.
Join in the round.
(93, 97) 101, 109 (117, 125) sts
V-Neck rounds – work in k1p1 ribbing to 2 sts before center stitch marker, work vdd, continue in k1p1 around
Continue repeating v-neck rounds until the neck measures 2.5cms. Bind off in pattern.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block as desired.
ABBREVIATIONS
bor – beginning of round
k – knit
k2tog -knit 2 stitches together
m1l – pick up from front to back the strand between the 2sts on your needles, knit through back loop
m1r – pick up from back to front the strand between the 2sts on your needles, knit through the front loop
P – purl
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
ssk – slip next st knitwise, slip next st knitwise, place stitches back onto left needle, knit both slipped sts together
st – stich
vdd – vertical double decrease – slip the next 2 stitches on the left needle as if to knit them together and then slip them off the left needle and onto the right needle, knit the next st, pass slipped stitches over the knitted stitch together
yo – yarn over
If you knit this top down raglan sweater knitting pattern for kids, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Tell me what yarn you used, who you made it for, and whether you kept the lace sleeves or switched things up.
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