Bulky Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater

Bulky Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater is a wardrobe staple kind of cozy sweater. The pattern is very simple and gives you options to knit the body flat or in the round depending on if you’re using self-striping yarn or not. Sleeves are knit in the round for both versions. Share your makes on Instagram and tiktok by tagging me @JamesNWatts and using #BulkyBasicDropSleeveSweater. Also sign up for my newsletter at JamesNWatts.com

BIG BOOK OF BASIC DROP SLEEVE SWEATERS

This sweater is the first pattern published as part of a greater collection of basic drop sleeve sweaters all written for different yarn weights with different gauges. The ebook pattern bundle will eventually consist of 4-5 patterns. The Super Bulky Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater will come next month, and Worsted Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater before the end of the year. If you like the idea of having a basic cozy sweater pattern that you can knit at several different gauges, consider purchasing the collection. The collection will go up in price as patterns are added, so consider buying it before the next pattern is added in March.

YARN

Mystery, from Wool Addicts, by Lang Yarns, in colorway 1125.0007.

92% virgin wool, 8% nylon. 50 grams, 120 yards (110 m). Chunky weight.

Any bulky/chunky weight yarn that gets gauge will work for this pattern.

GAUGE

12 sts x 22 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch knit on US 11 (8mm) knitting needles, or any size needle required to get gauge. Stitch gauge is more important than row gauge in this pattern, as all vertical lengths are given as both row counts and inch/cm measurements. You can adjust to your own row gauge if needed.

YARDAGE

736(823, 909, 996, 1083) (1169, 1256, 1342, 1429) yards/

673(753, 831, 911, 990) (1069, 1148, 1227, 1307) meters

Yardage provided is for a full length sweater that is 23” (58.5 cm) from shoulder to hem, plan for more or less yarn if altering the length of your sweater.

SIZING

XS(S, M, L, XL) (XXL, 3X, 4X, 5X),

To fit a chest circumference of 30(34, 38, 42, 46) (50, 54, 58, 62)“/

76(86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117) (127, 137, 147.5, 157.5)cm

Sweater is meant to be worn with 2-6” (5-15 cm) of positive ease, and has a finished circumference of

34(38, 42, 46, 50) (54, 58, 62, 66)”/

86.5(96.5, 106.5, 117, 127) (137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5)cm

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS

• US 11 (8mm) circular knitting needles for stockinette portions of the sweater, or any size needed to get gauge.

• US 9 (5.5mm) circular knitting needles for ribbing, or a size two sizes smaller than the needle you knit the body of the sweater with.

• Ring Stitch marker to mark beginning of round.

• Locking stitch markers to mark seams if you knit the flat knit version.

• Darning needle for weaving in ends.

CONSTRUCTION

Sweater is knit top down, beginning with the back, knit flat to the underarm. Front right and front left are worked flat, separately with neckline shaping. When you reach the bottom of the neckline, stitches are cast on using cable cast on and front right and left are joined together and knit to the underarm.

If knitting the body in the round, front and back are joined at the underarm and the remainder of the body is worked in the round.

If knitting the body flat, then front and back are worked to full length separately. Body is finished with 1x1 ribbing.

If you chose to knit the body flat, you will use mattress stitch to seam the side seams and shoulders.

Sleeves are knit in the round regardless of whether body was knit flat or in the round. Stitches are picked up and knit around the armhole and steady decreases are worked through the length of the sleeves. Sleeves are finished with 1x1 ribbing.

Stitches are picked up and knit around the circumference of the neckline and the collar is knit in 1x1 ribbing.