I am working on my first raglan sweater, and am a little stuck. I have been using this worksheet http://www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html and am having difficulty understanding why there needs to be more sts in front that back. How many more? Why? huh?
On my dd’s measurements I am getting the exact amount in the front as in the back.
There are more stitches in front than in back because the neck scoops lower in front than it does in back so to make that half of the circle, you need more stitches. This is a unique situation because it’s a seamless, in the round sweater. If you knit the pieces flat, the neck is approached differently. Don’t be put off by the directions. If I were you, I’d go ahead and follow them and see how it comes together. If you are intimidated, start with the smallest child size. At worst, you use up a small amount of yarn realizing that you don’t care for the pattern. At best, you have a sweater ready and waiting when your next friend has a kids.
But I am doing the sure to fit, which has you start with the ribbing on the neck. This is my second on from that pattern. It doesn’t have you knit the sweater and then go back and do the neck ribbing. I’m scared of picking up stitches. The front isn’t scooped, but it looked okay. I’m thinking of next time trying the other one.
http://spincraftpatterns.com/29swSuretoFit.pdf
Christine
So are you OK for now? Have you worked through your question? A crew neck usually does sit a little lower in front than it does in back so, based on the illustration in that PDF, I would expect there to be more stitches in front.
Just let me know if you are still looking for an answer. 