purlJam

<pattern>

# COZY CLASSIC DROP SHOULDER PULLOVER

A beginner-friendly boxy pullover featuring a relaxed drop shoulder silhouette and an elegant boatneck. This sweater is worked in simple stockinette stitch with minimal shaping, making it the perfect first sweater project. The timeless design works up quickly in worsted weight yarn and pairs beautifully with jeans or your favorite skirt.

---

## SIZES
S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

**Finished Chest Circumference**: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" / 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm

*Designed with 4-6" / 10-15 cm of positive ease for a relaxed, boxy fit.*

**Sample shown in size M on a 34" bust.**

---

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn
- **Yardage**: 1000 (1150, 1300, 1450, 1600) yards / 914 (1052, 1189, 1326, 1463) meters
- **Suggested yarn**: Cascade 220, Lion Brand Wool-Ease, Berroco Vintage

**Needles**: 
- US 8 (5mm) circular needle, 32" length or longer (for body)
- US 8 (5mm) circular needle, 16" length (for sleeves)
- US 8 (5mm) DPNs or preferred method for small circumferences (optional, for sleeve cuffs)
- US 6 (4mm) circular needle, 32" length (for ribbing)
- US 6 (4mm) circular needle, 16" length (for sleeve ribbing)

*Or sizes needed to obtain gauge*

**Notions**:
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle for seaming
- Stitch holders or waste yarn

---

## GAUGE

**18 stitches × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.

**Gauge is critical for proper fit.** Please take time to swatch and adjust needle size if necessary.

### How to Swatch:
Cast on 24 stitches using larger needles. Work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) for 5-6 inches. Bind off loosely. Block swatch by washing and laying flat to dry. Measure over the center 4" square, avoiding edges.

---

## PATTERN NOTES

**Construction**: This pullover is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up. The back and front are identical rectangles with no armhole shaping (true drop shoulder style). Shoulders are seamed, leaving the center open for a wide boatneck. Sleeves are picked up from the armhole edge and worked down in the round to the cuff.

**Fit**: This sweater has a boxy, oversized fit with dropped shoulder seams that sit on the upper arm. Choose your size based on desired ease—4-6" of positive ease is recommended for the intended relaxed look.

**Boatneck**: The wide neckline sits off the shoulders. The neck opening is approximately 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)" wide.

**Techniques used**:
- Cast on and bind off
- Knit and purl (stockinette stitch)
- K2, P2 ribbing
- Picking up stitches
- Seaming (mattress stitch recommended)
- Working in the round
- Decreasing (k2tog)

---

## PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK

Using smaller needles, **cast on 160 (180, 196, 216, 232) stitches**.

*Math check: S = 160 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 35.6" (rounds to 36") ✓*
*M = 180 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 40" ✓*
*L = 196 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 43.6" (rounds to 44") ✓*
*XL = 216 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 48" ✓*
*2XL = 232 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 51.6" (rounds to 52") ✓*

**Set-up Row (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Ribbing**:
**Row 1 (RS)**: K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Row 2 (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until ribbing measures **2.5"** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Change to larger needles.**

**Body**:
Working in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS), continue until piece measures **24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26)"** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

*This is total body length: 24 rows/4" × body length gives approximately 144 (147, 150, 153, 156) rows of stockinette*

**Bind off all stitches loosely.**

---

### FRONT

Work exactly as for Back.

---

### FINISHING

**Block** both pieces to measurements before seaming.

**Join Shoulders**:
Lay Front and Back pieces with right sides facing up, shoulder edges aligned.

Using the mattress stitch or your preferred seaming method, join the **outer 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) stitches** on each shoulder.

*Math check: 160 total sts - 88 neck sts = 72 shoulder sts ÷ 2 = 36 sts each shoulder (Size S) ✓*
*M: 180 - 100 = 80 ÷ 2 = 40 ✓*
*L: 196 - 108 = 88 ÷ 2 = 44 ✓*
*XL: 216 - 120 = 96 ÷ 2 = 48 ✓*
*2XL: 232 - 128 = 104 ÷ 2 = 52 ✓*

Leave the **center 88 (100, 108, 120, 128) stitches** unjoined for the boatneck opening.

*Neck opening width check: 88 sts ÷ 18 sts × 4" = 19.6" ÷ 2 (front and back) = 9.8" opening ✓*

**Join Side Seams**:
Starting at the bottom hem, seam the side edges together, stopping **9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)"** from the shoulder seam. This opening is the armhole.

*Armhole depth = 9" × 24 rows/4" = 54 rows for size S ✓*

---

### SLEEVES (make 2)

**Pick-up Round**:
With RS facing and using larger 16" circular needle, starting at the center of the underarm, pick up and knit:

**81 (86, 90, 95, 99) stitches** evenly around the armhole opening.

*Math check Size S: 9" armhole × 24 rows/4" = 54 rows × 1.5 pickup ratio = 81 sts ✓*
*Pickup ratio explanation: You're picking up approximately 3 sts for every 2 rows*

Place marker and join to work in the round.

**Rounds 1-8**: Knit all stitches.

**Decrease Round**: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. *[2 sts decreased]*

Repeat Decrease Round every **8th round 13 (13, 13, 14, 14) more times**.

*Remaining sts: S = 81 - (14 decreases × 2) = 53 sts ✓*
*M = 86 - 28 = 58 sts ✓*
*L = 90 - 28 = 62 sts ✓*
*XL = 95 - 30 = 65 sts (rounds to 64 for rib) = 64 sts*
*2XL = 99 - 30 = 69 sts (rounds to 68 for rib) = 68 sts*

**For XL only**: Work 1 additional decrease round to reach 64 sts.
**For 2XL only**: Work 1 additional decrease round to reach 68 sts.

You should now have **52 (56, 60, 64, 68) stitches**.

Continue working even in stockinette until sleeve measures **14.5"** from pickup round (or 2.5" less than desired finished sleeve length).

*Total sleeve length will be 17" including cuff*

**Cuff**:
Change to smaller 16" circular needle (or DPNs if circumference is too small for circular needle).

**Ribbing Round**: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat Ribbing Round until cuff measures **2.5"**.

**Bind off loosely in pattern.**

---

### FINAL ASSEMBLY

Weave in all ends. Block again if desired to even out any slight irregularities in the sleeve pickup or seams.

---

## SCHEMATIC

```
BODY (Front & Back - identical)
        
     ┌─────────────────────┐
     │    BOATNECK OPENING │
9"   │   19.6(22,24,26,28)"│
     ├──────┐      ┌───────┤
     │      │      │       │
     │      │      │       │
14.5"│      │      │       │
     │      │      │       │
     │      │      │       │
     │                     │
2.5" │      STOCKINETTE    │
     │                     │
     └─────────────────────┘
     36 (40, 44, 48, 52)"


SLEEVE (picked up and worked down)

         ┌───────────┐
        /             \
       /               \
      /                 \  18 (19, 20, 21, 22)"
     /                   \ at underarm
    /                     \
   /                       \
  /                         \
 /          DECREASE         \
/           EVERY 8TH         \
\            ROUND            /
 \                           /
  \                         /
   \                       /
    \                     /
     \                   /
      \                 /
       \               /
        \             / 11.5 (12.5, 13.5, 14, 15)"
         \           /  at cuff
          \         /
           └───────┘
             2.5"
            (cuff)
           
    17" total sleeve length
```

**Key Measurements**:
- **Body Length**: 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26)"
- **Chest Width**: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)"
- **Armhole Depth**: 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)"
- **Shoulder Width** (each): 8 (8.9, 9.8, 10.7, 11.6)"
- **Neck Opening**: 19.6 (22.2, 24, 26.7, 28.4)"
- **Sleeve Length**: 17" (adjustable)
- **Upper Arm Circumference**: 18 (19, 20, 21, 22)"
- **Cuff Circumference**: 11.5 (12.5, 13.5, 14, 15)"

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k**: knit
- **p**: purl
- **k2tog**: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk**: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **RS**: right side
- **WS**: wrong side
- **st(s)**: stitch(es)
- **DPNs**: double-pointed needles

---

## CUSTOMIZATION TIPS

**Length**: To adjust body length, work more or fewer rows in the stockinette section before binding off. Every 1" added requires approximately 10 yards of additional yarn.

**Sleeve Length**: Work more or fewer rounds before beginning the cuff ribbing. Remember to adjust yardage accordingly.

**Fit**: For a more fitted look, size down. For an even more oversized look, size