This all-over top-down colorwork raglan is an ant party, and these ants go marching on down the sweater into a smooth underarm transition! It is fairly easy to knit once you’ve made it past the first ant charts, with intuitive raglan colorwork increases. It uses only one needle size and has a loose boat neckline, long dramatic sleeves, and a flattering oversized fit. Kelbourne Woolens Scout is a beautiful yarn for this project and has gorgeous color dimension, but any sport weight high contrast yarns would work. Or, if you’re careful with your gauge and size…any yarns at all! Well, maybe not bulky.

As a bonus, this pattern includes a page of information about ants and their phenomenal pheromones, as well as information on ant-mimicking spiders. So, as you knit, you’ll be learning some bug facts! What could be better…and to add even more credibility, one of my models is a myrmecologist (ant biologist), my good friend Emiliano at the University of Arizona, who has signed off on my ant facts! Two entomologists are better than one.

Sizing

Sizes are provided for the finished garment post-blocking. These sizes are variable and dependent on gauge/yarn weight.

There are only 4 sizes provided in the instructions, but here is the breakdown of the sizes they include, based on measurements from the Crafty Yarn Council.

Sizes: 1, (2, 3, 4)
Finished chest circumference: 41.75, (47, 62.75, 68)”/104.5, (117.5, 159, 170)cm
These sizes correspond to measurements for the Crafty Yarn Council’s XS/S/M, (M/L/XL, 2X/3X/4X, 3X/4X/5X), although there is variation in the fit.

This is an intentionally unisex, oversized, and easily modifiable pattern. Size 2 (pictured) fits from a US size 8 36’ bust to US size 18 42’ bust comfortably (photos and measurements in the pattern description). This pattern is incredibly formulaic and easy to modify, with instructions at the end for making it taller, larger, smaller, or into a poncho!

Materials
Yarn:

Sample uses Kelbourne Woolens Scout (100% wool, 274 yards/250 meters), sport weight

Colors used in sample:
Main Color (background): Natural
Contrast Color (ants): Lilac Heather

Needles
US 3 3.25 mm circular, or whatever brings you to gauge. 16” and 32” circumference.

Notions
Stitch marker, tapestry needles, stitch holders

Gauge
26 and 30 rows = 4” 10cm in colorwork on US 4 after blocking. Please swatch in the round for this project.

Yardage
Main Color (mc): 1350, (1400, 1530, 1700) yards
Skeins: 6, (7, 7, 8 )
Contrast Color (cc): 1090, (1130, 1200, 1350) yards
Skeins: 5, (6, 6, 7 )