DROPS Alpaca Party - 13 alpaca yarns on sale all October!

Europeand shoulders – Short overview

In this DROPS video we give you a short overview of how to work a garment with European shoulders. The garment is worked according to points 1 – 3.

1 - BACK PIECE: Cast on stitches for the back of the neck. Work the back piece back and forth, increasing stitches on each side until the shoulder stitch count has been achieved. The back piece has slightly diagonal shoulders. Continue working as far as the armholes. The back piece stitches are now placed on a stitch holder and the front piece is worked.

2 - FRONT PIECE: The piece is begun in 2 sections. Start by knitting up stitches along one back shoulder, working pattern back and forth and downwards, while increasing for the neckline. Repeat on the other shoulder. The right and left front pieces are joined when the neckline increases are finished. The front piece is then continued back and forth as far as the armholes.

3 - YOKE: Place the front and back pieces on the same circular needle, joining them together by cast on stitches under each sleeve. The body is continued in the round to the correct measurement.

Patterns using this technique

DROPS 254-8

DROPS 254-8
DROPS 255-35

DROPS 255-35
DROPS 252-12

DROPS 252-12
DROPS 252-15

DROPS 252-15
Change language:

Video #1838, listed in: Learn to knit, Knitting Yoke Techniques, European shoulder

Our videos do not have sound. We are a worldwide company and our videos are watched by people speaking endless of different languages and many do not understand English. So since there is not a given language for us to use, we instead have written instructions to accompany the video, and then there is no sound to disturb while watching.

You can adjust the speed of this video by clicking on the icon, on the play bar.

Country flag Hson wrote:

Ni har fantastiska videos och lärt mig så mycket, tack!! Men jag undrar vad är skillnaden på europeiskt Ok och europeiskt Axel?

26.10.2025 - 09:22

DROPS Design :

Hei Hson. Tusen takk for hyggelig tilbakemelding :) En enkel forklaringer: Europeisk axel - en konstruktion där axeln börjar en bit ner på ryggen. Europeiskt ok - en konstruktionsteknik där axlarna börjar en bit ned på ryggen samtidigt som man stickar ärmarna. Om du ser på start-bildet til videoene: Europeisk axel - Kort översikt og Europeiskt ok - kort översikt. Og: Halsen är färdig efter att ärmmaskorna har stickats upp. Vil du se at på siste video strikker man også ermene. mvh DROPS Design

27.10.2025 - 08:23

Leave a comment or question to this video

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *.

Continue watching

Video thumbnail for How to work a diagonal shoulder. Part 1 – Back piece
8:10
How to work a diagonal shoulder. Part 1 – Back piece

In this DROPS Video, Part 1 of 3 videos, we show how to work a diagonal shoulder on the back piece. We have already cast on 17 stitches, purled 1 row from WS and insert 1 marker on the inside of the 3 outermost stitches in each side. Then we show how to increase after written description in the pattern how to get the stitches to turn towards the right or towards the left. We show 2 rows from the RS and 2 rows from the WS with increases. Then we work back and forth without increases. Put the stitches on a thread or a stitch holder when you got the right measurement, cut the thread. See Video Part 2 on how to pick-up stitches in the shoulder seam to the front pieces. You must read a pattern to get the correct numbers of stitches, increases and rows. You’ll find patterns with this technique is used by clicking on one of the pictures below. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video.
Video thumbnail for How to work a diagonal shoulder. Part 2 – Front pieces
13:07
How to work a diagonal shoulder. Part 2 – Front pieces

In this DROPS Video, Part 2 of 3 videos, we show how to work the front pieces to a diagonal shoulder. We have already worked the back piece (see video Part 1) and in this video we show how to pick-up stitches in the shoulder seam and work both front pieces, with increases by the mark, that is put 3 stitches from the neck. You must read a pattern to get the correct numbers of stitches, increases and rows AND where to pick up stitches from (right or left shoulder). You’ll find patterns with this technique is used by clicking on one of the pictures below. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video.
Video thumbnail for How to work the front pieces together where you have a diagonal shoulder. Part 3
8:01
How to work the front pieces together where you have a diagonal shoulder. Part 3

In this DROPS Video, Part 3 of 3 videos, we show how to work the front pieces together where you have a diagonal shoulder. We have already worked the back piece (see video Part 1) and the front pieces (see video Part 2). Cast on new stitches both between the front pieces and under the sleeves. You must read a pattern to get the correct numbers of stitches and rounds, AND which side you work from (RS or WS). You’ll find patterns with this technique is used by clicking on one of the pictures below. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video.

You might also like

Video thumbnail for How to work 2 stitches in outermost stitch in each side of a piece – both from right and wrong side
2:25
How to work 2 stitches in outermost stitch in each side of a piece – both from right and wrong side

In this DROPS video we show you how to work 2 stitches in the outermost stitch in each side of a piece (from right side and from wrong side), as required for the back piece of the Unicorn Speckles sweater (DROPS 264-2). From the right side, first knit through the front loop, then knit through the back loop. From the wrong side, first purl through the front loop, then purl through the back loop.
Video thumbnail for How to knit up stitches for the neck to a sweater with European shoulder
6:35
How to knit up stitches for the neck to a sweater with European shoulder

In this DROPS video we show how to knit up stitches around the neck to a sweater with a European shoulder, using a knitting needle or a crochet hook. Then follow the description in the pattern. There are many different ways to work a rib (e.g knit 1 / purl 1, knit 2 / purl 2, knit 1 twisted / 1 purl etc.). And you can work a single neck, double neck or a high neck. In this video we work a double neck with a rib worked like this: knit 2, purl 2, bind off with knit over knit and purl over purl and then fold the neck double to the inside and fasten down. In this video we work with 2 yarn qualities: DROPS Lima color no. 9029 sage green and DROPS Kid-Silk color no. 45 soft mint, needle size 5 MM = US 8. You must read a pattern to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find patterns by clicking on the pictures below.
Video thumbnail for How to work a sleeve to a garment with European shoulder with short rows
13:07
How to work a sleeve to a garment with European shoulder with short rows

In this DROPS video we show how to knit up stitches to one sleeve, working short rows, decrease under the sleeve, increase stitches before the rib, switch to smaller needle and a little bit of the bind off (knit over knit, and purl over purl). Insert 1 marker on the top of armhole (NB: This is not where the stitches were knitted up for the front piece, but a few cm down on the front piece, this is the middle of the shoulder). Start in the middle of the new stitches cast on under sleeve and pick up the number of stitches it says in the pattern around the armhole – adjust so that there are the same number of stitches along armhole on each side of the marker. Now work stockinette stitch back and forth with short rows over sleeve cap, to give the sleeve a better fit. Then work in the round with decreases under the sleeve. Follow the description in the pattern on how to work short rows, how and how many decreases, how long the sleeve should be and the rib. In this video we work with 2 yarn qualities: DROPS Lima color no. 9029 sage green and DROPS Kid-Silk color no. 45 soft mint, needle size 5 MM = US 8. You must read a pattern to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find patterns by clicking on the pictures below.
Video thumbnail for How to work European Shoulders with inc to armhole, front pieces together and front & back together
9:02
How to work European Shoulders with inc to armhole, front pieces together and front & back together

In this DROPS video we show how you cast on stitches between the front pieces to a garment with European shoulders, increase for armholes on each side, how to work the front pieces together and how to work the front and back piece together. From the right side, knit the stitches on the right front piece, cast on new stitches (read how many stitches in the pattern) and knit the stitches that are on a thread/stitch holder on the left front piece. The front pieces are now worked together. Knit stockinette stitch back and forth to the given measurement (11 cm = 4 3/8" in this video), measured along the armhole. Now increase 1 stitch in each side, increase on the inside of 3 stitches in each side, read INCREASE TIP below. Increase on every 2nd row as many times as it says in the pattern. Continue with stockinette stitch to the measurement says in the pattern (15 cm = 6" in this video). Now cast on new stitches under the 1st sleeve, knit the stitches from the back piece and cast on new stitches under the 2nd sleeve. Put the work together and follow the description of the body in the pattern. When you place the front piece on the back piece, please note that the top of the armhole is not where it was knitted up in stitches to the front piece, but a few cm down on the front piece. The front piece is longer than the back piece. INCREASE TIP: From right side increase towards the left AFTER MARKER like this: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from front and knit stitch in back loop. Increase towards the right BEFORE MARKER: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from behind and knit stitch in front loop. In this video we work with 2 yarn qualities: DROPS Lima color no. 9029 sage green and DROPS Kid-Silk color no. 45 soft mint, needle size 5 MM = US 8. You must read a pattern to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find patterns by clicking on the pictures below.
Video thumbnail for How to work European shoulder with increases to the armholes – Front pieces
10:50
How to work European shoulder with increases to the armholes – Front pieces

In this DROPS video we show how to knit up stitches along the left “shoulders seam” on the backpiece and how to work the left front piece. We show how to increase to the neck after the first 3 stitches from the right side. Then work back and forth and increase to the neck to the correct number of stitches and measurements in the pattern. Cut the thread and place the stitches on a thread/stitch holder. Then work the right front piece the same way, but here it is increased to the neck at the end of the rows from the right and it is increased before the last 3 stitches. After the last increase purl back from the wrong side. Increase like this: From right side increase towards the left AFTER MARKER like this: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from front and knit stitch in back loop. Increase towards the right BEFORE MARKER: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from behind and knit stitch in front loop. In this video we work with 2 yarn qualities: DROPS Lima color no. 9029 sage green and DROPS Kid-Silk color no. 45 soft mint, needle size 5 MM = US 8. You must read a pattern to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find patterns by clicking on the pictures below.
Video thumbnail for How to work european shoulder with increases to the armholes – Backpiece
10:02
How to work european shoulder with increases to the armholes – Backpiece

In this DROPS video we show how to work the first part to a sweater with European shoulder with increases to the armhole, this is the back piece. We increase both for right side (RS) and wrong side (WS). We increase before/after 3 stitches in this video, but this can vary from pattern to pattern. After it has been increased to the correct number of stitches, continue working without increases, then you put a mark in the side(s), the work should be measured from here. The description of where to measure from can vary from pattern to pattern. When you have the correct number of stitches and length (in this video 5 cm = 2"), you start by increasing to armholes. Increase as before to the correct number of stitches and cm/inch measurement. Cut the thread and put the stitches on a thread/stitch holder. Increase like this: From RS increase towards the left AFTER MARKER like this: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from front and knit stitch in back loop. Increase towards the right BEFORE MARKER: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from behind and knit stitch in front loop. From WS increase towards the left AFTER MARKER like this: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from behind and purl stitch in front loop. Increase towards the right BEFORE MARKER: Use left needle to pick up thread between 2 stitches from row below, pick up thread from front and purl stitch in back loop. In this video we work with 2 yarn qualities: DROPS Lima color no. 9029 sage green and DROPS Kid-Silk color no. 45 soft mint, needle size 5 MM = US 8. You must read a pattern to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find patterns by clicking on the pictures below.