Pullover in Schachenmayr Soraya - 2206

Free Knitting Pattern: Women's Raglan Pullover in Schachenmayr Soraya (Design 2206)

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern (Design 2206) guides knitters through creating a classic women's raglan pullover with a beautifully textured body and set-in raglan sleeves. The design is worked in five sizes — 32/34, 36/38, 40/42, 44/46, and 48/50 — making it accessible to a wide range of knitters and wearers. The finished sweater features a neat ribbed cuff and hem, a seed-stitch body, and a shaped neckline, all worked in the luxurious Schachenmayr Soraya yarn in Nachtblau (colour 07902), a deep navy shade.

About the Yarn: Schachenmayr Soraya

The pattern calls exclusively for Schachenmayr Soraya, a chunky weight yarn with a sophisticated fibre blend of 58% wool, 25% viscose, and 17% polyamide. This combination delivers warmth from the wool, a subtle drape and sheen from the viscose, and durability from the polyamide content. The yarn has a running length of approximately 85 metres per 50 g ball.

Depending on the size being knitted, the required yarn quantities are:

• Size 32/34: 500 g
• Size 36/38: 550 g
• Size 40/42: 600 g
• Size 44/46: 650 g
• Size 48/50: 700 g

All quantities are worked in the single colourway Nachtblau (07902), keeping the design clean and elegant.

Needles and Tools

The pattern recommends Milward straight knitting needles in size 6–7 mm for the main body and sleeves, along with a 40 cm circular needle in the same size for picking up and working the neckband. The chunky gauge of the yarn means the project works up relatively quickly, making it a satisfying knit even for those newer to garment construction.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Ribbing (Bündchenmuster)

The welts, cuffs, and neckband are all worked in a simple 1×1 rib — alternating one knit stitch and one purl stitch across every row. This classic ribbing stitch creates an elastic, neat edge that hugs the body at the hem and wrists and frames the neckline attractively. Each ribbed section measures 3 cm before transitioning to the main pattern.

Seed Stitch / Pearl Stitch (Perlmuster)

The body and sleeves are worked in seed stitch (referred to in the original German as Perlmuster). Seed stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in such a way that each stitch sits opposite to the one below it — knit stitches are placed over purls and vice versa. The result is a beautifully textured, non-curling fabric with a subtle pebbly appearance. This stitch pattern adds visual interest without requiring complex colourwork or cables, and it complements the slight sheen of the Soraya yarn particularly well.

Raglan Shaping

One of the key construction techniques in this pattern is the raglan armhole and sleeve cap shaping. Raglan construction is a method where the sleeves and body are shaped simultaneously with diagonal decrease lines that run from the underarm to the neckline, creating a distinctive angled seam. In this pattern, shaping begins at a height of 37–40 cm on the back piece (varying by size), with initial bind-offs at each side followed by single decreases every second row, repeated 21 to 28 times depending on size. This gradual, symmetrical shaping is what gives a raglan sweater its characteristic relaxed shoulder line and comfortable fit.

Neckline Shaping

The front neckline is shaped separately from the back. While the back neck stitches are simply bound