purlJam

# Cloud Nine Pullover
### A Cropped, Oversized Drop-Shoulder Sweater with Balloon Sleeves & Turtleneck

**Skill Level:** Easy
**Construction:** Bottom-up, knit flat in four pieces and seamed

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## Sizes

**S (M, L, XL, 2XL)**
Designed with approximately **8 inches (20 cm) of positive ease** at the bust.

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit bust | 32" | 36" | 40" | 44" | 48" |
| Finished bust | 40" (101.5 cm) | 44" (112 cm) | 48" (122 cm) | 52" (132 cm) | 56" (142 cm) |
| Cropped body length (hem to shoulder) | 14" (35.5 cm) | 14.5" (37 cm) | 15" (38 cm) | 15.5" (39.5 cm) | 16" (40.5 cm) |
| Sleeve length (cuff to shoulder) | 17" (43 cm) | 17" | 17.5" | 17.5" | 18" |
| Upper arm circumference (balloon) | 16" (40.5 cm) | 16.75" | 17.5" | 18.25" | 19" |
| Cuff circumference | 8" (20.5 cm) | 8" | 8.75" | 8.75" | 9.5" |

---

## Materials

- **Yarn:** DK weight (light worsted), approx. 950 (1050, 1150, 1250, 1400) yds / 870 (960, 1050, 1145, 1280) m
  - Suggested fiber: wool or wool blend for stitch definition and balloon-sleeve structure
- **Needles:**
  - US 6 / 4 mm straight or circular (main fabric)
  - US 4 / 3.5 mm straight or circular (ribbing)
  - US 4 / 3.5 mm 16" circular (turtleneck)
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn

---

## Gauge

**22 sts × 30 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch on US 6 / 4 mm needles, blocked.
*Take time to check your gauge — it affects fit and yardage.*

---

## Abbreviations

- **CO** – cast on
- **BO** – bind off
- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **k2tog** – knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **St st** – stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **2×2 rib** – *k2, p2* repeat

---

## Pattern Notes

- This sweater is worked **flat in four pieces** (back, front, two sleeves) and seamed.
- The body is a simple rectangle — no armhole shaping. The dropped shoulder sits down the upper arm.
- The **balloon sleeve** is created by knitting a wide sleeve and decreasing sharply just before the cuff, so the fullness gathers into the ribbing.
- The **turtleneck** is picked up around the neck opening after seaming and worked in 2×2 rib.

---

## BACK

With smaller needles (US 4 / 3.5 mm), CO **112 (124, 132, 144, 156) sts**.

*Math check: 22 sts/4" × 20 (22, 24, 26, 28)" half-bust = 110 (121, 132, 143, 154) sts; rounded to a multiple of 4 for rib = 112 (124, 132, 144, 156).*

**Row 1 (RS):** *k2, p2*; repeat from * to end.
**Row 2 (WS):** *p2, k2*; repeat from * to end.

Continue in 2×2 rib until piece measures **2" (5 cm)** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles (US 6 / 4 mm). Work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures **14 (14.5, 15, 15.5, 16)"** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

**Shoulders & Back Neck:**
BO all 112 (124, 132, 144, 156) sts loosely.

*The center 36 sts will form the back neck of the turtleneck; the outer 38 (44, 48, 54, 60) sts on each side are the shoulders.*

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## FRONT

Work exactly as for Back, including bind-off.

*For this turtleneck/boatneck-style construction, the front and back are identical; the neckline is created when shoulders are seamed.*

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## SLEEVES (Make 2)

The sleeves are knit **top-down from the shoulder to the cuff**, sized wide for balloon volume, with a sharp decrease row before the cuff to create the gather.

With larger needles (US 6 / 4 mm), CO **88 (92, 96, 100, 104) sts**.

*Math check: Upper arm 16 (16.75, 17.5, 18.25, 19)" × 22 sts/4" = 88 (92, 96, 100, 104) sts. ✓*

Beginning with a WS purl row, work in St st until sleeve measures **13" (33 cm)** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Gathering / Decrease Row

**Decrease Row (RS):** *k2tog*; repeat from * to end.
You should now have **44 (46, 48, 50, 52) sts**.

*Math check: 88 ÷ 2 = 44. ✓ This is the cuff stitch count and gives the balloon "puff."*

**For sizes M and XL only:** On the next row (WS), p across, working *p2tog* once at the center to bring stitch count to **44 (—, 48, —, 52) sts** — i.e., **44 (44, 48, 48, 52) sts** total. (S, L, 2XL skip this adjustment.)

You should now have **44 (44, 48, 48, 52) sts** — a multiple of 4 for ribbing.

### Cuff

Change to smaller needles (US 4 / 3.5 mm).

Work in 2×2 rib (*k2, p2* on RS; *p2, k2* on WS) for **4" (10 cm)**.

BO all sts loosely in pattern.

*Total sleeve length: 13" + 4" = 17" (43 cm). ✓*

---

## ASSEMBLY

1. **Block all pieces** to the measurements in the schematic.

2. **Shoulder Seams:** With RS together, align front and back at the top edge. Seam **38 (44, 48, 54, 60) sts** in from each outer edge using mattress stitch or a 3-needle bind-off, leaving the center **36 sts** of front and back open for the neck.

   *Math check: Total BO sts 112 (124, 132, 144, 156) − 36 neck = 76 (88, 96, 108, 120); ÷ 2 shoulders = 38 (44, 48, 54, 60). ✓*

3. **Set in Sleeves:** Lay the body flat. Measure down from the shoulder seam **8 (8.5, 8.75, 9.25, 9.5)"** on both front and back to mark the armhole depth.

   *Math check: Sleeve top width = ½ of upper arm circumference = 8 (8.4, 8.75, 9.1, 9.5)". ✓ Matches half the cast-on edge of the sleeve.*

   With RS together, center the cast-on edge of the sleeve at the shoulder seam and pin to the marked points on the body. Sew the sleeve top to the body using mattress stitch.

4. **Side & Sleeve Seams:** Starting at the cuff, sew the underarm sleeve seam, continue through the underarm join, and sew down the side seam to the hem. Repeat for the other side.

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## TURTLENECK

With smaller 16" circular needle (US 4 / 3.5 mm), RS facing, beginning at the right shoulder seam:

- Pick up and knit **36 sts** across back neck (1 st per BO st).
- Pick up and knit **12 sts** down left front neck edge (along the seam).
- Pick up and knit **36 sts** across front neck.
- Pick up and knit **12 sts** up right front neck edge.

**Total: 96 sts.** Place marker for beginning of round and join to work in the round.

*Math check: 96 sts is a multiple of 4 for 2×2 rib. ✓*

**Round 1:** *k2, p2*; repeat from * around.

Continue in 2×2 rib in the round until turtleneck measures **7" (18 cm)** from pick-up round (or desired height — 7" gives a generous fold-over collar).

BO **very loosely** in pattern. *Tip: Use a needle one or two sizes larger for the bind-off, or use Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off, so the collar fits comfortably over your head.*

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## FINISHING

- Weave in all ends on the WS.
- Gently steam-block or wet-block the finished sweater again if desired, paying attention to the gathered cuff to encourage the balloon shape.
- Allow to dry flat.

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## Schematic Summary

```
        ◄── 20 (22, 24, 26, 28)" ──►        (Front/Back, each)
       ┌──────────────────────────┐  ▲
       │                          │  │
       │        STOCKINETTE       │  14–16"
       │                          │  │
       │░░░░░░░░ 2×2 RIB ░░░░░░░░ │  ▼
       └──────────────────────────┘

        SLEEVE (knit top-down)
       ┌──────────────────────────┐  ▲   ◄── 16–19" (balloon)
       │                          │  13"
       │       STOCKINETTE        │  │
       │                          │  ▼
        \________ gather _________/
        ░░░░░░░ 2×2 RIB ░░░░░░░░░     4"   ◄── 8–9.5" cuff
```

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Enjoy your **Cloud Nine Pullover** — a cozy, modern, cropped silhouette with all the drama of a balloon sleeve and the comfort of a soft turtleneck. ☁️