Men’s Red Pullover with Black & White Shoulder Pattern

A classic crew-neck jumper worked flat in pieces from the hem up. The body and sleeves are solid red treble crochet with stretchy double-crochet ribbing. A geometric black-and-white colourwork band is worked across the shoulders (upper Front, upper Back and sleeve heads). Intermediate: simple shaping, seaming and two-colour tapestry or stranded colourwork.

Skill level: Intermediate

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

To fit chest: 86–91.5 (96.5–101.5, 106.5–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm / 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52) in

Shown in the size range as written; choose the size whose to-fit chest matches the wearer. Size L is a typical men’s Large.

Finished measurements

Measurements after seaming, with fabric relaxed. 8–11 cm (3–4¼ in) positive ease.

Body stitch counts (Back/Front): 68 (76, 84, 92, 100) tr
68 tr × 10 cm ÷ 14 = 48.5 cm; 2 × 48.5 = 97 cm chest ✓
76 tr → 54.5 cm; 2 × 54.5 = 108.5 cm ✓
84 tr → 60 cm; 2 × 60 = 120 cm ✓
92 tr → 65.5 cm; 2 × 65.5 = 131.5 cm ✓
100 tr → 71.5 cm; 2 × 71.5 = 143 cm ✓

Yarn

Worsted / 10-ply (approx. 200 m per 100 g).

MC (red): 1000 (1200, 1400, 1600, 1800) m — 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) balls of 100 g / 200 m
CC1 (black): 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) m — 1 ball
CC2 (white): 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) m — 1 ball

Allow extra if you work a denser motif or a taller shoulder band.

Hooks & notions

• 5 mm crochet hook (body, sleeves, colourwork)
• 4.5 mm crochet hook (ribbing and neckband)
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers
• Scissors

Tension (gauge)

14 tr and 8 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm over treble crochet using 5 mm hook, after blocking.

Work a swatch of at least 18 tr × 12 rows, measure the centre 10 cm, and change hook if needed. Too few stitches in 10 cm: go up a hook. Too many: go down a hook. Colourwork tension should match the plain treble fabric; if the band pulls in, go up half a millimetre for colourwork rows only.

Ribbing tension (for reference): approx. 16 dc BLO × 20 rows = 10 cm with 4.5 mm, slightly stretched.

Abbreviations (UK)

This pattern uses UK crochet terms throughout.

Turning chain: ch 3 at the start of a tr row counts as 1 tr. Work the last tr of the row into the top of the turning ch unless told otherwise.

Increase (sleeve): 2 tr in the first st and 2 tr in the last st (inc 1 each end = +2 sts).

Decrease: tr2tog at the indicated edge.

Pattern notes

• Worked flat, bottom up: Back, Front, two Sleeves. Seam shoulders, set in sleeves, then seam sides and underarms. Neckband is worked in the round.
• Ribbing is worked sideways in dc BLO, then rotated so the next row is worked along the long edge.
• Keep a consistent 3-ch turning chain. Place a marker in the top of the turning ch if you tend to skip it.
• Colourwork (shoulders): Begin the 8-row black-and-white band when the armhole measures 11 (12.5, 14, 15.5, 17) cm — the remaining 10 cm to the shoulder. Use tapestry crochet (carry the unused colour along the top of the stitches and enclose it) or stranded colourwork (floats on the WS, caught every 2–3 sts). Do not pull floats tight.
• Motif and placement: The band sits on both shoulders of Front and Back and on each sleeve head, so the pattern reads around the armhole when seamed. Intended colours: MC red ground, CC1 black, CC2 white. Work a repeating geometric motif — stacked diamonds, small stars, or chevrons — framed by a single row of CC1 at the lower and upper edges of the band. Centre the repeat on the piece. If you prefer not to follow a charted motif, work this 8-row substitute, which still reads as a shoulder pattern:
  Row 1 CC1; Rows 2–3 CC2; Rows 4–5 CC1; Rows 6–7 CC2; Row 8 CC1.
  Return to MC only after the shoulders are complete (or fasten off in CC if the last row is a contrast row).
• Change colour on the last yarn-over of the previous stitch. Carry MC up the side if it is needed again soon; otherwise fasten off and weave in.
• Lengths are more important than exact row counts. Check measurements against the table as you go.

Back

Hem ribbing

With 4.5 mm hook and MC, ch 12.

Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. (11 dc)

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc BLO in each dc to end, turn.

Rep Row 2 until the strip measures 48.5 (54.5, 60, 65.5, 71.5) cm when slightly stretched, ending after a WS row. Do not fasten off.

(11 dc at typical ribbing tension ≈ 6 cm height ✓)

Body

Change to 5 mm hook. Turn the ribbing so the long edge is on top (RS facing).

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr here and throughout), work 68 (76, 84, 92, 100) tr evenly along the long edge of the ribbing, turn.

(68 tr = 48.5 cm at tension ✓; 76 = 54.5 cm ✓; 84 = 60 cm ✓; 92 = 65.5 cm ✓; 100 = 71.5 cm ✓)

Row 2: Ch 3, tr in each tr to end, turn.

Cont in tr until Back measures 46 (47, 48, 49, 50) cm from the lower edge of the ribbing, ending after a WS row.

Armhole shaping

Next row (RS): Sl st across first 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, ch 3, tr to last 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, leave rem sts unworked, turn.
62 (68, 74, 80, 86) tr
(68 − 3 − 3 = 62 ✓; 76 − 4 − 4 = 68 ✓; 84 − 5 − 5 = 74 ✓; 92 − 6 − 6 = 80 ✓; 100 − 7 − 7 = 86 ✓)

Dec row: Ch 3, tr2tog, tr to last 2 sts, tr2tog, turn. (−2 sts)

Rep Dec row 1 (1, 2, 2, 3) more time(s).
58 (64, 68, 74, 78) tr
(S: 2 dec rows × 2 = 4; 62 − 4 = 58 ✓. Total each side 3 + 2 = 5 sts; 68 − 10 = 58 ✓)
(M: 2 dec rows; 68 − 4 = 64 ✓. Each side 4 + 2 = 6; 76 − 12 = 64 ✓)
(L: 3 dec rows; 74 − 6 = 68 ✓. Each side 5 + 3 = 8; 84 − 16 = 68 ✓)
(XL: 3 dec rows; 80 − 6 = 74 ✓. Each side 6 + 3 = 9; 92 − 18 = 74 ✓)
(2XL: 4 dec rows; 86 − 8 = 78 ✓. Each side 7 + 4 = 11; 100 − 22 = 78 ✓)

Work even in tr on these 58 (64, 68, 74, 78) sts until armhole measures 11 (12.5, 14, 15.5, 17) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shoulder colourwork

Join CC1 (and CC2 as the motif requires). Work 8 rows of the shoulder pattern in tr across all sts, keeping stitch count at 58 (64, 68, 74, 78).
(8 rows = 10 cm at tension ✓; armhole 11 + 10 = 21 cm for S ✓; 12.5 + 10 = 22.5 ✓; 14 + 10 = 24 ✓; 15.5 + 10 = 25.5 ✓; 17 + 10 = 27 ✓)

Back neck and shoulders

With RS facing, work 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) tr, fasten off. Skip centre 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts for back neck, join yarn in next st and work 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) tr, fasten off.

(16 + 26 + 16 = 58 ✓; 18 + 28 + 18 = 64 ✓; 19 + 30 + 19 = 68 ✓; 21 + 32 + 21 = 74 ✓; 22 + 34 + 22 = 78 ✓)
(Shoulder 16 tr = 11.5 cm ✓; neck 26 tr = 18.5 cm ✓)

Front

Work as for Back through hem, body and armhole shaping, including the start of the 8-row shoulder colourwork, until 2 rows of colourwork are complete. Armhole now measures 11 (12.5, 14, 15.5, 17) cm + 2.5 cm. 58 (64, 68, 74, 78) tr.

Front neck

Divide (RS): Work 22 (24, 25, 27, 28) tr, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.

(Left shoulder + left neck-edge sts before decreases: (58 − 14) ÷ 2 = 22 ✓; (64 − 16) ÷ 2 = 24 ✓; (68 − 18) ÷ 2 = 25 ✓; (74 − 20) ÷ 2 = 27 ✓; (78 − 22) ÷ 2 = 28 ✓)

Neck dec row: Ch 3, tr to last 2 sts, tr2tog, turn. (−1 at neck)

Rep Neck dec row 5 more times. 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) tr.
(22 − 6 = 16 ✓; 24 − 6 = 18 ✓; 25 − 6 = 19 ✓; 27 − 6 = 21 ✓; 28 − 6 = 22 ✓)
(6 neck rows = 7.5 cm; 2 colourwork rows before divide + 6 = 8 colourwork rows ✓)

Work 0 rows even if needed so this side matches the Back armhole depth, then fasten off.

Opposite side: With RS facing, skip centre 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts, join yarn in next st, ch 3, tr to end. 22 (24, 25, 27, 28) tr.

Neck dec row: Ch 3, tr2tog, tr to end, turn. (−1 at neck)

Rep Neck dec row 5 more times. 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) tr. Fasten off.

(Centre 14 + 6 dec each side = 14 + 12 = 26 neck sts ✓; 16 + 12 = 28 ✓; 18 + 12 = 30 ✓; 20 + 12 = 32 ✓; 22 + 12 = 34 ✓)

Sleeves (make 2)

Cuff ribbing

With 4.5 mm hook and MC, ch 12.

Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. (11 dc)

Row 2: Ch 1, dc BLO in each dc to end, turn.

Rep Row 2 until the strip measures 21.5 (23, 24.5, 25.5, 28.5) cm when slightly stretched, ending after a WS row. Do not fasten off.

Sleeve body

Change to 5 mm hook. RS facing, work along the long edge:

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3, work 30 (32, 34, 36, 40) tr evenly along the long edge, turn.
(30 tr = 21.5 cm ✓; 32 = 23 cm ✓; 34 = 24.5 cm ✓; 36 = 25.5 cm ✓; 40 = 28.5 cm ✓)

Work 1 more row even in tr.

Shape sleeve: Inc 1 st at each end of the next row, then as follows until 52 (58, 64, 70, 78) tr:

• S: every foll 3rd row 10 more times (11 inc rows).
  (30 + 22 = 52 ✓; 11 × 3 = 33 rows of shaping)
• M: every foll 3rd row 7 more times, then every foll 2nd row 5 times (13 inc rows).
  (32 + 26 = 58 ✓; 8 × 3 + 5 × 2 = 24 + 10 = 34 rows)
• L: every foll 3rd row 4 more times, then every foll 2nd row 10 times (15 inc rows).
  (34 + 30 = 64 ✓; 5 × 3 + 10 × 2 = 15 + 20 = 35 rows)
• XL: every foll 3rd row 2 more times, then every foll 2nd row 14 times (17 inc rows).
  (36 + 34 = 70 ✓; 3 × 3 + 14 × 2 = 9 + 28 = 37 rows)
• 2XL: every foll 2nd row 18 more times (19 inc rows).
  (40 + 38 = 78 ✓; 19 × 2 = 38 rows)

Work even (if needed) until Sleeve measures 49 (50, 51, 52, 53) cm from the lower edge of the cuff, ending after a WS row.

Sleeve-head colourwork and cap

Join CC1/CC2 and work the same 8-row shoulder pattern as the body, and at the same time shape the cap as follows (if colourwork finishes before the cap, complete the cap in MC; if the cap is shorter than 8 rows, continue the motif through the last row).

Cap row 1 (RS): Sl st across first 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, ch 3, tr to last 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, leave rem unworked, turn.
46 (50, 54, 58, 64) tr
(52 − 6 = 46 ✓; 58 − 8 = 50 ✓; 64 − 10 = 54 ✓; 70 − 12 = 58 ✓; 78 − 14 = 64 ✓)

Cap dec row: Ch 3, tr2tog, tr to last 2 sts, tr2tog, turn. (−2)

Rep Cap dec row 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) more times. Fasten off.
34 (36, 38, 40, 44) tr
(46 − 12 = 34 ✓; 50 − 14 = 36 ✓; 54 − 16 = 38 ✓; 58 − 18 = 40 ✓; 64 − 20 = 44 ✓)

Finishing

Weave in ends on each piece. Block pieces to the finished measurements (pin colourwork so the band lies flat and matches the treble width).

Shoulders: With RS together, join Front and Back shoulders with sl st through both layers, or mattress/whip stitch on the WS. 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) sts each shoulder.

Set in sleeves: Match underarm skip-sts of Sleeve to underarm skip-sts of body, and sleeve-head colourwork to body colourwork. Ease the cap into the armhole; pin at underarm, shoulder seam and mid-points. Seam with sl st or whip stitch.

Side and underarm seams: Join from hem to underarm and from cuff to underarm in one continuous seam, matching ribbing row-for-row.

Neckband

With 4.5 mm hook, MC, and RS facing, join at the left shoulder seam.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 88 (92, 96, 100, 104) dc evenly around the neck (about 1 dc in each st across back and front neck, and 1 dc in each row-end along the shaped sides, skipping a st at each inner corner if the edge flares). Sl st to first dc to join.
(88 dc at 16 dc / 10 cm ≈ 55 cm neck circumference — sits at the base of the neck and stretches over the head ✓)

Rounds 2–6: Ch 1, dc BLO in each dc around, sl st to first dc.

Fasten off. Weave in remaining ends. Block the neckband lightly.

Schematic (key lengths)

Chest (finished):     97 (108.5, 120, 131.5, 143) cm
Length:               67 (69.5, 72, 74.5, 77) cm
Hem to armhole:       46 (47, 48, 49, 50) cm
Armhole depth:        21 (22.5, 24, 25.5, 27) cm
Colourwork depth:     10 cm (8 rows) on upper body and sleeve heads
Shoulder each:        11.5 (13, 13.5, 15, 15.5) cm
Back neck:            18.5 (20, 21.5, 23, 24.5) cm
Front neck drop:      7.5 cm
Sleeve to underarm:   49 (50, 51, 52, 53) cm
Upper arm:            37 (41.5, 45.5, 50, 55.5) cm
Ribbing (hem & cuff): 6 cm

To work a different size

The five sizes already cover 34–52 in chests. Recheck tension before changing hook or stitch counts; 1 st at this tension = 0.7 cm, so adding or removing 2 tr changes chest by about 3 cm.