Drop Shoulder
Drop shoulder is a simple sleeve construction where the shoulder seam falls outside the actual shoulder, and the sleeve is sewn or knitted straight in without shaping.
Explanation
Drop shoulder is the simplest sleeve construction: the body and sleeve are knitted straight, without decreases or increases to shape the armhole, and the shoulder seam ends up somewhat below the actual shoulder point on the body. This gives a loose, relaxed fit that is popular in oversized sweaters and beginner-friendly patterns, since it avoids complicated armhole calculations. The trade-off is less freedom of movement in the arms and more fabric under the arms compared to raglan or set-in sleeves.
Also known as: Dropped shoulder
The simplest construction
A drop shoulder has no shoulder shaping at all: the body is worked straight up, the sleeve attaches to a straight edge at the side, and the shoulder seam falls below the actual shoulder.
With no shaping it is the easiest construction both to knit and to resize — but it depends on a loose garment to hang well.
When it works
Drop shoulder suits oversized sweaters, jackets and anything with generous ease. On a close-fitting garment it binds under the arm and bunches over the shoulder.
The sleeve has to be shorter than on a shaped garment, because the shoulder seam already sits partway down the upper arm.
Common mistakes
- Using a drop shoulder on a close-fitting garment.
- Knitting sleeves as long as for a shaped-shoulder garment.
Keywords
- drop shoulder
- oversized sweater
- sleeve construction
Frequently asked questions
Does drop shoulder suit everyone?
It requires a loose garment. For close-fitting sweaters, raglan or a set-in sleeve fits better.
Why is drop shoulder common in beginner patterns?
Because there is no shoulder shaping to calculate. Every piece is a plain rectangle.