Raglan Top in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 - 6744 - Downloadable PDF

Raglan Top in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 – Pattern 6744

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Schachenmayr provides instructions for a charming raglan-style baby top, known in the original German as a Raglanhemdchen. Designed for the smallest wearers, the pattern is worked in three sizes: 50/56, 62/68, and 74/80 (European sizing), making it suitable for newborns through to babies of approximately 12 months. The design features a classic raglan shaping, a structured stitch panel for decorative texture, and a practical button band, resulting in a neat, comfortable little garment ideal for everyday wear.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for use with Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120, a smooth DK weight yarn celebrated for its softness and suitability for baby garments. As the name suggests, this yarn is composed of fine merino wool, which offers gentle warmth, breathability, and a pleasant drape — all qualities particularly desirable for items worn close to a baby's sensitive skin.

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 (DK weight / merino wool)
• Needles: 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm knitting needles are specified for achieving the correct gauge

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this pattern, particularly given the small sizing involved. The stated gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 x 10 cm, worked in stocking stitch (smooth stockinette) using needles in the 3.5–4.5 mm range. Additionally, the 19-stitch textured stitch panel measures 9.5 cm in width, providing a helpful secondary reference point for knitters to check their tension before beginning the main construction.

Construction and Shaping

The garment is worked in separate pieces that are later assembled. The pattern begins with instructions for the left back panel, which is cast on with 34 (36 / 38) stitches depending on size. Construction details include:

• An initial garter stitch setup row worked in purl, followed by two rows of garter stitch to create a neat, stable lower edge
• A button band of 5 stitches worked in garter stitch along the right-hand edge, running the full length of the back opening — a practical feature that allows the garment to be easily put on and taken off
• The remaining stitches are worked in stocking stitch (smooth stockinette) for the main body fabric
• Side shaping is achieved through decreases worked at the left edge: stitches are decreased by knitting the edge stitch together with the stitch before it at the end of right-side rows, beginning at row 8 (10 / 14) from the cast-on and then repeated three times every 8th (10th / 10th) row, reducing the stitch count to 30 (32 / 34) stitches

Stitch Techniques Used

This pattern draws on a small but well-chosen selection of knitting techniques, making it accessible to knitters with some experience while still offering a satisfying textural element:

• Stocking stitch (glatt rechts): The primary fabric of the garment, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic surface
• Garter stitch (kraus rechts): Used for the lower border and the button band, worked by knitting every row to create a firm, non-curling edge
• Textured / structural stitch pattern (Strukturmuster): A 19-stitch decorative panel is incorporated into the design, adding visual interest and dimension to the garment. The pattern notes specify that right-side rows are read from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right, with the first and second rows repeated throughout
• Raglan shaping: The defining construction feature of this top, raglan shaping creates a diagonal seam line running from the underarm to the neckline, distributing fabric evenly across the shoulders and providing an excellent fit for babies and young children