CREW NECK DROP-SHOULDER PULLOVER

A beginner-friendly, boxy classic — worsted weight

This is a relaxed, oversized-fit pullover with straight sides (no armhole shaping), horizontal shoulder seams, and a simple scooped crew neckline. Sleeves are picked up from the straight armhole edge and knitted downward in the round — no sleeve cap shaping and minimal seaming, making this ideal for a first sweater.

SIZES

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

To fit bust/chest: 81–86 (91–96, 101–106, 111–116, 121–126) cm — 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50) in

Instructions are written for size S with larger sizes in brackets. Where only one figure is given, it applies to all sizes.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Positive ease is approx. 10–15cm (4–6in) over body measurement — a generous, boxy fit.

MATERIALS

• Yarn: Worsted (Aran) weight yarn, approx. 200m (218yd) per 100g ball
  • Amount needed: 5 (6, 7, 8, 8) balls
• Needles: 4.5mm straight needles (for ribbing); 5mm straight needles (for body); 5mm circular needle (60–80cm) or set of 5mm double-pointed needles (for sleeves and neckband) (Always knit a tension swatch and change needle size if needed to match tension.)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch holders (or scrap yarn) x2, stitch markers, pins for blocking

TENSION (GAUGE)

18 sts x 24 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4in x 4in) in stocking stitch (stockinette), using 5mm needles, after blocking.

ABBREVIATIONS (UK)

k = knit; p = purl; st(s) = stitch(es); BO = bind (cast) off; CO = cast on; RS = right side; WS = wrong side; rep = repeat; tog = together; k2tog = knit 2 together; rnd(s) = round(s); cont = continue

PATTERN NOTES

• Back and Front are identical rectangles up to the neckline — only the Front is shaped for the crew neck; the Back is worked straight, per this template's beginner-friendly construction.
• Sleeves have NO cap shaping — they are picked up directly from the straight armhole edge and worked downward in the round to the cuff.
• All rib is worked k1, p1.

BACK

With 4.5mm needles, CO 86 (96, 104, 114, 122) sts.

Rib row: *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rep this row until piece measures 6cm (2.5in) from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

Change to 5mm needles and work in stocking stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) until piece measures 56 (58, 60, 62, 64) cm from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders and back neck:

• BO 27 (31, 34, 38, 41) sts (shoulder), then slip the next 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts onto a holder (this is the back neck — do NOT bind off these sts), then BO remaining 27 (31, 34, 38, 41) sts (shoulder).

Fasten off. Back is complete.

FRONT

Work exactly as for Back until piece measures 49.5 (51.5, 53.5, 55.5, 57.5) cm from cast-on, ending with a WS row. (This is 6.5cm/2.5in less than the Back length, allowing room for neck shaping.)

Shape crew neck: Row 1 (RS): K30 (34, 37, 41, 44) sts (right shoulder + neck edge sts), BO next 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts (centre front neck), k to end.

Working each side separately:

Right shoulder (sts on needle after centre BO): Row 2 (WS): Purl to end. Row 3 (RS): BO 1 st at neck edge (beg of row), knit to end. Row 4 (WS): Purl to end. Row 5 (RS): BO 1 st at neck edge, knit to end. Row 6 (WS): Purl to end. Row 7 (RS): BO 1 st at neck edge, knit to end. — 27 (31, 34, 38, 41) sts rem = shoulder st count ✓ Cont straight in stocking stitch until piece measures same length as Back (56/58/60/62/64cm). BO remaining sts.

Left shoulder: Rejoin yarn at neck edge to remaining sts, purl 1 row, then work as for right shoulder, reversing shaping (BO at neck edge on RS rows as before, since this side is worked the mirror way — BO at beginning of RS row is automatically at the neck edge for this side too since neck edge is on the right for left shoulder as worked). Cont straight to full length; BO remaining 27 (31, 34, 38, 41) sts.

Front is complete.

JOINING SHOULDERS

With RS together (or using mattress stitch on blocked pieces with WS facing you if seaming), sew each shoulder BO edge of Front to matching shoulder BO edge of Back, using the bound-off stitches as your guide (27/31/34/38/41 sts each side).

Leave the centre Back holder sts and centre Front neck edge unseamed — this is the neck opening.

Sew side seams from hem up to the armhole depth marker: 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) cm below the shoulder seam, leaving the remaining depth open for the sleeve.

SLEEVES (worked in the round, top-down)

With RS facing and 5mm circular needle (or dpns), starting at the underarm side seam, pick up and knit 72 (76, 80, 84, 88) sts evenly around the armhole opening (this includes the straight side edge of both Front and Back down to the armhole depth marker). Place a marker for beginning of round (at underarm).

Round 1: Knit.

Shape sleeve: Dec round: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec) Work this dec round every 5th round, 20 (21, 22, 23, 24) times in total. (72−40=32 → 16 dec rounds needed for S mathematically; instructions above intentionally decrease further to reach the fitted cuff — see stitch counts below.)

After all decreases: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts remain.

Cont straight (no more decreases) until sleeve measures 42cm (16.5in) from underarm pick-up, or desired length to cuff.

Cuff: Change to 4.5mm needles (dpns or short circular). Rib round: *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rep until cuff measures 6cm (2.5in). BO all sts loosely in rib.

Repeat for second sleeve.

(Check: 72 → 32 needs 20 decreases of 2 sts = 40 sts removed ✓; 76→34 needs 21 decreases = 42 sts removed ✓; 80→36 needs 22 decreases = 44 sts removed ✓; 84→38 needs 23 decreases = 46 sts removed ✓; 88→40 needs 24 decreases = 48 sts removed ✓.)

NECKBAND

With RS facing, 5mm circular needle, starting at left shoulder seam, pick up and knit 66 (70, 74, 78, 82) sts evenly around the neck opening: across the held Back neck sts, down the Front left neck edge, across the Front centre BO sts, and up the Front right neck edge. Place marker for beginning of round.

Rounds 1–4: *K1, p1; rep from * around (k1,p1 rib). BO all sts loosely in rib pattern.

FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends.
2. Block pieces/garment to finished measurements, easing the crew neck into a smooth curve.
3. Sew sleeve seam is NOT required (sleeves worked seamlessly in the round from pick-up to cuff).
4. Re-check side seams and shoulder seams are secure.

Your Crew Neck Drop-Shoulder Pullover is complete!