A shrug typically is a long piece of knitting worked from cuff to cuff, usually in a large rectangle without increasing or decreasing. That means the cuffs are as big around as the back of the garment is deep, which makes for easy knitting but not the best wearing.
This Fitted Shrug adds shaping to the sleeves to make a more wearable shape that's still pretty easy to knit. It's cast on at one wrist, increased up tot he back width, knit straight across the back then decreased down to the original number of stitches for the second cuff.
This piece is made to be snug, but it's easily customizable; check the bottom of this page for tips.
Materials:
- 2 (3, 3, 3) skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease (I used Forest Green Heather) or about 394 (420, 450, 480) yards of medium weight yarn of your choice
- one pair size 8 US (5 mm) knitting needles
- tape measure, scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
20 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch (5 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch).
Size:
Finished garment is 6 (6.5, 7, 7) inches at wrist, with 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5) inch long sleeves and a back width of 13.5 (14, 15, 16) inches and depth of 12 inches. To fit size 6-8 (10-12, 14-16, 18). Instructions are given for the smallest size with larger sizes in parentheses.
Knitting the Shrug:
- Cast on 30 (32, 34, 34) stitches. Work in Seed Stitch for 2 inches, ending on wrong side row.
- Switch to Stockinette Stitch. On the first row and every subsequent 6th row, knit 1, make one, knit to 1 stitch from the end of row, make 1, knit 1.
- Continue in this manner until there are 60 stitches for every size except 18, which needs 66 stitches.
- Work straight (if needed) until piece measures 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5) inches from cast on edge.
- Working first 8 and last 8 stitches in Seed Stitch, continue to work in Stockinette without further shaping for 13.5 (14, 15, 16) inches.
- Return to just Stockinette Stitch and work the same number of rows you worked on the opposite side after your increasing was finished before you started with the Seed Stitch section.
- Decrease every 6th row as follows: knit 1, knti 2 together, knit to 3 stitches from end, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 1.
- Continue in this manner until 30 stitches remain.
- Work 2 inches in Seed Stitch.
- Bind off.
- Fold sleeve sections in half and sew up with mattress stitch. Weave in any remaining ends.
Customizing Your Shrug:
The measurements above are based on standard knitwear sizes; if you want a more custom fit you can easily plug in your own measurements. All you need to know is the circumference of your wrist, your desired arm length and the width of your back between your shoulders.
Given your gauge, you can then figure out how many stitches you need to cast on (Seed Stitch can be worked on odd or even numbers, but even numbers are a little easier to do the math on). If you want a wider back or a bigger circumference at the top of the arm, increase more frequently, and knit as long as you want the arm to be.
Then add the Seed Stitch borders to the back and knit as long as you need to cover the width of your back, then decrease at the same rate you increased on the other side to form the second sleeve.
