Diagonal Neckline Cover-Up Dress

A relaxed, A-line sleeveless dress with a modern asymmetric touch: instead of a symmetric V or scoop, the neckline sweeps in one continuous diagonal line from a straight right shoulder edge down across the chest to a dropped left shoulder. Worked flat in two simple panels using only knits, purls, and basic bind-offs — no short rows, no cables, no complicated shaping. Perfect as a beach cover-up, sundress, or layering piece.

MATERIALS

• Yarn: Worsted weight (US #4), approx. 1100 (1250, 1400, 1550) yds / 1000 (1140, 1280, 1420) m. A cotton, cotton-blend, or linen-blend yarn is ideal for a breezy cover-up feel.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles (used flat), or size needed to match gauge. A 24"–32" circular is helpful for holding the wide hem stitches.
• Notions: 2 stitch holders (or scrap yarn), tapestry needle, 4 stitch markers (optional, for tracking shaping rows), measuring tape.

GAUGE

18 sts x 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch, US 7 (4.5 mm) needle, after blocking. Always knit a gauge swatch (at least 22 sts x 28 rows) and adjust needle size as needed — fit depends on accurate gauge.

SIZES

S (M, L, XL)

Choose your size based on finished bust measurement with your desired amount of ease (this cover-up is designed to be worn loose).

ABBREVIATIONS

• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• k – knit
• p – purl
• k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• RS / WS – right side / wrong side
• St st – stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
• garter st – knit every row
• rem – remaining
• rep – repeat
• st(s) – stitch(es)

PATTERN NOTES

• Instructions are written for size S, with M, L, XL in parentheses. Where only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.
• The dress is worked in two flat panels (Back and Front), shaped from a wide A-line hem up to the underarm, then seamed at the shoulders and sides.
• The Front is the only panel with special shaping: at the underarm, it splits into two sections worked separately —
  • Section A (Right Front, as worn): worked straight with no shaping, forming the short, straight side of the neckline.
  • Section B (Left Front, as worn): shaped with a simple staircase bind-off (binding off a few stitches at the start of RS rows) to create the long diagonal sweep of the neckline.
  • To put the diagonal on the opposite side, simply swap the Section A / Section B instructions.
• The diagonal edge is created entirely with bind-offs — no short rows or decreases are needed in this section, making it very beginner-friendly.
• All shaping row instructions use standard bind-off/decrease techniques only.

BACK

Cast on 98 (108, 118, 126) sts.

Hem Border: Work 6 rows in garter st (knit every row).

Body Shaping (A-line): Switch to St st (k on RS, p on WS). Continue as follows:

Decrease Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)

Work the Decrease Row, then work 13 rows even in St st. Repeat this sequence 8 more times (9 decrease rows total, 126 rows total in this section).

After all decreases: 80 (90, 100, 108) sts rem. (9 dec rows x 2 sts = 18 sts removed → 98−18=80 ✓, 108−18=90 ✓, 118−18=100 ✓, 126−18=108 ✓)

Piece should measure approximately 22" from cast-on edge.

Underarm Shaping: BO 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 70 (80, 90, 98) sts rem.

Work even in St st until armhole measures 6.67" (7.67", 8.67", 9.33") from underarm BO — approximately 40 (46, 52, 56) rows.

Back Neck & Shoulders: Next row (RS): K18 (20, 22, 24) [right shoulder], BO center 34 (40, 46, 50) sts, k to end [left shoulder: 18 (20, 22, 24) sts].

Working each shoulder separately (join a second ball of yarn for the second shoulder): Work even for 6 rows, ending after a WS row. BO all 18 (20, 22, 24) sts of each shoulder.

Check: 18 + 34 + 18 = 70 ✓ | 20 + 40 + 20 = 80 ✓ | 22 + 46 + 22 = 90 ✓ | 24 + 50 + 24 = 98 ✓

FRONT

Work exactly as for the Back through the Underarm Shaping. 70 (80, 90, 98) sts rem after underarm BO.

Work even in St st for 6 rows (this sets up the split point).

Split Row (RS): K18 (20, 22, 24) sts — place these sts on a holder (this is Section A, your straight shoulder edge). Continue across remaining 52 (60, 68, 74) sts — these remain on the needle as Section B.

Section B – Diagonal Neckline (worked first)

With RS facing, continuing on the 52 (60, 68, 74) held sts:

Staircase Bind-Off Row (RS): BO 2 sts at beg of row, work to end. Work 1 row even (WS). Repeat these 2 rows 17 (20, 23, 25) times total.

(17 x 2 = 34 sts removed: 52−34=18 ✓ | 20 x 2 = 40: 60−40=20 ✓ | 23 x 2 = 46: 68−46=22 ✓ | 25 x 2 = 50: 74−50=24 ✓)

18 (20, 22, 24) sts rem.

Work even for 6 rows, ending after a WS row. BO all rem sts.

Section A – Straight Shoulder Edge

Return held 18 (20, 22, 24) sts to needle, RS facing, join yarn. Work even in St st for 40 (46, 52, 56) rows total (matching the total row count of Section B: 34/40/46/50 shaping rows + 6 even rows), ending after a WS row. BO all sts.

(Row check: Section B = 34+6=40 ✓, 40+6=46 ✓, 46+6=52 ✓, 50+6=56 ✓ — matches Section A exactly, so both shoulders finish at the same height.)

FINISHING

1. Weave in ends and block both panels to measurements before seaming (this is especially important for the diagonal edge, which will "square up" nicely with blocking).
2. Shoulder seams: With RS facing, sew Back shoulders to Front shoulders (Section A shoulder to one Back shoulder, Section B shoulder to the other) using mattress stitch.
3. Side seams: Sew side seams from the hem edge up to the underarm bind-off, using mattress stitch. Leave the underarm bind-off and everything above it open for the armhole.
4. Armhole trim: With RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 80 (88, 98, 104) sts evenly around each armhole opening (picking up roughly 3 sts for every 4 rows along vertical edges, and 1 st per st along bound-off edges — adjust by a stitch or two so the edge lies flat). Work 4 rows in garter st. BO all sts knitwise.
5. Neckline trim: With RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 90 (106, 120, 130) sts evenly around the entire neck opening (back neck bind-off, the diagonal edge, and the straight Section A edge), using the same pick-up rate as above. Work 4 rows in garter st. BO all sts knitwise.
6. Hem: The garter hem border requires no additional finishing.
7. Weave in all remaining ends, and steam or wet-block the finished dress once more, paying special attention to the diagonal neckline and hem edges for a crisp, professional finish.

Enjoy your Diagonal Neckline Cover-Up Dress!