Round-Neck Drop-Shoulder Pullover

Beginner · Worsted · Straight Needles

A boxy, relaxed drop-shoulder slip-over with a classic round neck. Front and back are simple rectangles; sleeves are worked flat and sewn in. Ideal first sweater.

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
To fit bust: 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50)"
Finished bust: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)"
Finished length: 24 (25, 26, 26½, 27)"
Upper arm: 8 (8½, 9¼, 9½, 10)"
Positive ease: approximately 6–8"

Shown in size M. Choose size with 6–8" positive ease over actual full-bust measurement.

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn (approx. 180–220 yd / 100 g)
1100 (1250, 1400, 1550, 1700) yd

Sample suggestion: smooth wool or wool-blend worsted for clear stitch definition and easy seaming.

Needles

• US 6 (4 mm) straight needles (ribbing)
• US 8 (5 mm) straight needles (body and sleeves)
• US 6 (4 mm) 16" circular needle (neckband only)
• Adjust needle size if needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

Stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape, 2 stitch markers (optional).

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 8 needles, blocked.
Take time to check gauge. Row gauge affects length; stitch gauge affects width.

Abbreviations (US)

BO = bind off
CO = cast on
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
p = purl
p2tog = purl 2 together
pm = place marker
rep = repeat
RS = right side
ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
st(s) = stitch(es)
St st = stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows)
WS = wrong side
wyib = with yarn in back
wyif = with yarn in front

Pattern Notes

• Pullover is worked flat in four pieces on straight needles, then seamed.
• Drop-shoulder construction: no armhole indentation; sleeve top is straight and matches the vertical armhole depth.
• Round neck is shaped on the front only; back neck is bound off straight.
• Neckband is worked in the round on a short circular needle after shoulders are joined (standard and beginner-friendly).
• When instructions read “0 (1, 2, 3, 4)” work the number that corresponds to your size. A hyphen (—) means that size does nothing at that step.
• All lengths are measured from cast-on edge unless noted.

Inline Dimension Check

• Back/Front width: 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts ÷ 5 sts/in = 20 (22, 24, 26, 28)" ✓
• Finished bust = 2 × width = 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)" ✓
• Sleeve top: 40 (42, 46, 48, 50) sts ÷ 5 = 8 (8.4, 9.2, 9.6, 10)" ≈ armhole depth ✓

BACK

With US 6 straight needles, CO 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts.

Ribbing
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until piece measures 2" from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Change to US 8 straight needles.

Body
Work in St st until piece measures 24 (25, 26, 26½, 27)" from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders & back neck
Next row (RS): BO 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) sts for right shoulder, k until 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts are on right needle (these are the center back neck sts just worked), place remaining 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) sts on holder for left shoulder.
Turn. BO the 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) center sts.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to left shoulder sts and BO remaining 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) sts.

(Alternative cleaner finish: work final RS row plain, then BO all sts on WS; mark center 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts for neck when seaming. Either method is fine.)

Fasten off. Make a note of total rows from top of rib if you wish to match Front exactly.

FRONT

Work exactly as for Back until piece measures 21 (22, 23, 23½, 24)" from CO edge, ending after a WS row.
(Neck shaping begins 3" below final shoulder height.)

Begin round neck
Row 1 (RS): K 39 (43, 47, 51, 55), place center 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts on holder for front neck, join a second ball of yarn and k remaining 39 (43, 47, 51, 55) sts.
Both sides of neck are now worked at the same time with separate balls of yarn.

Row 2 (WS): Purl to neck edge; on other side, purl to end.
Row 3 (RS): Knit to 3 sts before neck edge, k2tog, k1; on other side, k1, ssk, knit to end. (1 st decreased each neck edge)
Row 4: Purl both sides.

Rep Rows 3–4 five more times (6 decrease rows total).
Stitches remaining each side: 33 (37, 41, 45, 49).
(39 − 6 = 33; 43 − 6 = 37; 47 − 6 = 41; 51 − 6 = 45; 55 − 6 = 49 ✓)

Continue even in St st on both sides until Front measures same as Back to shoulder, ending after a WS row.

Shoulders
Next row (RS): BO 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) sts at right shoulder edge, knit to neck; on left side, knit to end.
Next row (WS): BO 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) sts at left shoulder edge, purl to neck; on right side purl remaining sts (if any).
BO remaining 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts on each neck edge (these form the short horizontal top of the round neck).

(Validation: 28 + 5 = 33; 31 + 6 = 37; 34 + 7 = 41; 37 + 8 = 45; 40 + 9 = 49 ✓)

Fasten off.

SLEEVES (make 2)

With US 6 straight needles, CO 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts.

Cuff
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2", ending after a WS row.

Change to US 8 straight needles.

Shape sleeve
Work 4 rows in St st.

Increase row (RS): K1, m1 (or kfb), knit to last st, m1 (or kfb), k1. (2 sts increased)
Work 5 (5, 5, 4, 4) rows even in St st.
Rep the last 6 (6, 6, 5, 5) rows 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) more times, then continue increasing every 6th row 0 (1, 2, 3, 4) time(s) more — OR simply:
Continue working Increase row every 6th row until you have 40 (42, 46, 48, 50) sts.
(For most sizes the cuff is already close; total increases needed: 0 (0, 1, 1, 1) pair(s) = +0 (0, 2, 2, 2) sts.
40 + 0 = 40; 42 + 0 = 42; 44 + 2 = 46; 46 + 2 = 48; 48 + 2 = 50 ✓)

After last increase, work even in St st until Sleeve measures 17 (17½, 18, 18, 18½)" from CO edge, or desired length to underarm, ending after a WS row.
BO all sts loosely.

FINISHING

Block
Wet- or steam-block all pieces to measurements:

• Back/Front: 20 (22, 24, 26, 28)" wide × 24 (25, 26, 26½, 27)" long
• Sleeves: 8 (8½, 9¼, 9½, 10)" wide at top × 17 (17½, 18, 18, 18½)" long

Shoulder seams
With RS together, mattress-stitch or back-stitch the 28 (31, 34, 37, 40) shoulder sts on each side.
Back neck remains open (44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts); front neck is already shaped.

Set in sleeves
Measure 8 (8½, 9¼, 9½, 10)" down from each shoulder seam along side edges of Front and Back; mark for armhole.
Sew bound-off edge of Sleeve to armhole edge between markers, centering sleeve top at shoulder seam. (Drop shoulder sits on upper arm.)

Side and sleeve seams
Sew side seams from hem to underarm.
Sew sleeve seams from cuff to underarm.
Weave in ends as you go.

Neckband
With US 6 / 4 mm 16" circular needle and RS facing, beginning at left shoulder seam:
Pick up and knit 6 sts down left front neck slope, k 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) held front neck sts, pick up and knit 6 sts up right front neck slope, pick up and knit 4 sts across right back shoulder edge (or from BO), pick up and knit 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) back neck sts, pick up and knit 4 sts across left back shoulder edge.

Total sts: 6 + 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) + 6 + 4 + 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) + 4 = 86 (92, 98, 104, 110) sts.
(86 / 92 / 98 / 104 / 110 — all even for 1×1 rib ✓)

Pm for beginning of round. Join to work in the round.
Round 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Round 1 until neckband measures 1–1¼".
BO loosely in rib.

(If you prefer not to use a circular needle: pick up the same stitches with a straight needle in sections, work ribbing flat, and seam the short neckband edges at one shoulder.)

Final
Weave in all remaining ends. Lightly block neckband and seams if needed.

Schematic Measurements (blocked)

Beginner Tips

• Count stitches after every rib section and after neck decreases.
• Use locking markers on the armhole depth points before seaming sleeves.
• Mattress stitch with RS facing gives nearly invisible seams on stockinette.
• If your row gauge differs, match the Front neck shaping start to “3" below Back shoulder” by measurement, not row count.
• Try on before binding off neckband if possible; a slightly looser BO keeps the round neck comfortable.

Enjoy your new round-neck slip-over!