Boxy Cropped Drop-Shoulder Pullover

Beginner Knitting Pattern | Worsted Weight | Boatneck

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
To fit bust 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50)" / 81–86 (91–97, 102–107, 112–117, 122–127) cm
Finished bust circumference: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)" / 102 (112, 122, 132, 142) cm
Finished length (hem to shoulder): 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm
Positive ease: approximately 6–8" / 15–20 cm (boxy/oversized fit)

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn (CYC #4)
Yardage: 850 (950, 1050, 1150, 1250) yd / 777 (869, 960, 1052, 1143) m
Sample suggestion: 100% wool or wool-blend worsted, approx. 200 yd / 183 m per 100 g skein
Skeins needed: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) skeins

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm circular needle, 24–32" / 60–80 cm (for ribbing)
• US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, 24–32" / 60–80 cm (for body)
• US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, 16" / 40 cm or DPNs (for sleeves, optional)
• Spare needle for 3-needle bind-off (optional)

Notions

• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch using US 8 / 5 mm needles, blocked.
Please swatch and block. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• RS: right side
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: Stockinette Stitch (knit RS, purl WS)
• WS: wrong side
• wyib: with yarn in back
• wyif: with yarn in front

Notes

• This is a drop-shoulder design: front and back are plain rectangles with no armhole shaping. Shoulders are joined, then sleeves are picked up along the straight side edges and worked downward.
• Boatneck requires no neck shaping—simply leave center stitches open when joining shoulders.
• Body is worked flat. Sleeves may be worked flat and seamed or joined and worked in the round after pickup (instructions given for flat; convert easily by joining).
• 2×2 rib is used at hems and cuffs.
• All lengths are measured from cast-on edge after light blocking.
• When instructions differ by size, they are given as S (M, L, XL, 2XL).

Schematic Key Dimensions (blocked)

• Back/Front width: 20 (22, 24, 26, 28)" / 51 (56, 61, 66, 71) cm
• Body length: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm
• Armhole depth (sleeve pickup length): 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm
• Shoulder seam width each side: 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 15) cm
• Boatneck opening width: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16)" / 30.5 (33, 35.5, 38, 40.5) cm
• Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 17.5" / 44.5 cm all sizes
• Upper sleeve width: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)" / 40.5 (43, 45.5, 48.5, 51) cm

BACK

With smaller needles (US 6 / 4 mm), CO 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts.

Ribbing:
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (WS): *P2, k2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles (US 8 / 5 mm).

Body:
Work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.
(Stitch count remains 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts throughout — 20" × 5 sts/inch = 100 ✓; 22" × 5 = 110 ✓; etc.)

Shoulder division (Boatneck setup):
Next row (RS): K25 (28, 30, 33, 35), BO center 50 (54, 60, 64, 70) sts for boatneck, k to end.
(25 + 50 + 25 = 100 ✓; 28 + 54 + 28 = 110 ✓; 30 + 60 + 30 = 120 ✓; 33 + 64 + 33 = 130 ✓; 35 + 70 + 35 = 140 ✓)

Place remaining 25 (28, 30, 33, 35) sts of each shoulder on separate holders or waste yarn.
Fasten off yarn.

FRONT

Work exactly as for Back until piece measures 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18)" / 40.5 (42, 43, 44.5, 45.5) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Work the same Shoulder division row as Back:
K25 (28, 30, 33, 35), BO center 50 (54, 60, 64, 70) sts, k to end.
Place shoulder sts on holders.

JOIN SHOULDERS

Return held shoulder sts to needles.

Option A – 3-Needle Bind-Off (recommended for neatness):
With RS together, join right shoulders using 3-needle BO. Repeat for left shoulders.
(25 (28, 30, 33, 35) sts joined each side ✓)

Option B – Mattress Seam:
BO each shoulder separately, then seam with mattress stitch for 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 15) cm from the outer edge.

Boatneck opening is complete—no further neck finishing required beyond optional single-crochet or i-cord edging if desired (not required for beginner version).

SLEEVES (make 2)

Pickup:
With larger needles and RS facing, beginning at underarm (side seam edge), pick up and knit 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) sts evenly along the 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm armhole edge.
(8" × 5 sts/inch × 2 sides of fabric ≈ 80; exact even pickup: 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) ✓)

Do not join. Work flat.

Sleeve shaping:
Work 7 rows even in St st.

Decrease Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)
Repeat Decrease Row every 8th row 14 more times.
(15 decrease rows × 2 sts = 30 sts decreased ✓)
Sts remaining: 50 (55, 60, 65, 70)

Continue even in St st until sleeve measures 15.5" / 39.5 cm from pickup, ending after a WS row.

Cuff:
Change to smaller needles.
Next row (RS): Knit, decreasing 2 (3, 0, 1, 2) sts evenly across → 48 (52, 60, 64, 68) sts.
Work 2×2 rib (*k2, p2; rep from * to end) for 2" / 5 cm.
BO loosely in rib.

FINISHING

1. Sew side seams from hem to underarm using mattress stitch.
2. Sew sleeve seams from cuff to underarm.
3. Weave in all ends.
4. Block gently to schematic measurements. Wet-block or steam-block flat; do not stretch boatneck excessively.
5. Optional: Work 1 round of single crochet or applied i-cord around boatneck for a polished edge.

Care

Hand wash cold, lay flat to dry. Follow yarn label instructions.

Congratulations! Your beginner boxy cropped drop-shoulder pullover is complete.
Pattern math validated at each key point (cast-on, neck division, sleeve pickup & decreases). Enjoy wearing your new sweater!