Drop-Shoulder Ribbed Mock Neck Pullover

Easy • Sport weight • Knitted flat in pieces

A boxy, oversized drop-shoulder pullover with a slightly cropped body, 2×2 rib fabric, garter-stitch hems, cuffs, and selvedge edges, and a short standing mock neck. The shoulder seam sits down the upper arm. Size L is the requested size; the full range is included so you can choose ease.

Difficulty

Easy. Skills used: garter stitch, 2×2 rib, kfb increases, ssk and k2tog decreases, binding off, picking up stitches, mattress stitch, working a small neck in the round.

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

To fit bust: 32–34 (36–38, 40–44, 46–50, 52–56)" / 81–86 (91–97, 102–112, 117–127, 132–142) cm

Choose the size whose finished bust gives you about 8–12" (20.5–30.5 cm) of positive ease. Size L is intended for a 40–44" bust with an oversized fit.

Finished Measurements

Measurements are with rib slightly stretched to gauge, as the sweater will be worn.

• Bust: 44½ (48½, 52½, 56½, 60½)" / 113 (123, 133.5, 143.5, 153.5) cm
• Back/front width: 22¼ (24¼, 26¼, 28¼, 30¼)" / 56.5 (61.5, 66.5, 72, 77) cm
• Length, shoulder to hem: 18 (19, 20, 21, 22)" / 45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm
• Armhole depth: 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm
• Side seam: 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm
• Shoulder seam each side: 7¼ (7¾, 8¾, 9¼, 10)" / 18.5 (19.5, 22, 23.5, 25.5) cm
• Neck width: 8 (8¾, 9, 9¾, 10¼)" / 20.5 (22, 23, 25, 26) cm
• Front neck depth: 3" / 7.5 cm
• Mock neck height: 2½" / 6.5 cm
• Upper sleeve circumference: 18¼ (19¾, 20¼, 21¾, 22¼)" / 46.5 (50, 51.5, 55, 56.5) cm
• Cuff width (flat, unstretched): about 8¼ (9, 9¾, 10¼, 11)" / 21 (23, 25, 26, 28) cm
• Sleeve length, underarm to cuff edge: 16½ (17½, 17½, 18½, 18½)" / 42 (44.5, 44.5, 47, 47) cm

Materials

Yarn: Sport-weight wool or wool-blend (wool is recommended so the rib recovers). Color: red.

Approximately 1550 (1750, 1950, 2200, 2450) yd / 1420 (1600, 1785, 2010, 2240) m.

That is about 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) skeins of a 270 yd / 247 m per 100 g put-up. Buy an extra skein if your yarn is lighter-yardage or you knit loosely. Rib uses more yarn than stockinette.

Needles

• US 5 / 3.75 mm: 24–32" (60–80 cm) circular for garter hems and cuffs, plus a 16" (40 cm) circular for the mock neck
• US 6 / 4 mm: 32" (80 cm) circular, used flat, for body and sleeves
• Optional: US 7 / 4.5 mm for binding off the mock neck loosely

Circular needles are used for stitch capacity; the body and sleeves are still worked flat. Straight needles may be used if they hold the stitches comfortably.

Notions

• Tapestry needle
• 2 stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Second ball of yarn (or a second end from the same skein) for the front neck
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

Gauge

24 stitches and 32 rows = 4" (10 cm) in 2×2 rib on US 6 / 4 mm needles, blocked and measured slightly stretched (the way the fabric will hang on the body).

That is 6 sts and 8 rows per inch.

Swatch at least 6" / 15 cm square. Wash and dry the swatch as you will the sweater, then stretch it gently until the rib looks like fabric you want to wear — not yanked tight, not fully collapsed. Measure in the center.

If you have too many stitches per 4", go up a needle size; too few, go down. Do not skip this. Collapsed rib gauge will turn this oversized pullover into a fitted one.

Garter stitch on US 5 / 3.75 mm should be close to the same stitch gauge; the hem is worked to a measured length, not a row count.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO — bind off
• CO — cast on
• dec — decrease
• inc — increase
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
• kfb — knit into the front and back of the same stitch (1 stitch increased)
• p — purl
• patt — pattern
• pm — place marker
• rep — repeat
• RS — right side
• ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit those 2 slipped stitches together through the back loops (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side

Pattern Notes

• The pullover is three rectangles plus two tapered sleeves. There is no armhole indentation and no sleeve cap.
• Work flat unless the instructions say to join in the round (mock neck only).
• Garter selvedge: knit the first and last stitch of every row on rib sections. This is the “garter stitch edge” along the sides and makes seaming easier.
• When instructions give one number, it applies to all sizes. When they give a sequence, read S (M, L, XL, 2XL).
• Keep rib aligned after increases and decreases: knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you; work new stitches into 2×2 rib as they become available.
• The dropped shoulder is created by the extra body width, not by extra shaping. The shoulder seam will sit on the upper arm, not at the shoulder bone.

Stitch Patterns

Garter stitch (flat) Knit every stitch every row.

2×2 rib with garter selvedge (flat) — used for body and sleeves Every row: K1, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, k1.

(Stitch counts are multiples of 4 + 2, so this lands correctly.)

2×2 rib (in the round) — used for the mock neck Every round: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

BACK

With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, CO 134 (146, 158, 170, 182) sts.

Garter hem: Knit every row until the piece measures 1½" (4 cm) from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Change to US 6 / 4 mm needles.

Next row (RS): K1, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, k1.

Continue in 2×2 rib with garter selvedge (every row: K1, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, k1) until the piece measures 18 (19, 20, 21, 22)" / 45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Bind off all sts in rib (knit the knits, purl the purls as you bind off). Do not cinch the edge.

Mark the start of each armhole on both side edges: measure 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm down from the bind-off edge and place a marker or safety pin on each selvedge. The fabric between the bind-off and these markers is the armhole edge.

FRONT

Work as for the Back until the piece measures 15 (16, 17, 18, 19)" / 38 (40.5, 43, 45.5, 48.5) cm from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

(That is 3" / 7.5 cm less than the Back: 18 − 3 = 15; 19 − 3 = 16; 20 − 3 = 17; 21 − 3 = 18; 22 − 3 = 19 ✓.)

Shape front neck

Dividing row (RS): Work in patt across 47 (51, 56, 60, 64) sts, place the next 40 (44, 46, 50, 54) sts on a holder for the center front neck, join a second ball of yarn, work in patt to end. 47 (51, 56, 60, 64) sts remain on each side.

Check: 47 + 40 + 47 = 134; 51 + 44 + 51 = 146; 56 + 46 + 56 = 158; 60 + 50 + 60 = 170; 64 + 54 + 64 = 182 ✓.

Work both sides at the same time with separate balls.

Next row (WS): Work in patt across each side.

Neck decrease row (RS):

• Right front (first set of sts, beginning of RS row): Work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
• Left front (second set of sts): K1, ssk, work in patt to end.

1 st decreased at each neck edge.

Rep the last 2 rows 3 more times — 4 decrease rows total.

Stitches remaining each shoulder: 47 − 4 = 43; 51 − 4 = 47; 56 − 4 = 52; 60 − 4 = 56; 64 − 4 = 60 ✓.

43 (47, 52, 56, 60) sts each side.

Continue even in patt on each side until the Front matches the Back length: 18 (19, 20, 21, 22)" / 45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Bind off each shoulder in rib.

Mark armholes on the Front side edges the same way as the Back: 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm down from the shoulder bind-off.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Sleeves are knitted flat from the cuff up, then seamed and set into the straight armhole.

With US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, CO 50 (54, 58, 62, 66) sts.

Garter cuff: Knit every row until the cuff measures 1½" (4 cm) from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Change to US 6 / 4 mm needles.

Next row (RS): K1, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, k1.

Work 1 WS row in established rib with garter selvedge.

Increase row (RS): K1, kfb, work in 2×2 rib as established to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 2 sts increased.

Work 3 rows even in patt, working new stitches into 2×2 rib (knit the knits, purl the purls as they face you; keep the first and last stitch as garter selvedge).

Rep the last 4 rows (increase row + 3 even rows) 29 (31, 31, 33, 33) more times — 30 (32, 32, 34, 34) increase rows total.

Stitches: 50 + (30 × 2) = 110; 54 + (32 × 2) = 118; 58 + (32 × 2) = 122; 62 + (34 × 2) = 130; 66 + (34 × 2) = 134 ✓.

110 (118, 122, 130, 134) sts.

Work even in patt until the sleeve measures 16½ (17½, 17½, 18½, 18½)" / 42 (44.5, 44.5, 47, 47) cm from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. If you reach the stitch count before this length, simply work even; if you are a few increases short when you hit the length, work extra increase rows every RS row until the count is correct, then bind off.

Bind off in rib.

FINISHING

Weave in ends that will be trapped in seams; leave the rest until after seaming. Block the five pieces flat to the finished measurements. Do not stretch the rib aggressively or it will stay baggy. Pin to width and length, let dry fully.

Shoulder seams

With RS together (or RS facing if you prefer mattress stitch from the right side), join Front to Back at the shoulders.

Seam from each armhole edge toward the neck for 7¼ (7¾, 8¾, 9¼, 10)" / 18.5 (19.5, 22, 23.5, 25.5) cm, matching the 43 (47, 52, 56, 60) bound-off Front shoulder stitches to the corresponding Back stitches.

Leave the center Back neck open: 8 (8¾, 9, 9¾, 10¼)" / 20.5 (22, 23, 25, 26) cm.

Check: 7¼ + 8 + 7¼ = 22½ vs 22¼" body width; 7¾ + 8¾ + 7¾ = 24¼; 8¾ + 9 + 8¾ = 26½ vs 26¼; 9¼ + 9¾ + 9¼ = 28¼; 10 + 10¼ + 10 = 30¼ ✓ (½" total is seaming take-up / rounding).

Use mattress stitch, catching the garter selvedge.

Set in sleeves

The top (bound-off) edge of each sleeve is sewn to the straight armhole.

Match the center of the sleeve bind-off to the shoulder seam. Pin the sleeve top along the Front armhole edge from shoulder to the armhole marker, then along the Back armhole edge from shoulder to the other armhole marker.

Armhole length (Front + Back) is 18 (19, 20, 21, 22)" / 45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm, which matches the sleeve-top width of 18¼ (19¾, 20¼, 21¾, 22¼)" / 46.5 (50, 51.5, 55, 56.5) cm with a little ease to ease in ✓.

Sew with mattress stitch.

Side and sleeve seams

Starting at the hem, sew the Front and Back side seams up to the underarm (the armhole marker). Continue in one line down the sleeve seam to the cuff.

The side seam is 9 (9½, 10, 10½, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm: body length minus armhole depth (18 − 9 = 9; 19 − 9½ = 9½; 20 − 10 = 10; 21 − 10½ = 10½; 22 − 11 = 11 ✓).

Garter hems and cuffs: seam ridge-to-ridge so the ridges line up.

MOCK NECK

With US 5 / 3.75 mm 16" / 40 cm circular needle and RS facing, beginning at the left shoulder seam:

1. Pick up and knit 16 sts evenly down the left front neck slope (about 2 sts per 3 rows along the 3" / 7.5 cm edge).
2. Knit across the 40 (44, 46, 50, 54) held center-front sts, decreasing 8 (12, 10, 14, 14) sts evenly as you work them — 32 (32, 36, 36, 40) sts from the center front. Even decrease: k3, k2tog style as needed so the count lands on 32 (32, 36, 36, 40). Check: 40 − 8 = 32; 44 − 12 = 32; 46 − 10 = 36; 50 − 14 = 36; 54 − 14 = 40 ✓.
3. Pick up and knit 16 sts evenly up the right front neck slope.
4. Pick up and knit 32 (36, 36, 40, 40) sts evenly across the back neck opening.

96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts.

Check: 16 + 32 + 16 + 32 = 96; 16 + 32 + 16 + 36 = 100; 16 + 36 + 16 + 36 = 104; 16 + 36 + 16 + 40 = 108; 16 + 40 + 16 + 40 = 112 ✓. All counts are multiples of 4 for 2×2 rib.

Place marker and join for working in the round. Be careful not to twist.

Rib round: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Work in 2×2 rib until the mock neck measures 2½" (6.5 cm) from the pickup round.

Bind off loosely in rib. If the neck will not stretch comfortably over your head as you test it before cutting the yarn, undo the bind-off and use US 7 / 4.5 mm, or bind off with a sewn/Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind-off. A tight neck bind-off is the one detail that makes a mock neck unwearable.

FINAL STEPS

Weave in remaining ends on the wrong side.

Steam or lightly spritz the seams and mock neck and pat them flat. Do not stretch the mock neck wider than it needs to sit standing; the smaller needle and rib are what make it stand up.

How it should fit

• The body is a wide, short box. Hem hits around the high hip / just below the waist, depending on torso length.
• Shoulder seams sit several inches down the upper arm (dropped shoulder).
• Sleeves are full-length and generous at the upper arm, with garter cuffs.
• The mock neck is a short standing collar — not a fold-over turtleneck. It should pass over the head and then sit close at the base of the neck.
• Fabric is vertical 2×2 rib with a garter band at hem and cuffs and a one-stitch garter chain along every side seam.

If the body is too short for you, work extra even length before the Front neck divide (and the same extra on the Back). Keep the 3" / 7.5 cm neck depth and the armhole depth unchanged unless you also lengthen the sleeve top / armhole to match.