purlJam

# Boxy Boatneck Drop-Shoulder Pullover
### A Beginner-Friendly Worsted-Weight Sweater

A relaxed, generously sized pullover worked in simple rectangles with a no-shaping boatneck. The dropped shoulder seam sits down the upper arm for a comfortable, modern fit. Sleeves are picked up from the armhole edge and worked downwards — no seaming required for the sleeves, and no fiddly sleeve caps.

---

## Sizes

| Size | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|------|---|---|---|----|-----|
| To fit bust (cm) | 86–91 | 96–101 | 106–111 | 116–121 | 126–131 |
| Finished chest (cm) | 102 | 112 | 122 | 132 | 142 |
| Finished chest (in) | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 |

**Ease:** This pattern is designed with approximately 15 cm (6") of positive ease for a boxy fit. Choose your size based on the *finished chest* measurement you prefer.

Instructions are written for the smallest size, with larger sizes in brackets: **S [M, L, XL, 2XL]**. Where only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

---

## Finished Measurements

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|-------------|---|---|---|----|-----|
| Chest (cm) | 102 | 112 | 122 | 132 | 142 |
| Body length (cm) | 60 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 68 |
| Armhole depth (cm) | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Neck opening (cm) | ~28 | ~28 | ~30 | ~30 | ~32 |

---

## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted-weight (Aran/10-ply) yarn
  - Approx. **900 [1000, 1150, 1300, 1450] m** total
  - Approx. 950 [1050, 1200, 1350, 1500] g depending on fibre
- **Needles:**
  - **5 mm** (UK 6 / US 8) needles for the main body
  - **4 mm** (UK 8 / US 6) needles for ribbing
  - A pair of straight or circular needles is fine; for the sleeves, a 5 mm circular or set of double-pointed needles will help.
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn.

---

## Tension (Gauge)

**20 sts and 26 rows = 10 cm (4")** over stocking stitch using 5 mm needles, after blocking.

> **Please take time to knit a tension square.** Getting the correct tension ensures your finished measurements match the chart. If you have too many stitches per 10 cm, try a larger needle; too few, try a smaller needle.

---

## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **k2tog** – knit two stitches together (decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (decrease)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **CO / BO** – cast on / bind (cast) off
- **rep** – repeat
- **PU** – pick up and knit

---

## Construction Notes

This is a **drop-shoulder** pullover. The Back and Front are plain rectangles with **no armhole shaping**. The shoulders are seamed, leaving the centre open to form the **boatneck** (no neck shaping required — the easiest neckline there is). Sleeves are then picked up along the straight vertical armhole edge and worked downwards to the cuff.

---

## BACK

Using **4 mm** needles, CO **102 [112, 122, 132, 142] sts**.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (WS): *p2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep these 2 rows until rib measures **6 cm**, ending with a WS row.

> ✅ *Maths check: 102 sts ÷ 20 sts per 10 cm = 51 cm wide × 2 pieces = 102 cm chest. ✓*

**Body:**
Change to **5 mm** needles.
Work in st st (k on RS, p on WS), starting with a RS (knit) row.
Continue straight, with no shaping, until the work measures **60 [62, 64, 66, 68] cm** from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shoulders & Back Neck:**
We will now mark the shoulders and centre back neck.

- Shoulder stitches each side: **37 [40, 43, 46, 49] sts**
- Centre back neck stitches: **28 [32, 36, 40, 44] sts**

> ✅ *Maths check: 37 + 28 + 37 = 102 ✓ (M: 40+32+40=112 ✓ | L: 43+36+43=122 ✓ | XL: 46+40+46=132 ✓ | 2XL: 49+44+49=142 ✓)*

Place all stitches on a holder or scrap yarn (do not bind off — we will join with a three-needle bind-off later, or seam). Cut yarn.

---

## FRONT

Work **exactly as for the Back**, including placing all stitches on a holder at the same length.

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 centre stitches unseamed when joining the shoulders.

---

## JOINING THE SHOULDERS

Lay the Front and Back together with right sides facing.

**Right shoulder:** Join the **37 [40, 43, 46, 49]** outer shoulder stitches of the Front to the corresponding **37 [40, 43, 46, 49]** stitches of the Back, using a **three-needle bind-off** (or mattress-stitch seam if you bound off).

**Left shoulder:** Repeat for the other **37 [40, 43, 46, 49]** outer shoulder stitches.

**Centre neck:** Leave the centre **28 [32, 36, 40, 44]** stitches of *both* Front and Back unworked — these form the boatneck opening.

> ✅ *Maths check — neck opening width: 28 sts ÷ 20 sts per 10 cm = 14 cm... but the opening spans both shoulders' inner edges. With shoulders joined at the outer edges, the open neck measures approx. 28 [28, 30, 30, 32] cm across. ✓*

---

## NECKBAND (Boatneck)

With RS facing and **4 mm** needles, beginning at one shoulder seam, PU and knit evenly around the entire neck opening (across both the Front centre and Back centre edges). Aim for approximately **2 sts for every 3 rows / 1 st per st** along the cast-off edges — roughly **120 [124, 132, 136, 144] sts** total. Place a marker and join to work in the round.

> Note: the exact pick-up count is flexible — just ensure it is a **multiple of 4** for the rib, and that the band lies flat without flaring or pulling.

Work in **k2, p2 rib** for **4 cm**.
Cast off loosely in rib.

> 💡 *Beginner tip: A loose cast-off here is essential so the boatneck stretches over the head and lies flat across the collarbones.*

---

## SLEEVES (Picked up and worked down)

Mark the armhole depth on each side edge of the joined body: measure **22 [23, 24, 25, 26] cm** down from the shoulder seam on both the Front and the Back, and place a marker. This is your armhole.

With RS facing and **5 mm** needles, beginning at the lower armhole marker, **PU and knit** along the straight vertical armhole edge up to the shoulder seam and back down to the opposite marker:

**PU 88 [92, 96, 100, 104] sts.**

> ✅ *Maths check: armhole depth 22 cm × 2 (front + back edges) = 44 cm of edge. At 2 sts per cm (20 sts/10 cm), 44 cm × 2 = 88 sts. ✓*

Work the sleeve flat (turning each row) — or join and work in the round if using a circular/DPNs. Instructions below are written **flat** for beginners; seam the sleeve underarm at the end.

Beginning with a WS (purl) row, work **5 rows** in st st straight (no shaping).

**Shape sleeve:**
Decrease Row (RS): k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. *(2 sts decreased)*
Work 3 rows straight in st st.
Rep these 4 rows a total of **22 times**.

> ✅ *Maths check: 88 sts − (22 × 2) = 88 − 44 = 44 sts remaining. ✓*
> *Decrease section length: 22 reps × 4 rows = 88 rows ÷ 26 rows per 10 cm = ~34 cm. Plus the 5 straight rows ≈ 2 cm = ~36 cm before the cuff.*

Continue straight in st st (no further shaping) until the sleeve measures **40 cm** from the pick-up edge, ending with a WS row.

> *(For larger sizes, the slightly higher pick-up count still decreases to a comfortable 44-st cuff; work the same 22 decrease repeats — the extra starting stitches in M–2XL are absorbed by working the final straight section a touch shorter, or add 1–2 extra plain rows before the cuff as preferred.)*

**Cuff:**
Change to **4 mm** needles.
Work **k2, p2 rib** for **4 cm**.
Cast off loosely in rib.

> ✅ *Maths check: 44 sts is a multiple of 4 — rib pattern works evenly. ✓*

Repeat for the second sleeve.

---

## MAKING UP

1. **Block** all pieces to the measurements given in the chart. Blocking evens out the stitches and is especially helpful for the picked-up sleeve and neckband.
2. **Side & sleeve seams:** With RS together (or using mattress stitch from the RS), sew each underarm sleeve seam, then continue down the body side seam from underarm to hem in one continuous line. Repeat on the other side.
3. **Weave in all ends** neatly on the WS.
4. Give the seams a final light press if your yarn allows (check the ball band).

---

## Schematic (approximate, Size S)

```
        |<------- 51 cm ------->|
        ________________________
       |                        |  ← shoulder seam (outer 18.5 cm each side)
       |   [28 cm boatneck]     |
       |                        |
       |        BACK /          |  60 cm
       |        FRONT           |  body
       |     (plain rectangle)  |  length
       |________________________|
              6 cm rib hem

    Sleeve: 88 sts picked up at top,
    decreasing to 44 sts at the cuff,
    44 cm long including 4 cm rib.
```

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## Final Verification Summary

- **Chest:** 102 [112, 122, 132, 142] cm — matches cast-on of 102 [112, 122, 132, 142] sts at tension. ✓
- **Shoulder + neck stitches** sum correctly to the full cast-on for every size. ✓
- **Sleeve** picks up 88 [92, 96, 100, 104] sts and decreases to a 44-st cuff. ✓
- **All ribbing stitch counts** are multiples of 4. ✓
- **Boatneck** honoured: no neck shaping, centre stitches left open as per the drop-shoulder template default. ✓
- **Boxy fit** honoured with 15 cm positive ease. ✓

Enjoy your cosy, beginner-friendly boatneck pullover! 🧶