Crosshatch

Crosshatch Raglan Pullover by Deb Hoss

What is Being Made

Crosshatch is a women's raglan pullover sweater designed by Deb Hoss, featuring a distinctive wide boat neckline. This top-down knit construction creates a slim-fitting garment with minimal ease and gentle waist shaping, making it a versatile layering piece or standalone sweater. The design is available in seven sizes ranging from 31 inches to 55 inches bust circumference, accommodating a wide range of body types.

Construction and Design Features

This sweater is worked from the top down using circular knitting techniques, which allows for easy fitting adjustments and seamless construction. The raglan sleeves are a classic design choice that creates clean lines from neckline to cuff. The most distinctive design element is the vertical 1x1 ribbed columns that run lengthwise along the sidelines of the bodice and sleeves. These vertical ribs remain uninterrupted throughout the piece, with all shaping (decreases for the waist and increases for the bust) worked on either side of these ribbed columns rather than within them. This thoughtful placement ensures the visual integrity of the design is maintained throughout the garment.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch – forms the main fabric on the bodice and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• 1x1 ribbing – used for the neckline trim, hem edgings, and the signature vertical sideline columns that define the sweater's aesthetic
• Decreases – slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) are used for waist shaping and raglan armhole decreases
• Increases – make one left (m1L) and make one right (m1R) are employed for bust shaping and other necessary increases
• Cast-on methods – long-tail cast-on or knitted/cable cast-on to begin the project
• Circular knitting – the entire sweater is worked in the round on circular needles
• Blocking – finishing technique required to set the garment's shape and even out the stitches

Yarn and Materials

Crosshatch is designed for aran weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that knits at a standard gauge suitable for sweater construction. Circular needles in the appropriate size for your chosen yarn are required for the top-down construction method. The aran weight yarn provides good stitch definition, making the textural contrast between the stockinette and ribbed sections clearly visible in the finished sweater.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. While the construction method is straightforward, the pattern requires competency with decreases, increases, circular knitting, and the ability to read and follow shaping instructions. The top-down raglan construction is actually more forgiving than bottom-up methods, as you can try on the sweater as you work and adjust the length to your preference.

Fit and Sizing

The Crosshatch is designed with a slim fit and minimal ease, meaning the finished bust measurement will be very close to your actual bust measurement for a close, tailored look. Gentle waist shaping creates subtle definition at the natural waist without dramatic contouring. The wide boat neckline sits at the collarbone and can be worn on or off the shoulder depending on personal preference and styling.