Tip : Don’t use a stitch holder , because they’re very stiff and can make knitting the body uncomfortable.

Tip : If you knit both sleeves at the same time , you make sure they both have the same number of rounds. If so, we recommend working with two balls (one per sleeve). Remember to knit each sleeve with its corresponding yarn and to work the increases shown in the pattern on both sleeves. Neither technique requires you to sew the parts of your jumper together at the end, of course. Afterall, isn’t this what we’re trying to avoid by knitting in the round? Knit until you reach the armholes. Then put what you’ve done until that point on hold and begin on the sleeves. Follow the video below to see how to join the first and last stitches to work in the round (try not to twist the stitches).When all the stitches for the first sleeve are on hold , it’s common/recommended to cast on some stitches at the underarm using a cable cast-on (as you can see in the video ).

Put all the stitches for one of the sleeves on hold onto the needles with an 80-cm cable (at least). This is so you can use the magic loop method. Continue knitting the current round, without increasing, up to the first marker of a sleeve: slip all the sleeve stitches onto a cable (or waste yarn). Increase before and after each stitch marker, except along the raglan stitches. Note: The number of raglan stitches between the stitch markers is always the same.Tip : An 80-cm cable (or longer ) makes working the magic loop technique more comfortable. If you want, you can distribute the stitches on double-pointed needles . They’re perfect for knitting small circumferences like sleeves. Knit the sleeves to the length needed (down to the cuff), working the decreases shown in the pattern. Cast on the number of stitches shown in the pattern, join to work in the round and knit the ribbed hem .

Tip: Use different coloured stitch markers that the one you used at the beginning of the round (BOR). You’ll see that when you start the jumper from the bottom up , at the yoke you make decreases , not increases.

First we’ll take you through how to knit top-down jumper patterns and then we’ll move onto bottom-up jumper patterns.