Boxy Drop-Shoulder Crewneck Pullover

Beginner Worsted Weight Knitting Pattern

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
Finished Bust Circumference: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) inches / 101.5 (112, 122, 132, 142) cm, intended with 6–10 inches positive ease
Finished Length (hem to shoulder): 24 inches / 61 cm (all sizes)
Armhole Depth: 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11) inches / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm
Upper Sleeve Width: 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) inches / 45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm
Sleeve Length (underarm to cuff): 17 inches / 43 cm

Shown in size M. Choose size based on desired finished bust measurement.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn (approx. 180–200 yds / 165–183 m per 100 g): 1100 (1200, 1320, 1450, 1600) yards / 1005 (1100, 1205, 1325, 1465) m
• US 8 (5 mm) straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• US 7 (4.5 mm) needles for ribbing (straight or 16-inch circular for neckband)
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.
Adjust needle size if necessary to match 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
2x2 rib = *k2, p2; repeat from *

Pattern Notes

• Drop-shoulder construction: front and back are plain rectangles with no armhole indentation. Shoulder seam sits on the upper arm.
• Body worked flat in two pieces. Sleeves picked up from armhole edge and worked flat downward.
• Crewneck is shaped on the front only in the final 2.5 inches.
• When instructions differ by size, work the number corresponding to your size.
• Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front for a neat selvedge (optional but recommended for seaming).
• Block pieces before seaming for best results.

BACK

With smaller needles, CO 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts.

Ribbing: Work 2x2 rib for 2 inches / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.
(Begin and end with k2 so edges are clean: Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2; rep from * to last 0 (2, 0, 2, 0) sts, k0 (2, 0, 2, 0).)

Change to larger needles.

Body: Work in St st until piece measures 24 inches / 61 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shoulders: BO all sts.
(Alternatively, place sts on holder for 3-needle bind-off later.)

FRONT

Work exactly as for Back until piece measures 21.5 inches / 54.5 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.
(You have 2.5 inches / 6.5 cm remaining to shoulder.)

Shape Crew Neck

Next row (RS): K 35 (39, 43, 47, 51) sts, BO center 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts, k to end.
35 (39, 43, 47, 51) sts remain each side.

Working each side separately (or both at once with separate balls), shape left neck edge (as worn) as follows; reverse shaping for right neck edge:

Left Front Neck (RS facing for first decrease row):
Row 1 (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st decreased)
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Repeat Rows 1–2 four more times. 5 sts decreased total.
30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts remain.

Work even in St st until Front matches Back length to shoulder, ending after a WS row.
BO remaining 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) shoulder sts.

Right Front Neck: Rejoin yarn at neck edge with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, k to end.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Repeat Rows 1–2 four more times. 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts remain.
Work even and BO as for left shoulder.

Math check: Center BO 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) + 5 sts decreased each side = 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts total neck opening. Shoulder sts each side 30 (34, 38, 42, 46). Total: 30+40+30 = 100 (for S) ✓; equivalent for all sizes.

JOIN SHOULDERS

With RS together, seam (or 3-needle BO) the 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) shoulder sts on each side.
Center neck opening remains open: approximately 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) inches / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm wide.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Pick-up row: With larger needles and RS facing, beginning at underarm (side edge of body), pick up and knit 90 (95, 100, 105, 110) sts evenly along the entire armhole edge (from side seam line to side seam line).
(Pick-up rate ≈ 5 sts per inch along the 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11) inch armhole depth × 2 sides, adjusted to exact count.)

Next row (WS): Purl.

Work in St st for 1 inch / 2.5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape sleeve (taper):
Decrease Row (RS): K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts decreased)
Work 7 rows even in St st.

Repeat the last 8 rows 11 more times. 12 decrease rows total × 2 sts = 24 sts decreased.
66 (71, 76, 81, 86) sts remain.

Work even until sleeve measures 15 inches / 38 cm from pick-up, ending after a WS row.

Change to smaller needles.

Cuff: Work 2x2 rib for 2 inches / 5 cm, decreasing 2 (3, 0, 1, 2) sts evenly on first rib row if needed so total sts are a multiple of 4: 64 (68, 76, 80, 84) sts.
BO loosely in rib.

Math check: 90 – 24 = 66 (S) ✓; parallel for other sizes. Final rib multiple of 4 after adjustment ✓.

NECKBAND

With smaller 16-inch circular needle and RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and knit:

• 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts across back neck,
• 14 sts down left front neck slope,
• 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts across center front BO,
• 14 sts up right front neck slope.

Total: 88 (94, 100, 106, 112) sts.
Pm for beginning of round.

Work 2x2 rib in the round for 1.25 inches / 3 cm.
BO loosely in rib.

FINISHING

1. Sew sleeve seams.
2. Sew side seams from hem to underarm, matching ribbing carefully.
3. Weave in all ends.
4. Block gently to measurements: wet-block or steam, pinning to finished dimensions. Pay special attention to evening the dropped shoulder line and neckband.

Schematic Measurements (blocked)

• Body width: 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) inches
• Total length: 24 inches
• Armhole depth (straight side edge used for sleeve pick-up): 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11) inches
• Neck width: 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) inches
• Neck depth (front): 2.5 inches
• Sleeve upper width: 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) inches
• Cuff width: approx. 12.75 (13.5, 15.25, 16, 16.75) inches
• Sleeve length: 17 inches

Beginner Tips

• Count stitches after every decrease section.
• Use locking markers to mark the center neck BO and the start of each shoulder.
• When picking up sleeve stitches, divide the armhole edge into quarters with markers and pick up the same number in each quarter for even distribution.
• If your row gauge differs, adjust the number of even rows between sleeve decreases so the sleeve length remains 17 inches before the cuff.

Enjoy your new boxy crewneck!