Boxy Drop-Shoulder V-Neck Pullover

DK Weight • Sizes S–3XL • Beginner

A relaxed, boxy drop-shoulder pullover worked in plain stockinette with classic 2×2 rib hems, cuffs, and V-neck collar. Front and back are simple rectangles (no armhole indentation). Shoulders are seamed, then sleeves are picked up along the straight armhole edge and knit down to the cuff. Ideal first garment.

Sizes

Women’s S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL) To fit bust: 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50, 52–54)" / 81–86 (91–97, 102–107, 112–117, 122–127, 132–137) cm Finished bust: 40¾ (43¾, 48, 52¼, 56¾, 61)" / 103.5 (111, 122, 132.5, 144, 155) cm Finished length: 24 (24½, 25, 25½, 26, 26½)" / 61 (62, 63.5, 65, 66, 67.5) cm Positive ease: approximately 6–8" / 15–20 cm (boxy drop-shoulder fit)

Shown in size M. Choose size based on desired ease.

Yarn

DK weight yarn (approx. 100–110 yd / 50 g) 1200 (1320, 1480, 1650, 1820, 2000) yd / 1100 (1210, 1350, 1510, 1665, 1830) m Sample estimate assumes classic wool or wool-blend DK.

Needles

• US 6 / 4 mm straight or circular needles for stockinette
• US 5 / 3.75 mm straight or circular needles for ribbing
• US 5 / 3.75 mm 16" / 40 cm circular or DPNs for collar
• Spare needle for three-needle bind-off (optional) Adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Notions

Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape.

Gauge

22 sts and 30 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked. Take time to check gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

BO — bind off CO — cast on dec(s) — decrease(s) k — knit k2tog — knit 2 together (right-leaning dec) p — purl pm — place marker p2tog — purl 2 together rep — repeat RS — right side ssk — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec) st(s) — stitch(es) St st — stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS) WS — wrong side 2×2 rib — *k2, p2; rep from *

Pattern Notes

• Drop-shoulder construction: body pieces are straight rectangles. Sleeve tops are flat (no cap).
• Work Back and Front flat. Shoulders joined first, then sleeves picked up and worked downward.
• V-neck is shaped only on the Front, beginning 7½" / 19 cm below the shoulder line.
• All ribbing is 2×2 (k2, p2). Cast-on and bind-off counts are multiples of 4.
• When picking up stitches, pick up approximately 3 sts for every 4 rows for a smooth edge.
• Block pieces before seaming for best results.

BACK

With smaller needles, CO 112 (120, 132, 144, 156, 168) sts.

Ribbing: Work 2×2 rib (*k2, p2; rep from * to end) for 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Body: Work in St st until piece measures 24 (24½, 25, 25½, 26, 26½)" / 61 (62, 63.5, 65, 66, 67.5) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shoulder division (RS): K 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts (right shoulder), BO center 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts for back neck, k remaining 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts (left shoulder). Place each shoulder’s 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts on holders. (Total check: 34+44+34=112 ✓; 36+48+36=120 ✓; 40+52+40=132 ✓; 44+56+44=144 ✓; 48+60+48=156 ✓; 52+64+52=168 ✓.)

FRONT

With smaller needles, CO 112 (120, 132, 144, 156, 168) sts.

Ribbing: Work 2×2 rib for 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Body: Work in St st until piece measures 16½ (17, 17½, 18, 18½, 19)" / 42 (43, 44.5, 45.5, 47, 48.5) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row. (V-neck begins here so that neck depth = 7½" / 19 cm to shoulder.)

Shape V-Neck

Division row (RS): K 56 (60, 66, 72, 78, 84) sts, place remaining 56 (60, 66, 72, 78, 84) sts on holder for right front. Turn and work left front only.

Left Front (as worn): Row 1 (WS): Purl. Row 2 (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec at neck edge) Rep Rows 1–2 until 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts remain. (Decs required: 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32). Rows required ≈ 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) = roughly 5¾–8½"; total V depth with remaining straight rows will equal 7½".)

Continue even in St st on these 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts until Front matches Back length to shoulder, ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Right Front: With RS facing, return held 56 (60, 66, 72, 78, 84) sts to needle and join yarn at neck edge. Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. (1 st dec at neck edge) Row 2 (WS): Purl. Rep Rows 1–2 until 34 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts remain. Continue even in St st until piece matches Left Front / Back length, ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

(Shoulder counts match Back: 34/36/40/44/48/52 each side ✓.)

JOIN SHOULDERS

Return Back and Front right shoulder sts to needles. With RS together, join using three-needle bind-off (or mattress-stitch seam). Repeat for left shoulder. 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts remain open at back neck; V is open at front.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Armhole depth target: 8½ (9, 9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 21.5 (23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm. Measure this distance down from each shoulder seam along the side edge and mark. The section between markers is the armhole pickup zone (same length front and back = full armhole).

With larger needles and RS facing, beginning at one underarm marker, pick up and knit 70 (74, 80, 86, 92, 98) sts evenly between markers (approx. 3 sts per 4 rows along the straight edge). (Pickup check at 7.5 rows/in × depth × 2 sides × 0.75 ≈ target; counts chosen even and practical.)

Sleeve shaping (worked flat or in the round; instructions given flat—seam later): Work 1" / 2.5 cm even in St st, ending after a WS row.

Decrease row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec) Work 7 (7, 5, 5, 3, 3) rows even. Rep the last 8 (8, 6, 6, 4, 4) rows 11 (12, 14, 15, 17, 18) more times. Sts remaining: 46 (48, 50, 54, 56, 60). (Dec pairs: 12 (13, 15, 16, 18, 19) × 2 = 24 (26, 30, 32, 36, 38); 70−24=46 ✓; 74−26=48 ✓; 80−30=50 ✓; 86−32=54 ✓; 92−36=56 ✓; 98−38=60 ✓.)

Continue even, if needed, until sleeve measures 16½ (17, 17, 17½, 17½, 18)" / 42 (43, 43, 44.5, 44.5, 45.5) cm from pickup, or 2" / 5 cm less than desired finished length, ending after a WS row.

Change to smaller needles. Next row (RS): Adjust stitch count if needed by decreasing 2 (0, 2, 2, 0, 0) sts evenly across row to obtain 44 (48, 48, 52, 56, 60) sts (multiple of 4). Work 2×2 rib for 2" / 5 cm. BO loosely in rib.

FINISHING

Side and sleeve seams: Sew side seams from hem to underarm. Sew sleeve seams from cuff to underarm. (If sleeves were worked in the round, omit sleeve seam.)

V-Neck Collar

With smaller 16" / 40 cm circular needle (or DPNs) and RS facing, beginning at left shoulder seam:

• Pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows down left front neck slope,
• Pick up 1 st at center front V,
• Pick up the same number of sts up right front neck slope,
• Pick up and knit 44 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts across back neck. Total pickup will be approximately 108 (116, 124, 132, 140, 148) sts or nearest multiple of 4; adjust by 1–2 sts while picking up so final count is a multiple of 4. Place marker for beginning of round (at left shoulder).

Collar setup: Work in 2×2 rib in the round. At center front, keep the single center st as a knit st (or maintain rib pattern as established) and on every round work a centered double decrease or simply k2tog the center st with its neighbor every other round if a sharper V is desired—beginner option: work plain 2×2 rib, gently pulling the center front st tighter on bind-off for a clean V.

Work 2×2 rib for 1¼" / 3 cm. BO loosely in rib.

Weave in ends. Block gently to measurements.

Schematic Measurements (blocked)

Beginner Tips

• Use locking markers at the start of V-neck shaping and at armhole pickup zones.
• When picking up sleeve sts, divide the armhole edge into quarters with markers and pick up the same number in each quarter for even distribution.
• Three-needle bind-off gives a tidy, sturdy shoulder; mattress stitch is also fine.
• If the V-neck collar flares, go down one more needle size for the collar only.
• Steam or wet-block stockinette pieces flat; do not stretch ribbing.

Enjoy your new boxy V-neck pullover!