Classic LBD

If every wardrobe needs a little black dress, then every knitter needs a lightweight everyday raglan. Classic LBD is yours.

Classic LBD features optional bust darts in five cup sizes, a gentle a-line silhouette (or work yours straight to the hip) and thoughtful raglan shaping for a fit that celebrates your figure.

This pullover is part of the Classics Collection - garments designed to help you learn to make the basics while offering a fresh take. Worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, Classic LBD will help you experiment with bust darts and getting your perfect fit, even if you're not ready to work a whole sweater flat.

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Download the schematic

CONSTRUCTION

Classic LBD is worked seamlessly from the top down. Stitches are picked up and knit for the collar. Increases are worked from the underarm to the hem to create a subtle A-line silhouette.

OPTIONAL BUST SHAPING

Optional instructions for adding short rows for bust shaping, in five sizes, give you your best fit.

CHOOSE A SIZE

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8] (9, 10, 11, 12)

Choose the size closest to your actual upper chest measurement. Upper chest is measured above the full bust, at an angle close to diagonal beneath the underarms, and straight across the back. For more information on choosing a size using your upper chest measurement, visit this blog post.

To fit upper chest: 28 (32, 36, 39.25, 42.5) [45.75, 49, 52.25] (55.5, 58.75, 62, 65.25) inches / 70 (80, 89.5, 98, 106) [114, 122, 130.5] (138.5, 146.5, 154.5, 163) cm

Classic LBD is designed to fit with approximately 3 inches / 7.5 cm of positive ease at the fullest part of your bust.

Finished bust circumference: 31 (35.5, 39, 43.5, 47) [51.5, 55, 59.5] (63, 67.5, 71, 75.5) inches / 77.5 (88.5, 97.5, 108.5, 117.5) [128.5, 137.5, 148.5] (157.5, 168.5, 177.5, 188.5) cm

Finished hip circumference: 34.25 (38.5, 42.25, 46.5, 50.25) [54.5, 58.25, 62.5] (66.25, 70.5, 74.25, 78.5) inches / 85.5 (96, 105.5, 116, 125.5) [136, 145.5, 156] (165.5, 176, 185.5, 196) cm

Finished bicep: 12.75 (13.75, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5) [17.75, 19.25, 20.5] (22.5, 23.25, 24.25, 25) inches / 32 (34, 36.5, 39, 41) [44, 48, 51] (56.5, 58, 60.5, 62.5) cm

I am wearing size 5, Cup 2, with 2.25 inches / 5.5 cm of positive ease at the full bust and 2 inches / 5 cm of positive ease at the upper arm. My upper chest is 41 inches / 102.5 cm.

If you need additional room for the bust, as I do, working the optional short row shaping will give you the best fit in the shoulders and armholes, while still making room for your chest. Short rows add length to the front only of the garment, so that the hem does not rise in the front.

TECHNIQUES

Working directional shaping
Knitting in the round
Working German Short Rows
Picking up and knitting

MATERIALS

6 Stitch markers plus one unique marker for the beginning of the round
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

26 sts and 36 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch (both flat and in the round) with size A needles (I used size 4).

"I’d say that this is a beginner-intermediate pattern because of the raglan/neck increases and the picked up neckband.

The sweater is very wearable. It’s light enough to wear as a first layer but also enough coverage to wear on its own."

- Heather, tester (pictured)

"What I love is that every element of the pattern has been thought through. And that level of detail made it so easy for me to make modifications that I wanted (which I've honestly never felt comfortable to do before, ever).

This pattern truly is a "classic" and I don't know that I'll ever buy a basic raglan pattern from anyone else ever again when I know that I can just use this one with different yarn or modifications. I love it and I will wear it a LOT, which is also something I've never done with anything I've ever knit."

- Anastasia, tester (see gallery)

8ED870C1-F3B9-4CD9-B7C3-3679D9C92C85 - Heather West.jpeg

YARN

Choose a soft, lightweight fingering weight yarn with low bounce, excellent drape, and good stitch definition.

I used Purl Soho Sweetgrass for Sample 1, which is 65% organic cotton and 35% alpaca, undyed. The alpaca fiber in this yarn is 26 microns wide and there are 437 yds / 400 m per 100 g skein.

I used Terrapin Fiberworks Chesapeake Organic Cotton for Sample 2. This yarn is also 437 yds / 400 m per 100 g skein.

Note: Variegated or striping yarn not suitable if you are working the bust darts.

725 (825, 875, 1010, 1100) [1215, 1305, 1415] (1535, 1650, 1760, 1880) yds / 665 (755, 800, 925, 1005) [1115, 1190, 1295] (1400, 1505, 1610, 1720) m; 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) [3, 3, 4] (4, 4, 5, 5) skeins.

For optional bust darts, you will need an additional 15 - 185 yds / 15 - 165 m.

Sample 1 shown in colorway pale sesame.

Sample 2 shown in colorway Onion.

"The pattern seems really basic at first glance - a top-down, seamless raglan - but this is the best fitting raglan I've ever made.

A lot of patterns have the raglan increases worked 100% consistently from neckline to armpit, whereas this pattern takes into account that that's not always going to give the best fit. The instructions may seem intimidating, to have different rates of increases going simultaneously, but the provided progress charts made it a breeze!"

- Carly, tester