The Cobblestone Raglan

The Cobblestone Raglan by Colleen Webster

What is Being Made

The Cobblestone Raglan is a crocheted sweater designed with a classic raglan construction, featuring a distinctive textured pattern created using puff stitches. This intermediate-level garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small (32"-34" bust) to 2XL (48"-50" bust), with corresponding adjustments to armhole depth and total length. The sweater is designed to be worked in the round, creating a seamless construction from the collar down.

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental crochet techniques to achieve its finished structure. The sweater begins with a ribbed collar section worked in the round, establishing the neckline before transitioning into the main body. The signature construction method involves raglan shaping, a technique that creates diagonal armhole lines by increasing stitches at specific intervals as you work upward from the collar. This creates the characteristic sloped shoulder seams typical of raglan-style garments.

The pattern utilizes in-the-round construction, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a more polished, professional finish. Testers found that working gauge swatches in the round produced more accurate results than working flat, making this an important consideration for achieving proper fit.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch used throughout The Cobblestone Raglan is the puff stitch, which creates the cobblestone texture that gives the sweater its name. The puff stitch is constructed by working multiple yarn overs and loops on the hook, then pulling through all loops at once and chaining once to close the stitch. This creates a three-dimensional, bumpy texture across the entire garment.

Additional stitches employed in the pattern include:

• Chain stitch (ch) – used for foundation chains and stitch closures
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used for joining rounds and seamless transitions
• Yarn over (YO) – fundamental to creating the puff stitch structure

The ribbed collar section uses a different stitch construction than the body, creating a fitted neckline that contrasts with the textured puff stitch body. When working the puff stitches, it is essential to work into the top of the puff stitches rather than the spaces between them, as this maintains proper stitch definition and garment structure.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Cobblestone Raglan is designed to be worked with worsted weight (4) yarn, with Lion Brand Jeans recommended as the primary yarn choice or similar worsted weight alternatives. Yarn yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from approximately 1,230 yards for the Small size to 2,030 yards for the 2XL size. The pattern accommodates both DK and worsted weight yarns, offering flexibility for yarn substitution while maintaining the intended fabric characteristics.

The recommended hook size is an H hook (5 mm), which pairs appropriately with worsted weight yarn to create the specified gauge. Additional materials required include a measuring tape for accurate gauge checking and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge Information

Achieving proper gauge is critical for this pattern's success. The collar section should measure 1 inch = 3.5 ribs, while the main sweater body should measure 4 inches = 7.5 puffs by 9 rows. The pattern instructions emphasize creating a gauge swatch worked in the round using a foundation chain of 40 stitches (creating a 20-stitch swatch) joined in the round. Working puff stitches into every second chain and completing 10 rows allows for accurate measurement when laid flat. This in-the-round gauge swatch approach is recommended because multiple testers found it produced more reliable results than flat swatches.

Pattern Format

The Cobblestone Raglan is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, making it accessible for immediate use after purchase. The pattern includes detailed sizing charts, terminology explanations, abbreviation guides, and construction instructions suitable for intermediate-level crocheters.