UPDATE: I’m redoing these pages as I work through the tutorial videos. So much has changed with a much nicer end result and it’s pointless to leave the old instruction up. I hope to have the entire project finished within the next couple weeks. The new pages will go up as I get them edited with the new information.
Stay tuned!
There are a lot of different styles of top down seamless knit shoulders available. I’ve added one more, the blend of contiguous and raglan, an easy combo that produces an excellent fit which doesn’t pull on the point of the shoulder or cramp the shoulder line, and various iterations of contiguous saddle. The result lays beautifully smooth and flat without bubble, wrinkle or fold and the fit is fabulous!.
So . . . here’s how contiguous raglan is done in the very simplest of terms. For the length of the shoulder line (where a sewn seam would be on a shirt) the sleeve increases (one from the back raglan and one from the front raglan) are moved to the top of the shoulder. Yup, it truly is that simple. If you approach this combo from the contiguous format, two of the shoulder increases are moved to the raglan position, one for the front, one for the back. It’s exactly the same shoulder, just looked at from a different perspective and the end result is identical.
For the saddle shoulder there are more options. I’ve got a favorite combination I’m using and that’s the one I’ll share with you here in the tutorial.
But when do I ever do anything the easy way? Come on, you know me. There’s nothing I do that I don’t change over time . . . nothing. And now I have a faux set-in sleeve I’ve added to the mix. It makes a fabulous shoulder that is not difficult to knit!
This really is an easy technique once you’ve worked through it a couple time. It’s a sequence knit that can be inserted into any raglan or contiguous pattern or used as the base for any type of sweater.
So, let’s dive in. First you’re going to need some supplies.
Dear Nori, I’m quite intrigued by your contiguous raglan method, which I think is a great idea, but I do not know, and could not find in any sites, how to procede with the shoulder cap once I got to the shoulder line. Please can you give me some instructions? I have already knitted sweaters with contiguous shoulder but I would like to try your conti-combi method. Thank you in advance and best regards
Lucia Calza from Italy
For conti-rag I work three sets of short rows once the contiguous portion of the shoulder is complete. I space the short row turns 2 stitches apart. I work the first turn six stitches from the raglan line, the second four stitches from the raglan line and the third one stitch from the raglan line. This “turns the corner” of the shoulder and prevents the raglan portion of the shoulder from fitting poorly. I use a buried wrap and turn for the short row turns.
I stop the sleeve, front and/or back increases when I reach the appropriate stitch counts, restarting them for shaping the base of the armscye. If you need more information than this, please let me know.
This is the latest conti-rag, an attempt to replicate a sweater with a pattern only available in Russian.
Nori, hello! Where can I find or buy your knitting technique for such a sweater in Russian? Best regards to you, Valentina.
Valentina, it isn’t even out in English! I am working on a new set of step-by-step videos on the technique. I’ll post them here on my site as I complete them.
“This is the latest conti-rag, an attempt to replicate a sweater with a pattern only available in Russian”
I read this from your previous comment.
Thanks for the answer.
Success in your research!
Best regards, Valentina.
I originally found it on Pinterest. Let me see if I can find a link for you.
Holy smoke! I was lost in Pinterest for an hour and never found it! I used an image search and here’s the link.
https://www.pinterest.es/pin/541909767667295658/
Here’s the finished sweater.
Nori, I look forward to your lessons! I don’t know English from the word at all.
I knit, looking at your hands all the time. Difficult, but I like your method.
With great respect and sympathy.
Valentina.
I have discovered this must learn Contiguous Raglan knitting only to find you are no longer on Ravelry! Imagine my disappointment. Just when I’m ready to learn, you disappear. Please tell me you are going to continue your work here on your website and let the (bad word here) from Ravelry stiffle your creativity and knitting brilliance. I understand and empathize with your reasons for leaving but so wish you had stayed. Can you tell this newbie how to get started learning Conti Rag?
I really need to do this, don’t I! I’ve been meaning to but life keeps getting in the way. I’ve made so many improvements . . . it really is time to get them videoed and added to the site.
Hi Nori, is there an update on the method? Is there a way to see it all in one place, including recording measurements (the spreadsheet) etc?
Love your work. You are totally AMAZING!
I apologize for taking so long to reply. I’m in a bit of a conundrum. There are lots of updates and I need to do videos that work through the technique but I’m not in a position right now where I can make useable vids. Instead of a spreadsheet I’ve written an online app that does all the calculations but it’s lacking the forms for input and editing. I’m currently entering data directly into the database which works for me but not for anyone else. In addition, the app needs updating as some of the original calculations have changed or been fine tuned.
Below is an example of the rough work using a sweater I’m making for my sister.
This is the sweater.
This is the worksheet.