DK Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater

DK Basic Drop Sleeve Sweater is a simple elegant top down sweater with options to knit the body flat or in the round. Pattern also includes optional shoulder short row shaping and other tips on simple modifications. At a gauge of 5 stitches per inch, this sweater is very light while still feeling warm and cozy. Show off your makes and tag me @jamesnwatts on Instagram and Tiktok and use #DKBasicDropSleeveSweater. **YARN** Noro Yukata- 787 yards, 200 grams, 50% silk, 25% wool, 25% nylon. Sample was knit with colorway 32- Maibara Noro Yukata is classified as a sport-weight yarn. I chose to use a lighter weight yarn for this DK-weight design because I wanted a light and airy fabric. I often like to size down yarns, especially when working with Noro because it has a lot of texture and bloom but you can definitely get gauge with a true DK yarn. If using a more traditional plied yarn with less bloom and more drape, a sport-weight yarn may result in a very lacy sweater with very little structure, so a DK weight yarn would be recommended in this case. I am a big fan of using whatever yarn you like as long as you get gauge, knit a swatch to see if YOU like the fabric you achieve. **GAUGE** 20 sts x 28 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, blocked, knit on US 4 (3.5 mm) needles, or any needle size needed to reach gauge. Sweater has portions both knit flat and in the round. For most accuracy, swatch both flat and in the round. Stitch gauge is more important than row gauge in this pattern. All vertical lengths are provided in row counts as well as inch/cm measurements, so you can easily measure and knit more or less rows to accommodate any difference in row gauge. **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 intended to be worn with 0-6” (5-15 cm) positive ease at the chest 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 **YARDAGE** 989(1105, 1222, 1338, 1454) (1571, 1687, 1739, 1873) yards 904(1010, 1117, 1223, 1330) (1437, 1543, 1590, 1713) meters **NEEDLES AND NOTIONS** • US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles, or any needle size needed to reach gauge. • US 2 (2.75 mm) needles for ribbing • Four locking stitch markers • One ring marker • Darning or tapestry needle for weaving in ends **CONSTRUCTION AND OPTIONS** Sweater is knit top down, beginning with optional German short rows to shape the shoulders. Sweater is knit flat to the underarms, then you have the option to continue knitting flat, or you may work the remainder of the body in the round. Mattress stitch is used to seam the shoulders and side seams if needed. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves and collar which are both knit in the round. Collar, hem, and cuffs are worked in 1x1 ribbing.