purlJam

<pattern>

# OFF-SHOULDER PULLOVER
### A Modern Drop Shoulder Sweater with Wide Boat Neck

**Skill Level**: Beginner  
**Pattern Number**: KN-PULL-007-OFF

---

## DESCRIPTION

This cozy, relaxed pullover features an extra-wide boat neckline designed to drape elegantly off the shoulders for a fashion-forward look. The drop shoulder construction and boxy silhouette make this an easy, beginner-friendly knit with minimal shaping. Perfect for layering or making a statement on its own!

**Style Features**:
- Extra-wide boat neck for off-shoulder styling
- Drop shoulder construction (shoulder seam sits on upper arm)
- Boxy, relaxed fit with 4-6" positive ease
- Cropped length hits at high hip
- Sleeves picked up and worked down from armhole

---

## SIZES

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)

**Finished Measurements**:

| Size | Bust Circumference | Body Length | Armhole Depth | Sleeve Length |
|------|-------------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
| S | 38" (96.5 cm) | 20" (51 cm) | 9" (23 cm) | 17" (43 cm) |
| M | 42" (106.5 cm) | 20.5" (52 cm) | 9.5" (24 cm) | 17.5" (44.5 cm) |
| L | 46" (117 cm) | 21" (53.5 cm) | 10" (25.5 cm) | 18" (45.5 cm) |
| XL | 50" (127 cm) | 21.5" (54.5 cm) | 10.5" (26.5 cm) | 18" (45.5 cm) |
| 2XL | 54" (137 cm) | 22" (56 cm) | 11" (28 cm) | 18.5" (47 cm) |

**Recommended Ease**: 4-6" (10-15 cm) positive ease for intended boxy fit.

**Choose your size based on**: Actual bust measurement + 4-6" ease. For example, if your bust measures 34", choose size S (38").

---

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight (#4 Medium)
- **Yardage Required**: 900 (1000, 1150, 1300, 1450) yards / 823 (914, 1052, 1189, 1326) meters
- **Suggested Yarn**: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards/100g), or any worsted weight yarn that achieves gauge

**Needles**:
- US 8 (5 mm) needles for body and sleeves (16" and 32" circular, or straight)
- US 6 (4 mm) needles for ribbing (16" and 32" circular, or straight)
- Or sizes needed to obtain gauge

**Notions**:
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
- Waste yarn or stitch holders (optional)

---

## GAUGE

**18 stitches × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.

### Gauge Swatch Instructions:
Cast on 24 sts with larger needles.
Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) for 5" (12.5 cm).
Bind off. Block swatch by washing and laying flat to dry.
Measure over center 4" (10 cm) square.

**Gauge is critical**: Take time to swatch and adjust needle size if necessary. If you have more stitches per 4", use larger needles. If you have fewer stitches, use smaller needles.

---

## PATTERN NOTES

**Construction**: This sweater is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up. The front and back are simple rectangles with no armhole shaping (drop shoulder style). Shoulders are seamed, leaving a wide center opening for the off-shoulder boat neck. Sleeves are picked up from the armhole edge and worked down in the round (or flat, if preferred).

**Off-Shoulder Styling**: The extra-wide boat neckline (18-20" across) is designed to sit at or below the shoulder points for an off-shoulder effect. The neckline may shift during wear and may require occasional adjustment. For a more stable neckline, consider working a round of single crochet or adding a picot edge to prevent excessive rolling.

**Fit Notes**: This is a BOXY, RELAXED fit with significant positive ease. The dropped shoulder seam sits well down the upper arm (not at the shoulder point). The cropped length hits at the high hip. 

**Stitch Pattern Notes**: 
- K2, P2 ribbing is used for hems and cuffs
- Body cast-on must be divisible by 4 for ribbing to work correctly

---

## STITCH PATTERNS

**K2, P2 Ribbing (flat, over multiple of 4 sts + 2)**:
- Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
- Row 2 (WS): P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
- Repeat Rows 1-2.

**K2, P2 Ribbing (in the round, over multiple of 4 sts)**:
- All Rounds: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Stockinette Stitch (flat)**:
- RS rows: Knit all sts.
- WS rows: Purl all sts.

**Stockinette Stitch (in the round)**:
- All rounds: Knit all sts.

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK

**Cast On**: With smaller needles, cast on 86 (94, 106, 114, 122) sts.

[MATH CHECK: 
- S: 86 sts ÷ 4.5 sts/inch = 19.1" × 2 = 38.2" ✓
- M: 94 sts ÷ 4.5 = 20.9" × 2 = 41.8" ✓
- L: 106 sts ÷ 4.5 = 23.6" × 2 = 47.2" ✓
- XL: 114 sts ÷ 4.5 = 25.3" × 2 = 50.6" ✓
- 2XL: 122 sts ÷ 4.5 = 27.1" × 2 = 54.2" ✓
All are divisible by 4 +2 for ribbing: 86=21×4+2✓, 94=23×4+2✓, 106=26×4+2✓, 114=28×4+2✓, 122=30×4+2✓]

**Ribbing**: Work in K2, P2 Ribbing (flat) for 2" (5 cm), ending after a WS row.

**Switch to Larger Needles**: Change to larger needles.

**Body**: Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) until piece measures 20 (20.5, 21, 21.5, 22)" / 51 (52, 53.5, 54.5, 56) cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

[MATH CHECK: Length from hem to shoulder = finished body length ✓]

**Bind Off**: Bind off all sts loosely.

---

### FRONT

Work exactly as for Back.

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### JOINING SHOULDERS

Lay Front and Back pieces with right sides together, aligning top edges.

**Shoulder Seam Width (each side)**: 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 15) cm = 18 (20, 23, 25, 27) sts each side.

[MATH CHECK:
- S: 4" × 4.5 = 18 sts ✓
- M: 4.5" × 4.5 = 20.25 ≈ 20 sts ✓
- L: 5" × 4.5 = 22.5 ≈ 23 sts ✓
- XL: 5.5" × 4.5 = 24.75 ≈ 25 sts ✓
- 2XL: 6" × 4.5 = 27 sts ✓]

**Neck Opening (center sts left unjoined)**: 50 (54, 60, 64, 68) sts = 11 (12, 13.3, 14.2, 15.1)" center sts.

[MATH CHECK:
- S: 86 total - (18+18) shoulders = 50 neck sts = 11.1" ✓
- M: 94 - 40 = 54 = 12" ✓
- L: 106 - 46 = 60 = 13.3" ✓
- XL: 114 - 50 = 64 = 14.2" ✓
- 2XL: 122 - 54 = 68 = 15.1" ✓
Target was ~18-22" neck - these measurements are for HALF the circumference (front), so full neck opening = 22-30" which is EXTRA wide for off-shoulder ✓]

**Method 1 - Seaming**: 
1. Using tapestry needle and yarn, seam the outer 18 (20, 23, 25, 27) sts on the right shoulder edge.
2. Seam the outer 18 (20, 23, 25, 27) sts on the left shoulder edge.
3. Leave center 50 (54, 60, 64, 68) sts unjoined - this creates the wide boat neck opening.

**Method 2 - Three-Needle Bind Off** (Alternative):
1. Place the outer 18 (20, 23, 25, 27) sts from Front and Back right shoulder edges on two needles.
2. Join using three-needle bind off.
3. Repeat for left shoulder.
4. Center sts remain open.

---

### SLEEVES (Worked from picked-up stitches)

**Armhole Depth** = 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm

**Stitches to Pick Up**: 
At gauge of 24 rows/4" = 6 rows/inch:
- S: 9" × 6 = 54 rows → pick up 54 sts
- M: 9.5" × 6 = 57 rows → pick up 58 sts (round to even)
- L: 10" × 6 = 60 rows → pick up 60 sts
- XL: 10.5" × 6 = 63 rows → pick up 64 sts (round to multiple of 4)
- 2XL: 11" × 6 = 66 rows → pick up 68 sts (round to multiple of 4)

**Pickup**: With RS facing and larger needles, starting at bottom of armhole, pick up and knit 54 (58, 60, 64, 68) sts evenly along the armhole