DIY drop shoulder sweater using short rows

this sweater is extremely fast to knit

I wanted a relaxed look sweater, with drop shoulders, but without all the bulk around the torso: so I came up (after knitting and un-raveling few times) with a pattern for shaping the shoulders using short rows. Do not be intimidated by short rows. It's a simple technique and it's easy to learn: this tutorial on mariknits.com is extremely well explained and detailed for anything you need to explore the "wrap & turn" (W&T).

The finished sweater

DIY - drop shoulder color-block sweater // supplies:

knitting needles size 5mm, 5-1/2mm, 8mm
crochet hook size 5mm
circular knitting needle: 5-/12mm

yarn:
450 gr (for a size 2) - thick & thin yarn
(similar to this Euro Yarns Quick and Thick and/or Rowan thick'n'thin

)
150gr. each of white and grey fingering weight yarn merino wool,

worked together to obtain a heather gray.

stitch gauges (fabric un-stretched but blocked)

5mm needles gray - 2:2 ribs = 10 stitches :7cm = 2-3/4"
10 rows : 3.8cm = 1-1/2"

8mm needles lavender - stockinette 10 stitches = 12.5cm = 5"
10 rows = 7.5cm = 3"

DIY - drop shoulder color block sweater // pattern:

front & back:
Cast on 70 stitches with the grey/white yarn (I used the crocheted chain stitch cast on).
Use the 5 mm needles and work on 2: 2 ribs for 18 rows = 7cm = 2-3/4"
Change yarn and use the 8mm needles: you'll need only 43 stitches with the much thicker yarn, so proceed like this:

k3, *k2tog, k2tog, k1*, k2tog, k2tog, k2 = total number of stitches: 43

proceed knitting in stockinette for 28 cm = 11" = 36 rows

waist detail

shaping the shoulders with short rows:
back: row 1 // k1, m1, k29, w&t, p 17, w&t, k29, m1 k1 row 2 // purl 45st row 3 // k1, m1, k31, w&t, p19, w&t, k31, m1, k1 row 4 // purl 47st row 5 // k1, m1, k33, w&t, p21, w&t, k33, m1. k1 row 6 // purl 49st row 7 // k1, m1, k35, w&t, p23, w&t, k35, m1, k1 row 8 // purl 51st row 9 // k1, m1, k37, w&t, p25, w&t, k37, m1, k1
row 10 // purl 53st row 11 // k1, m1, knit until the last stitch, m1, k1 row 12 // purl 55 st
front
row 1 // k1, m1, k29, w&t, p 17, w&t, k29, m1 k1 row 2 // purl 45st row 3 // k1, m1, k31, w&t, p19, w&t, k31, m1, k1 row 4 // purl 47st row 5 // k1, m1, k33, w&t, p21, w&t, k33, m1. k1 row 6 // purl 49st
row 7 // k1, m1, k35, w&t, p23, w&t, k7, bind off 9, k18, m1 k1
row 8 // purl 21st on each side
row 9 // Right side: - k1, m1, k17, k2tog, k1
Left side: k1, ssk, k5, w&t, p4, p2tog, p1 Right side: p1, p2tog, p4, w&t, k3, k2tog,k1 Left side: k1,ssk,k15, m1 k1
row 10 // purl 19st on each side row 11 // Right side: k1, m1, k15, k2tog
Left side: k1, ssk, k15, m1 k1 row 12 // purl 19st on each side

Place the back and front parts together, right sides in, and use the three needles method to knit together the shoulders, while binding off the center stitches for the neck opening of the back.

front and back joined on the shoulders with the three needles

front and back folded on the shoulder with the shoulder shaped: don't be intimidated by the kind of "star wars" shape of the shoulders! That pointy part will look perfect once worn.

the neck:

Neck detail
Using the crochet hook, pick the stitches around the neck opening and place them on the circular needle.
I picked up 80 stitches, worked on 2:2 ribs for 17 rows, then purl 1 row, then bind off.

the sleeves:

Cast on 30 stitches with the 5 mm needles, and work on 2:2 ribs for 18 rows.
Switch to 5.5mm needles and keep working on 2: 2 ribs, increasing 1 stitch on each side every 4 rows until reached 54 stitches, then work until reached the desired length of the sleeves.
Mine are 39 cm = 15-1/2" long.

the sleeves have been sewn onto the drop shoulder with a back stitch onto open stitches

Like it?
apparently this was a 100% success, since I made another one during the Christmas break for my s-daughter. She saw mine and she agreed to help: since she is a begineer knitter, I knitted the grey parts and the short rows, and she helped doing the stockinette with the big needles.

So... two sweaters made in few days. It is THAT fast! give it a try!

xox, d.

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