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.

PATTERN UPDATED 04/12/26 to include an additional size, and optional charts for compound increases and sleeve decreases.

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 5 sizes provided in the instructions.

Sizes: 0, (1, 2, 3, 4)
Finished chest circumference: 36, (41.75, 47, 62.75, 68)”/91, (104.5, 117.5, 159, 170)cm
These sizes correspond to measurements for the Crafty Yarn Council’s XXS/XS/S, (XS/S/M, M/L/XL, 2X/3X/4X, 3X/4X/5X), although there is variation in the fit. There are two charts offered per size for sizes 1-4, either standard or compound raglan increases.

This is an intentionally oversized, and easily modifiable pattern. This pattern is easy to modify, and full of schematics to help however they can.

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 )