The Golden Elegance Cropped Shrug is a graceful piece that harmonizes the opulence of golden hues with the refined allure of olive green. Crafted with a blend of alpaca for its inherent warmth and silk for luxurious softness, this piece offers cozy comfort in cooler weather while maintaining a delightfully light and airy feel. The shrug’s cropped length adds a playful touch, ideal for layering over dresses, tops or pairing with high-waisted bottoms, adding a chic accent to any ensemble.
Time: 40-60 hour pattern.
Skill Level: Intermediate.
Sizes written as XS (S, M, L, XL): Finished Bust Size 33.5 (37.5, 42.0, 45.5, 50.0)” to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)”
1.5-2.0” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 36”.
Gauge: 30 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in double broken st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Malabrigo Silk Alpaca (70% baby Alpaca, 30% Silk; 420 yards [384 meters] / 1.8 ounces [50 grams]: 035 Frank Ocre (MC, 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls), 056 Olive (CC, 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) balls),
Needles: US size 3 3.25 mm, and US size 4 3.5 mm 24” circular needles: If you make the sleeves in the round, you will need either double-point or smaller circular needles of both sizes.
Notions: Tapestry needle, removable markers, stitch holders, waste yarn for provisional cast-on, shawl pin (optional).
Special Stitches
Provisional Cast-On:
Using waste yarn, create a crochet chain with a few stitches more than the number of stitches you wish to cast on. Break yarn and knot the end. Turn crochet chain to the wrong side (the side with back bumps on it). Using the yarn intended for your knitting project, insert a knitting needle into the first bump of your crochet chain, wrap your yarn, and draw up a stitch. Continue to cast on a stitch into each bump of your crochet chain until you have cast on the appropriate number of stitches. When you need to access your cast on stitches, carefully un-knot the end of your crochet chain and “unzip” the entire cast on.
Honeycomb Pattern
Row 1 (RS): P1, k2, *sl5wyif, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (WS) and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: P1, k4, *insert needle under the slipped stitch strand below and knit next st, bringing the strands over and off the right needle, k5; rep from * to 5 sts to end, k next st under loose strand, k3, p1.
Row 5: P1, k1, sl3wyif, *k1, sl5wyif; rep from * to 5 st to end, k1, sl3wyif, p1.
Row 7: P1, k1, *k next st under loose strand, k5; rep from * to 2 st to end, k next st under loose strand, p1.
Row 8: Purl
Repeat these 8 rows to make pattern.
Double Broken Rib Pattern-Flat
Row 1 (RS): P1, *k1, p2; rep from * to 3 sts to end, k2, p1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, k1, *p1, k2; rep from * to 2 sts to end, p2.
Row 3: P1, k to last st, p1.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat these 4 rows to make pattern.
Double Broken Rib Pattern-In the round
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p2; rep from * around.
Row 2 (WS): As Row 1
Rows 3-4: Knit
Repeat these 4 rows to make pattern.
Modified i-cord bind-off
CO 3 additional sts on left needle, * k2, k2tog tbl, return the 3 sts back onto left needle, k2, k3tog tbl, rep from * until all sts are BO. Break yarn and pull it through the 3 i-cord sts.
Pattern Notes
This wrap is constructed by a rectangular piece. Back is worked by picking-up stitches at the middle bottom of the main piece. Sleeves are picked-up from the arm holes and can be worked flat (before knitting the hem) or in the round (after knitting the hem). A 1×1 rib in contrast color finishes the sleeves, front opening and joins back and front. Front opening, hem and cuffs are ended by a modified (decreasing) i-cord to tighten the ends.
An optional shawl pin can be added for front closing.
The pattern is worked with yarn held double throughout.
This clever design allows it to be worn traditionally (as described in the pattern instructions) or inverted upside-down (as shown in the pictures) adding a silhouette that is as captivating as it is unconventional. The photos below reflect how that pattern is written.
Pattern
Body
With MC (yarn held double), US size 4 3.50 needles, and yarn held double, provisional CO 70 (76, 82, 88, 100) sts.
Row 1 (RS): P1, k to last st, p1.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2.
Rows 5-33: Work honeycomb pattern, ending in Row 4.
Rows 34-50: Work Double Broken Rib Pattern-Flat.
Repeat Rows [1-50] 7 (7, 8, 8, 9) more times.
Repeat Rows [1-12] 1 more time.
Repeat Rows [1-4] 1 more time.
Cut yarn and place sts on holder.
Back
With RS facing, place 2 markers 84 (84, 98, 98, 106) rows to the left and 84 (84, 98, 98, 106) rows to the right of the middle of one of the large edges.
Row 1 (RS): Pick-up and knit 112 (112, 130, 130, 142) sts between the markers (approx. 2 stitches every 3 rows. Note: I suggest to counts your sts half way to confirm they’re spacing evenly).
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-34 (34, 38, 38, 42): Work Double Broken Rib Pattern-Flat.
Cut yarn and place sts on holder.
Sleeves
Flat version
This version should be worked before making the Hem.
With RS facing
Row 1 (RS): Pick up and knit 104 (104, 116, 116, 128) sts across the back and front edges left for the armhole (approx. 2 stitches every 3 rows).
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-34 (34, 38, 38, 42): Work Double Broken Rib Pattern-Flat.
Cuff
With CC (yarn held double) and US size 3 3.25 needles.
Row 1 (RS): P1, k to last st, p1.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 4: P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Repeat Rows [3-4] 5 (5, 7, 7, 9) more times.
BO all sts using the modified I-cord BO.
Sew sleeve seams using color matching yarn.
In-the-round version
This version should be worked after making the Hem.
With RS facing
Rnd 1 (RS): Pick up and knit 104 (104, 116, 116, 128) sts across the armhole (approx. 2 stitches every 3 rows).
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rows 3-34 (34, 38, 38, 42): Work Double Broken Rib Pattern-In the round.
Cuff
With CC (yarn held double) and US size 3 3.25 needles.
Rnd 1 (RS): P1, k to last st, p1.
Rnd 2 (WS): Knit.
Rnd 3-12 (12, 16, 16, 20): *k1, p1; rep from * around.
BO all sts using the modified I-cord BO.
Hem and front band
With CC (yarn held double) and US size 3 3.25 needles, return held sts onto needle in the following order: left front (70 (76, 82, 88, 100) sts), back 112 (112, 130, 130, 142), right front (70 (76, 82, 88, 100) sts. 252 (264, 294, 306, 342) sts
Set-up Row (WS): Purl.
Row 1: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 2: P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Repeat Rows [1-2] 5 more times.
Pick-up and knit 275 (275, 308, 308, 341) sts across the front band (approx. 2 stitches every 3 rows).
BO all hem and front band sts using the modified I-cord BO.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Wash and block.
An optional shawl pin can be added for front closing.
I tried several ways to open this and print. All I got was the schematic.
Hello! You are welcome to save this pattern by copying and pasting into a word document or by printing the pattern via the printer icon on the left hand side of your screen. Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor