Free Pattern - Easy Peasy Knitted Shrug

This isn’t the pattern that I’ve made for my swap partner, but it is a new free one. It’s very quick and easy hence being called ‘easy peasy’ knitted shrug. Well, rather a minimal shrug, more of a shoulder warmer. You can also push one arm tube through the other and wear it as a scarf: two for one. Nice!

It was a very simple, quick knit, done mostly on a car journey to and from Wales. I actually thought I had made up the stitch pattern, but latterly discovered it sitting in my Erica Knight lace and eyelet knitting dictionary. I think that might be what Elizabeth Zimmerman called an unvention.

Easy Peasy Shrug Recipe

I recommend using a needle a size or two larger than the ball band suggests in order to achieve a lacy effect. Swatching is advised, although ignore that advice and start and then knit a few rows, try on over the arm for size and rip back if need be.

Tension for 10cm x 10cm (4 “) in pattern = 24 stiches x 17 rows, I used Rowan DK Soft which is a DK / 8 ply (11 wpi) yarn on 4.5 mm needles

Start by measuring the circumference of your arm above the elbow. This will give you the size to use, though note that the size is the finished garment size rather than the arm size. If you are working at the given tension and I haven’t given a size that will work for you then one pattern repeat will add on (or take off) 3cm, adjust as required.

Small = 33 cm finished arm circumference , Cast On 68 stitches

Medium= 36 cm finished arm circumference , Cast On 74 stitches

Large= 42 finished arm circumference , Cast On 86 stitches

Note that the first and last stitch of each row are always knitted.

Pattern:

Row 1 : Knit

Row 2: K1 *K wrapping yarn around the needle 3 times* repeat to last stitch, K1

Row 3: K1 *transfer next 6 stitches to right needle dropping the extra loops, reach behind with the left needle to pick up first, far right stitches, temporarily dropping the left 3 stitches at the front of the work, then put these back on the left hand needle, knit across all six stitches which will create a crossed over set of stitches* repeat to last stitch, K1

(The alternative way to swap the stitches is using a cable needle putting the first 3 on the cable needle, put to back, Knit next three stitches and then knit the cable needle stitches. I just found it simpler not to do this because of the loose size of these stitches)

Row 4 Knit

Continue in pattern until you have completed a length equal to the distance from just above one elbow across the shoulders to the other elbow finishing on row4.

Cast off and block now if you need to.

Fold together to make a long, narrow tube. Graft the edges together from each end up to the end of 7th pattern repeat . Try on and decide if you want to continue grafting to make the sleeve longer. Make sure that you graft together the edges loosely so that the lace pattern does not distort.

That’s it. Easy!