purlJam

# Festive Drop-Shoulder Pullover — Men's Large
### A Beginner-Friendly Boxy Christmas Jumper with Custom Colourwork

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## Size
Men's Large
- **Finished chest:** 122 cm (48 in)
- **Finished length (shoulder to hem):** 70 cm (27½ in)
- **Sleeve length (underarm to cuff):** 48 cm (19 in)
- **Positive ease:** approx. 15 cm (6 in) over a 107 cm chest — boxy/relaxed fit

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## Materials

**Yarn:** Hayfield Bonus DK with Wool (or any DK weight wool/wool-blend)
- **Main Colour (MC):** approx. 800–900 g
- **Contrast Colour 1 (CC1):** approx. 100 g (for chart motif — adjust to your artwork)
- **Contrast Colour 2 (CC2) and any further colours:** approx. 50 g each (depending on chart)

**Needles:**
- 3.25 mm straight needles (for rib)
- 4.00 mm straight needles (for body and sleeves)
- 4.00 mm circular needle, 40 cm (for neckband — optional)

**Notions:**
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- Bobbins (for intarsia) OR yarn butterflies (for stranded colourwork)

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## Tension (Gauge)
**22 sts × 28 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in stocking stitch on 4 mm needles, after blocking.

⚠️ **Important:** Knit a tension square that includes a small section of colourwork. Stranded knitting naturally tightens — if your colourwork section is tighter than your plain st st, go up a needle size for the colourwork rows only.

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## Abbreviations (UK)
- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **st st** — stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **CO / BO** — cast on / cast off
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **MC / CC** — main colour / contrast colour
- **k2tog** — knit two together (decrease)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (decrease)
- **rep** — repeat

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## Attached Stitch Chart

🎨 **Please refer to the separate attached chart panel for the visual grid of your custom Christmas motif.** The chart is provided as a separate asset and is NOT reproduced here.

**Where the chart is placed in the pattern:**
The chart is worked on the **FRONT piece only**, centred horizontally, beginning after the ribbed hem and approximately 15–20 cm up from the cast-on edge (about row 42 of st st on the front — adjust to taste).

**How to read your chart (flat knitting):**
- Each square = 1 stitch. Each row of squares = 1 row of knitting.
- Read **RS (odd-numbered) rows from RIGHT to LEFT**.
- Read **WS (even-numbered) rows from LEFT to RIGHT**.
- Each colour in the chart key corresponds to one yarn colour. Change colours as the chart dictates.

**Colour-change / yarn management:**
- For small motifs or isolated shapes (e.g. baubles, stars): use **intarsia** — a separate bobbin of yarn for each colour block. Twist yarns at every colour change on the WS to avoid holes.
- For all-over patterns (e.g. Fair Isle snowflakes): use **stranded colourwork** — carry the unused colour loosely across the back. **Catch floats every 3–4 stitches** to prevent snagging.
- Keep tension relaxed on the floats — pull working yarn, spread stitches on right needle, then bring float across.

**Centring the chart on the Front (math):**
Front stitch count = **134 sts**.
- Let **C** = the width of your chart in stitches (count it on the attached chart).
- **Side stitches each side** = (134 − C) ÷ 2.
- *Example:* If your chart is 60 sts wide, work 37 sts in MC, then 60 chart sts, then 37 sts in MC. ((134 − 60) ÷ 2 = 37 ✓)
- If (134 − C) is odd, add 1 extra stitch to the left side.

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## BACK

With 3.25 mm needles and MC, **cast on 132 sts**.

**Rib:**
- Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2*; rep from * to end.
- Row 2 (WS): *p2, k2*; rep from * to end.
- Rep these 2 rows until rib measures **6 cm** (approx. 18 rows), ending on a WS row.

**Change to 4 mm needles.**

**Set-up row (RS):** k across, increasing 2 sts evenly across the row. **(134 sts)**

*Math check: 132 + 2 = 134 sts ✓ — matches front for seaming.*

**Body:**
Continue in st st (k on RS, p on WS) until work measures **70 cm** from cast-on edge, ending on a WS row. This is approx. 179 rows of st st after the rib.

*Math check: 64 cm body × 28 rows/10 cm = 179 rows ✓*

**Shoulders:**
Cast off all 134 sts loosely. Place removable markers 45 sts in from each edge — the centre 44 sts will form the back of the boatneck opening.

*Math check: 45 + 44 + 45 = 134 ✓*

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## FRONT

Work exactly as for Back through the rib and set-up row. **(134 sts on 4 mm needles)**

**Plain section before chart:**
Work in st st for approx. **15 cm** (42 rows), ending on a WS row.

**Begin chart:**
Refer to the **Attached Stitch Chart**. On the next RS row:
- k [(134 − C) ÷ 2] sts in MC,
- work row 1 of chart over C sts (following chart colours),
- k [(134 − C) ÷ 2] sts in MC.

Continue working straight, following the chart on the centre sts and MC on the side sts, until all chart rows are complete.

**After the chart:**
Continue in st st with MC only until front measures the **same as back (70 cm)** from cast-on, ending on a WS row.

**Shoulders:**
Cast off all 134 sts loosely. The centre 44 sts will align with the back centre to form the boatneck.

*Math check: front and back identical = 134 sts each ✓*

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## JOIN SHOULDERS

With RS together, seam the **outer 45 sts of each shoulder** (right shoulder and left shoulder), leaving the centre 44 sts of front and back unworked. This open centre forms the **boatneck**.

Boatneck opening width ≈ 44 sts ÷ 22 sts per 10 cm = **20 cm** — comfortable head-room without stretching.

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## SLEEVES (Make 2)

Lay the joined body flat. Measure **20.5 cm down from the shoulder seam** along the side edge on both front and back (= 41 cm total armhole depth, generous drop-shoulder).

With RS facing, 4 mm needles and MC, **pick up and knit 90 sts evenly** along the armhole edge (45 sts from front, 45 sts from back, between the markers).

*Math check: 41 cm × 22 sts/10 cm = 90 sts ✓*

**Sleeve shaping (worked flat, top-down):**
Beginning with a WS purl row, work in st st.

**Decrease row (RS):** k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. (2 sts decreased)

Work decrease row every **6th row, 20 times** in total. **(90 − 40 = 50 sts)**

*Math check: 20 dec rows × 6 rows apart = 120 rows ≈ 43 cm. ✓*

Continue straight in st st (no more decreases) until sleeve measures **43 cm** from pick-up edge, ending on a WS row.

**Cuff:**
Change to 3.25 mm needles.
- Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2*; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
- Row 2 (WS): *p2, k2*; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
- Rep until cuff measures **5 cm**.

Cast off loosely in rib.

*Total sleeve length: 43 + 5 = 48 cm ✓*

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## NECKBAND (Boatneck Finishing)

With RS facing, 3.25 mm circular needle (or short straight needles) and MC, pick up and knit approx. **96 sts** around the boatneck opening (about 44 sts across back, 44 sts across front, 4 sts at each shoulder seam corner).

Work in k2, p2 rib for **3 cm**.

Cast off loosely in rib.

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## FINISHING

1. **Seam sides:** With RS together, mattress-stitch the side seams from cast-on edge up to the sleeve pick-up point. Do not seam the sleeve area — it is already attached.
2. **Seam sleeves:** Mattress-stitch the sleeve underarm seam from cuff to underarm.
3. **Weave in all ends** — be particularly careful with colourwork ends; weave them into matching colour areas where possible.
4. **Block:** Soak in lukewarm water with a wool-safe wash, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring), and lay flat to dry on a blocking mat. Pat to finished measurements. Blocking is essential for evening out colourwork tension.

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## Final Measurement Check
| Section | Stitches/Rows | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Chest (front + back) | 134 + 134 sts | 122 cm ✓ |
| Body length | 70 cm | 70 cm ✓ |
| Armhole depth | 90 sts picked up | 41 cm ✓ |
| Sleeve length | 43 cm + 5 cm cuff | 48 cm ✓ |
| Neck opening | 44 sts wide | 20 cm ✓ |

Enjoy your festive jumper — and have a very merry Christmas! 🎄