Shrugs are this summer’s most popular garment because of their versatility. They’re lightweight and easy to throw into a bag in preparation for a chillier night and go with any type of outfit. This intermediate shrug uses super soft yarn and an I-Cord bind off to create a summertime staple.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: XS (S, M, L) to fit 32 (36, 38, 40)” chest, with 0-2” of negative ease
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Anzula For Better or Worsted (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 200 yards [182 meters]/100 grams): Blueberry (3 (3, 3, 4) skeins)
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 16” circular and double pointed needles
Supplies: Tapestry needle, measuring tape, scissors, stitch marker, 1 dpn, or cable needle to hold sts
Abbreviations
Kf/b: Knit into the front and back of 1 st, 1 st increased.
k2tbl: Knit 2 sts together through the back loops.
Pf/b: Purl into the front and back of 1 st, 1 st increased.
Special Stitches
I-Cord Bind Off
Using a cable cast on, cast on 3 sts, *knit 2 sts, k2tbl, slip the three worked sts back onto the left needle, pull the working yarn tightly across the back of those 3 sts; repeat from * across all sts.
Bind off remaining 3 sts, cut yarn and pull tight through remaining st.
Pattern
CO 34 (36, 38, 40) sts.
Row 1: K1, pm, k2, pm, knit to last 3 sts, k2, pm, k1.
Row 2: Pf/b, sm, p2, sm, pf/b, purl to 1 st before marker, pf/b, sm, p2, sm, pf/b.
Row 3: K1, kf/b, sm, k2, sm, kf/b, knit to 1 st before marker, kf/b, sm, k2, sm, kf/b, k1.
Row 4: Purl to 1 st before m, pf/b, sm, p2, sm, pf/b, purl to 1 st before marker, pf/b, sm, p2, sm, pf/b, purl to the end.
Continue in this manner, with increases either side of marker every row until shoulder seam is 4.75 (5, 5.5, 6)”.
Sleeve Cap
Move sts so that there are 6 sts between the markers.
You will be increasing only between the sleeve st markers.
Row 5: Knit to m, sm, kf/b, k4, kf/b, sm, knit to m, sm, kf/b, k4, kf/b, knit to the end.
Row 6: Purl to m, sm, pf/b, p6, pf/b, sm, purl to m, sm, pf/b, p6, pf/b, sm, purl to the end.
Row 7: Knit to the m, sm, kf/b, k8, kf/b, sm, knit to m, sm, kf/b, k8, kf/b, sm, knit to the end.
Continue in this manner for 2 inches
Then work in stockinette st, only working increases every other row, on the RS only until yoke measures 6 (6.5, 6.5, 7)”.
At the same time, when the fronts measure 6”, you will be working a kf/b into the first and last st every fourth row.
*Knit to m, sm and move the sleeve sts to scrap yarn, using the backwards loop method, CO 2 sts; rep from * once.
Continue to work in established pattern until back measures 14.5” from CO edge, at which point you will stop increasing in the first and last st.
Knit 70 (74, 78, 80) sts, pm, move 3 sts to a dpn or cable needle and hold in front, knit those 3 sts together with the corresponding sts on the left needle, move 3 sts to a dpn or cable needle and hold in back, knit those 3 sts together with the corresponding sts on the left needle, pm, knit to the end.
Purl to m, sm, knit to m, sm, purl to the end of the row.
Knit to m, sm, purl to m, sm, knit to the end of the row.
Purl to 1 st before m, pm, k1, remove m, knit to m, remove, k1, pm purl to the end of the row.
Knit to 1 st before m, pm, p1, remove m, purl to m, remove m, p1, pm, knit to the end of the row.
Repeat the last two rows for 2”.
Turn sideways and pick up sts around the outer edge of the shrug.
Work I-Cord bind-off over all sts.
Sleeves
Move 48 (50, 52, 54) sleeve sts evenly across dpns. Knit across sts, pick up and knit 2 sts, pm, pick up and knit 2 sts.
Knit 3 rnds.
Dec. Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1.
Knit 5 rnds.
Work decrease rnd.
Work decrease rnds every fifth round 2 (2, 3, 4) more times.
Knit 1 rnd.
Work in seed st for 22 (24, 26, 28) sts, bind off 3 sts, continue in seed st to the end of the row.
Turn and work flat in seed st for 1”. Bind off in pattern.