Drop Shoulder Sweater

Cast on and Ribbing

Row 1

With CC1, cast on 336 stitches with US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles. Place marker and join to work in the round.

Ribbing

Work in [k2, p2] ribbing for 2 in / 5 cm, ending after a WS row. Knit one round in stockinette stitch.

Transition to US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles. Knit straight until lower body measures approximately 17.5 in / 44 cm.

Divide for Sleeves

Next Round RS

Cut CC1 and rejoin with MC. Knit 168 stitches. Place the remaining 168 stitches on waste yarn so that they are out of the way as you work the front side flat.

Next Rows

Working back and forth on the front, continue knitting straight until front piece measures 3.5 in / 9 cm from where you began working flat. End after a WS row, ready to begin on the RS.

Separate for Shoulders/Neck Shaping

Knit 84 stitches and slide these stitches onto waste yarn or a holder for later (these will become the left shoulder). Knit across the remaining 84 stitches (these will become the right shoulder). Turn your work and purl back.

Right Shoulder

Decrease Row RS

K1, ssk, k to end

Next Rows

Continue in pattern, working a decrease row every 2 rows for a total of 60 rows.

Stitch Checkpoint (1/1)

Right Shoulder: 54 st

Bind Off

Bind off on the next RS row in pattern with medium tension.

Left Shoulder

Place the stitches from the holder or waste yarn back onto your needle. Beginning on the WS, purl one row.

Decrease Row RS

Knit to last 3 st, k2tog, k1

Next Rows

Continue in pattern, working a decrease row every 2 rows for a total of 60 rows.

Stitch Checkpoint (1/1)

Left Shoulder: 54 st

Bind Off

Bind off on the next RS row in pattern with medium tension.

Back

Place the back section stitches onto your working needle and continue in stockinette stitch (knit the RS, purl the WS) until back piece is approximately equal to the height of the top of the shoulders on the front section.

Bind off the back section in pattern with medium tension.

Align the front and back sections so the shoulders match on top and the sleeve edges are even. Seam together the shoulder sections to the back section.

Neck

With US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles - pick up stitches around the neckline starting at the front center point of the V and working around the neck, ending on the other side of the V. You will need a multiple of 4 for neckline ribbing.

Work neckline ribbing as follows:

Ribbing Row 1

[K2, p2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Ribbing Row 2

[P2, k2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Continue working in ribbing as established until neckline measures 1.5 in / 4 cm

Bind Off

Bind off in pattern with medium tension. When ribbing is complete, tack down the front sections of ribbing that overlap at the V in the center to close the V neck shaping. Use a darning needle and the same yarn to secure the edges.

Sleeves

With US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles or DPNs, pick up approximately 130 stitches around the arm, ensuring that you've picked them up equally around.

Note

To do this easily, start at the center of the underarm and pick up half the stitches between the underarm and the top center shoulder seam. Then pick up the same number down the other side. If you'd like your sleeve to fit with a bit more room, you may pick up additional stitches as you work around.

When sleeve stitches are on the needle, place a marker at the center of the underarm and knit in the round for 1 in / 3 cm

Decrease Row

K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches before m, ssk, k1

Continue Sleeve

Continue the sleeve in stockinette stitch (knitting every round), working a decrease row as established above approximately every 0.75 in / 2 cm until sleeve measures approximately 3 in / 8 cm and you have 122 stitches.

Sleeve Ribbing

Transition to needle two sizes smaller and knit one round.

Begin ribbing as follows: [K2, p2] rep to end of round. Continue working ribbing as established until cuff measures 2 in / 5 cm.

Bind off in pattern with medium tension.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing and blocking

Weave in ends and wet block your sweater, pinning flat and turning once as needed until dry.

Wet block sweater, soaking for at least 20 minutes, then press out excess water and pin flat to dry. Turn as needed for even drying.