Scandi Stripe Drop-Shoulder Pullover

A beginner-friendly, boxy drop-shoulder pullover with classic boatneck and easy horizontal stripes in three colors. Worked flat in pieces and seamed. Designed for Drops Air (or similar fluffy worsted) on 6 mm needles. Relaxed Scandinavian everyday style with generous positive ease (approx 6–8").

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL) To fit bust: 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50)" Finished bust circumference: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)" Finished length (hem to shoulder): 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26)" Sleeve length to underarm: 17.5 (18, 18, 18.5, 18.5)"

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

Yarn

Drops Air (lightweight superwash wool/alpaca blend, worsted/aran; approx 164 yd / 150 m per 1.75 oz / 50 g ball)

• Color A (Pink – main): 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) balls
• Color B (Orange): 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) balls
• Color C (Yellow): 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) balls

Note: User stash of 4 pink + 2 orange + 2 yellow is sufficient for sizes S–M and possibly L if stripes are followed exactly and ends are minimized. XL–2XL will require additional Color A. Always purchase extra if unsure; fluffy yarns vary in yardage used.

Needles

• US 10 / 6 mm straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular needles for ribbing (or two sizes smaller than main needle)
• Spare needle or stitch holder for 3-needle bind-off (optional)

Notions

• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

Gauge

16 sts and 22 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 10 / 6 mm needles, after blocking. Take time to make a gauge swatch. Drops Air is airy and will bloom; wash and block your swatch the same way you will finish the sweater. Adjust needle size if necessary.

Abbreviations (US)

BO – bind off CO – cast on k – knit p – purl pm – place marker rep – repeat RS – right side st(s) – stitch(es) St st – stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) WS – wrong side " – inches

Notes

• Sweater is worked flat in four pieces (Back, Front, two identical Sleeves) and seamed.
• Boatneck requires no neck shaping: simply leave center stitches unseamed at shoulders.
• Stripe Pattern (worked in St st): *10 rows Color A, 4 rows Color B, 10 rows Color A, 4 rows Color C; repeat from * throughout. Always change colors on a RS row. Carry unused yarn loosely up the side or cut and weave ends (for cleanest look on beginner garments, cut and weave).
• Ribbing is worked in Color A only.
• Selvedge: slip first st purlwise wyif on every row for neat seaming edges (optional but recommended).
• All measurements are given after light blocking. Block pieces before seaming for best results.
• Inline validation examples appear as (calculation ✓).

Stripe Sequence Reminder

Begin Stripe Pattern immediately after ribbing on all pieces. End with Color A at shoulders/cuff as needed so that the final visible band is neat.

BACK

With smaller needles (US 8 / 5 mm) and Color A, CO 80 (88, 96, 104, 112) sts.

Ribbing: Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end. Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 2" (approx 11 rows), ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles (US 10 / 6 mm). Work in St st and Stripe Pattern until piece measures 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26)" from CO edge, ending after a WS row. (Target row count after rib approx 121 (124, 127, 129, 132) rows at 22 rows/4" ✓)

Shoulder & Boatneck Divide Next row (RS): BO 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts for right shoulder, k until 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts remain on left needle (these are left shoulder sts), BO remaining 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) center sts for boatneck. (20+40+20=80; 22+44+22=88; 24+48+24=96; 26+52+26=104; 28+56+28=112 ✓) Fasten off. Place the remaining 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) left-shoulder sts on a holder or spare needle if using 3-needle BO later; otherwise BO them on the following WS row in pattern color.

(Alternative for both shoulders: BO all sts in pattern on final RS row, then seam later, leaving center 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts / approx 10 (11, 12, 13, 14)" unseamed for boatneck ✓)

FRONT

Work exactly as for Back.

SLEEVES (make 2 alike)

With smaller needles (US 8 / 5 mm) and Color A, CO 36 (36, 40, 40, 44) sts.

Cuff ribbing: Work k2, p2 ribbing as for Back until cuff measures 2.5", ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles (US 10 / 6 mm). Work in St st and Stripe Pattern, and at the same time shape sleeve as follows: Increase 1 st at each end of every 6th row 0 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, then every 8th row 10 (9, 9, 8, 8) times. (0+10=10 inc each side → +20 sts; 2+9=11 → +22 sts; 2+9=11 → +22 sts; 4+8=12 → +24 sts; 4+8=12 → +24 sts ✓)

After all increases: 56 (58, 62, 64, 68) sts. (36+20=56; 36+22=58; 40+22=62; 40+24=64; 44+24=68 ✓)

Continue even in Stripe Pattern until Sleeve measures 17.5 (18, 18, 18.5, 18.5)" from CO edge, ending after a WS row. BO all sts loosely in pattern.

(Sleeve top width: 56 (58, 62, 64, 68) sts ÷ 4 sts/inch = 14 (14.5, 15.5, 16, 17)" ✓
This matches the armhole depth opening of 8.5 (9, 9.5, 10, 10.5)" on Front + Back = 17 (18, 19, 20, 21)" total seam edge; slight ease is absorbed in seaming for drop-shoulder fit ✓)

FINISHING

1. Block: Wet-block or steam-block all pieces to measurements. Take care not to stretch the fluffy fabric excessively. Let dry completely.
2. Shoulders: With RS together, join 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts of each Front shoulder to corresponding Back shoulder using mattress stitch or 3-needle bind-off. Leave center 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts / 10 (11, 12, 13, 14)" open for boatneck. (Shoulder seam width each side approx 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7)" ✓)
3. Set in Sleeves: Align center of Sleeve top BO edge with shoulder seam. Sew Sleeve top evenly along the vertical armhole edge (side edge of Front/Back), matching the full armhole depth 8.5 (9, 9.5, 10, 10.5)". Use mattress stitch.
4. Side and Sleeve seams: Beginning at hem, sew side seams with mattress stitch up to underarm. Continue seamlessly into Sleeve underarm seam down to cuff. Match stripes as well as possible.
5. Neck edge (optional neatening): With smaller needles, Color A, and RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts along Back boatneck and 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts along Front boatneck (total ~80–112 sts). Work 4 rows k1, p1 rib. BO loosely in rib. (This stabilizes the boatneck; skip if you prefer a pure raw boatneck edge.)
6. Weave in all ends securely on WS. For color changes, weave each end along its own color section.
7. Final light steam if needed. Wear and enjoy!

Tips for Beginners

• Count stitches at the end of every RS row for the first few inches.
• Use locking stitch markers on the RS to track stripe row counts.
• Mattress stitch is your friend for invisible seams on St st.
• If you run low on Color A, shorten the solid pink sections by 2 rows each or make the final body stripe narrower.

Enjoy your cozy Scandi sweater!