Boxy Boatneck Drop Shoulder Pullover

A Beginner-Friendly Worsted-Weight Sweater

Skill Level

Beginner — Worked in simple rectangles with minimal shaping. If you can cast on, knit, purl, and bind off, you can make this sweater.

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

Instructions are written for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements

Designed with ~6" of positive ease for a relaxed, boxy fit. To choose your size, add about 6" to your actual chest measurement.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (#4). Approx. 1000 (1100, 1250, 1400, 1550) yds
• Needles:
  • US 8 / 5 mm (main body) — straight or circular
  • US 6 / 4 mm (ribbing) — straight or circular
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn

Gauge

18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5 mm needles, after blocking. (This equals 4.5 sts and 6 rows per inch.)

⚠️ Take time to check your gauge — it determines your finished size.

Abbreviations

• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• k – knit
• p – purl
• RS / WS – right side / wrong side
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• k2tog – knit two together
• rep – repeat

CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW

This is a drop shoulder pullover worked in four flat pieces:

1. Back — a plain rectangle.
2. Front — a plain rectangle (boatneck needs no neck shaping).
3. Shoulders are seamed, leaving the center open for the boatneck.
4. Sleeves are picked up along the straight armhole edge and worked down to the cuff.

BACK

With US 6 / 4 mm needles, CO 90 (99, 108, 117, 126) sts.

Ribbing: Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): work sts as they appear (knit the knits, purl the purls). Rep these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2" (5 cm), ending with a WS row.

Body: Switch to US 8 / 5 mm needles. Row 1 (RS): knit all sts. Row 2 (WS): purl all sts. Rep these 2 rows in stockinette stitch until piece measures 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

✅ Math check: 90 sts ÷ 4.5 sts/in = 20" wide = half of a 40" chest. ✓

Bind off all 90 (99, 108, 117, 126) sts. Mark the outer 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts at each end as the shoulders; the center 50 (55, 60, 65, 70) sts form the back neck.

FRONT

Work exactly the same as the Back, including ribbing, body, and bind off.

Because this is a boatneck, the front requires no neck shaping — it is identical to the back. The neck opening is created simply by leaving the center stitches unseamed when you join the shoulders.

✅ Math check: shoulders (20 + 20 = 40) + neck (50) = 90 sts. ✓ Scales correctly for all sizes.

JOINING THE SHOULDERS

Lay the Front and Back with right sides together, matching the bind-off edges.

1. Using a tapestry needle and mattress stitch (or a 3-needle bind off), seam the outer 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts at each shoulder.
2. Leave the center 50 (55, 60, 65, 70) sts unseamed — this open span is your boatneck.

✅ Neck opening ≈ 50 sts ÷ 4.5 sts/in = 11" wide — easily fits over the head and gives the classic wide boatneck line.

SLEEVES (picked up and worked down)

Lay the joined body flat. Measure 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" down from the shoulder seam along each side edge and place a marker; this equals your armhole depth. The armhole spans twice this depth (above and below the shoulder seam), which is where you'll pick up stitches.

✅ Total armhole edge = 2 × 8" = 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)" for size S.

Pick up stitches: With RS facing and US 8 / 5 mm needles, begin at the lower marker, pick up and knit stitches evenly along the armhole edge up to and around the shoulder and down to the marker on the other side. Pick up at a rate of 3 sts for every 4 rows.

Pick up 72 (77, 81, 86, 90) sts.

✅ Math check (S): 16" armhole × 24 rows/4" = 96 rows; 96 × ¾ = 72 sts. ✓

Work the sleeve: Beginning with a purl (WS) row, work in stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS).

Shaping — decrease to taper the sleeve: Work 6 rows straight. Decrease Row (RS): k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased) Rep the Decrease Row every 8th row a total of 14 (15, 15, 16, 16) times.

Sleeve st count after decreases: 44 (47, 51, 54, 58) sts.

✅ Math check (S): 72 − (14 × 2) = 72 − 28 = 44 sts. ✓

Continue straight until sleeve measures 16 (16, 16.5, 16.5, 17)" from pick-up edge, ending with a WS row.

Cuff: Switch to US 6 / 4 mm needles. Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2" (5 cm). BO all sts loosely in pattern.

✅ Total sleeve length: 16" body + 2" cuff = 18". ✓

Repeat for the second sleeve.

FINISHING

1. Side and Sleeve Seams: With RS together, seam each side of the body and the underside of each sleeve in one continuous line from cuff to hem using mattress stitch.
2. Neckline: The boatneck edge is left as-is for a clean, minimalist look. (Optional: for extra stability, pick up and knit sts evenly around the neck opening with US 6 / 4 mm needles and work 4 rows of k1, p1 rib, then BO loosely in pattern.)
3. Weave in all ends with a tapestry needle.
4. Block the finished sweater to the measurements in the size chart. Blocking evens out your stitches and relaxes the fabric for the best drape.

FINISHED PIECE SUMMARY

Congratulations — you've made a boxy boatneck drop shoulder pullover! This relaxed, beginner-friendly design is meant to be roomy and comfortable. Enjoy your finished sweater.