One of the most common knitted sweater styles is the raglan, which is distinguished by its diagonal sleeve seams. Raglans are perfect for knitting in one piece from the top-down, and in this first class, Wendy will get you started. You’ll begin by taking one simple measurement and working a few calculations to determine your gauge and the initial cast-on number of stitches. From there, she’ll show you how to create the sweater yoke, which involves shaping the shoulders and the v-neckline, and then joining the sweater beneath the armholes. What You’ll Learn - How to determine number of stitches to cast on based on your measurements - Different types of increases you can use to shape shoulders - How to shape the v-neckline - How to add stitches at underarm

This week, Wendy picks up right where she left off: ready to finish the body of the raglan sweater. Wendy will talk you through how to calculate body shaping for your garment so it’s perfectly fitted, then add a hem and bind off. Once the body is finished, you’ll be ready to pick up sleeve stitches and work your way down to the cuff. By the end of this week, you’ll be ready to wear your custom-made raglan sweater. What You’ll Learn: How to calculate waist shaping How to calculate sleeve shaping Tips on finishing a hem or cuff How to pick up stitches and knit the sleeves How to pick up stitches to finish the neckline

Let’s get started on another classic top-down construction: a cardigan with set-in sleeves. This garment style has smooth, professionally finished armholes, which give the sweater its signature look. Just like the raglan, a top-down set-in sleeve sweater is worked entirely in one piece with no seaming, but this formula is even more versatile since it can be made with or without sleeves. Perfect for women, men, or children, make this sweater with any yarn and at any gauge you like, using just a few measurements as your guide. What You’ll Learn: How to determine number of stitches to cast on based on your measurements How to knit the upper back of the sweater How to shape the armholes How to pick up stitches and knit the front How to join fronts and back and work to the hem How to choose and use a fun stitch pattern for the hem

Now that you’ve finished the body of your set-in-sleeve cardigan, it’s time to finish it up! Wendy will walk you through all of the steps for calculating the sleeve shaping, and will show you how to create the sleeve caps with short rows. Or, if you’d prefer, you can skip the sleeves altogether and turn your design into a fab tank or vest. From there, it’s all finishing touches: add a pretty ribbed band to your cardigan edges and make a self-tying belt to finish it off. What You’ll Learn: How to pick up stitches at the armhole How to shape the sleeve cap with short row shaping How to pick up stitches around the cardigan edges and add a band How to knit a belt