Shawl Collar Pullover

For this simple drop-shoulder pullover with shawl collar, I used KnitPicks Peruvian yarn for the green and black sweater (1.75oz/50g = 110 yards) or Loops & Threads Impeccable worsted acrylic yarn, 4.5oz/127.5g = 277 yards, for the purple and silver one — with Opal Shawl in a Ball as the contrast yarn in the ribs. This pattern is for a women’s medium (8/10) and requires 16oz of yarn, including 1½ oz contrast yarn for the (optional) two-color ribs. It took me a day to do the main pieces on the machine, and three days to knit the ribs and collar.

If you don’t have an 8mm knitting machine, use a 5mm circular needle for the main pieces, all in stocking stitch. Do a tension sample, and adjust the yarn, needles, and/or pattern to suit.

Gauge: Plate 3 on the Bond machine – 27 rows x 18 stitches = 4” x 4”
Use 4 or 4.5mm circular needles for bottom, neck, and sleeve ribs, which are knit by hand.

BACK:

Using scrap yarn, cast on 84 stitches. Knit six rows and switch to main yarn; set counter to 0.

Work in stocking stitch for 12”, or 74 rows. Rows 75-76: decrease three stitches on each side for armhole. (78 sts left) Continue in stocking stitch for 10” or 60 rows.

Take middle third (28 stitches) and place on stitch holder, with 27 sts to each side. Alternatively, use scrap yarn to hold those middle stitches; knit six rows, then cast off those middle stitches.

Right side shoulder: Knit one row, push forward the outermost 8 needles. Knit back, push forward 1 needle on the outer side. Knit next row and push forward the next 8 needles. Knit back, and push forward 1 needle on the outer side. Knit final eight stitches. Push all 26 needles back into working position and change to contrast yarn. Knit six rows and cast off.

Left side shoulder: Knit one row, push forward the outermost 8 needles. Knit back, push forward 1 needle on the outer side. Knit next row and push forward the next 8 needles. Knit back, and push forward 1 needle on the outer side. Knit final eight stitches. Push all 26 needles back into working position and change to contrast yarn. Knit six rows and cast off.

FRONT:

Using scrap yarn, cast on 84 stitches. Knit six rows and switch to main yarn; set counter to 0. Take middle 8 stitches and knit six rows in scrap yarn; cast off these stitches. Note: I usually do 20 rows on the right side then 20 on the left, to keep the front balanced.

Work in stocking stitch for 12”, or 74 rows. Rows 75-76: decrease three stitches on each side for armhole. (78 sts) Place middle 8 stitches on holder (or knit six rows with scrap yarn and cast off); you should have 35 stitches left on each side.

Right side front: reset counter. Knit four rows and decrease one stitch next to the center. Repeat these four rows until 26 stitches are left. (44 rows). Continue in stocking stitch for another 12 rows, for a total of 56 rows.

Left side front: reset counter. Knit four rows and decrease one stitch next to the center. Repeat these four rows until 26 stitches are left. (44 rows). Continue in stocking stitch for another 12 rows, for a total of 56 rows.

SLEEVES:

Match up the right shoulders and graft together using Swiss mending stitch. Reset counter. Bring forward 84 needles, and hang the shoulder back on the machine, wrong side towards you, evenly spaced on the needles. Rehang the weight bar in front of the shoulder piece.

Work in stocking stitch, decreasing one stitch each side (two stitches per row) every 2 rows x 2 = 4 rows, 80 stitches. Continue knitting four rows at a time, decreasing one stitch on each side x 20, until you have 40 stitches left. Knit four more rows (after the final decreases). (88 rows)

Pick up stitches with 4 or 4.5mm circular needles and knit in 1k, p1 rib for 20 rows (using super loop method). I like to create a two-color rib, using the main yarn for the knit stitches and a self-striping yarn for the purl stitches. Knit the rib for 20 rows (or to taste – I like a long cuff). Using the main color, knit one more row in k1, p1 rib, then cast off.

Repeat for the left side (obviously).

FINISHING

Sew together the edges: right front to right back, left front to left back, and under the arms.

Pick up stitches around bottom of the body on 4 or 4.5mm circular needles; once the stitches are on the circular needle, strip out the scrap yarn. As for sleeve ribs, knit main color and contrast color in 1k, p1 rib for 20 rows. Using the main color, knit one more row in k1, p1 rib, then cast off.

Pick up stitches around neck, 5 stitches per 6 rows, avoiding eight center stitches. Use 4.5mm circular needles to knit in 1k, p1 rib for 16 rows. Cross over and tack down evenly at the front.

Collar option: I like to add short rows to make the back of the neck a bit taller. Knit ten rows in the two-color rib, stopping at the end of a wrong side row.

On row 11, knit in pattern to about 20 stitches from the end, stopping on the main color on the side. Slip the first stitch; turn to wrong side and knit back to 20 stitches from the other end, stopping on the main color. Slip the first stitch and knit back in rib.
On row 13, knit in pattern to about 16 stitches from where you turned before, stopping on the main color. Slip the first stitch; turn and knit back to 16 stitches from the other turning place, stopping on the main color. Slip the first stitch and knit back in rib.
On row 15, knit in pattern to 12 stitches from where you turned before, stopping on the main color. Slip first stitch; turn and knit back to 12 stitches from the other turning place, stopping on the main color. Slip the first stitch and knit back in rib all the way to the end.

Resume knitting full rows in rib until collar measures 14 rows at the front. Use main yarn to knit one row in rib, then cast off loosely. Cross over and sew down neatly at the front.

Sew in any remaining ends… and you’re done!

Here is a printable .pdf of this pattern: Shawl Collar Pullover.