Unshaped Shrug

By Just call me Ruby

This shrug was designed with the beginner knitter in mind, who is ready to move on from scarves but not ready to take the plunge and knit a complete garment with sleeves and shaping etc.

There is no shaping in the shrug at all, yet at the same time the pattern introduces the beginner knitter to a couple of new techniques, with advice on picking up stitches.

Materials

Rowan Little Big Wool (50gm/60metres approx)
(67% wool/33% nylon)

3 x 50gm balls - shade moonstone (507)

Needles

1 pair 8mm (US #11 ) needles
1 pair 9mm (US #13 ) needles

Tension

11sts x 15 rows to 4 inches (10cm) using 9mm needles over stocking stitch.

To fit S M L XL

32-34ins 36ins 38-40ins 42-44ins

84-86cm 92cm 97-102cm 106-112cm

Abbreviations

yfwd - yarn forward
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together.

Pattern notes

The shrug can be made in stocking stitch instead of eyelet pattern. Just work all odd rows as knit rows, and all even rows as purl rows.

Click to see larger image

Pattern

Cast on 22(26,30,34)sts using 8mm (US #11 ) needles.

Row 1: *k2, p2, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: *p2, k2, rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep these 2 rows twice more.

Change to 9mm (US #13 ) needles.
Row 1 (RS): * k2, yfwd, k2tog, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 and all alt rows: purl.
Row 3: knit.
Row 5: K2, *k2, yfwd, k2tog, rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 7: knit.

Repeat these 8 rows until work measures 26 (28,30.5,32) inches 66 (71,77,81cm) approximately, ending with row 8.

Change to 8mm (US #11 ) needles. Row 1: *k2, p2, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: *p2, k2, rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep these 2 rows twice more
Cast off in rib.

Border

Using 8mm (US #11) needles, pick up and knit 90 (98,114,118) sts along one long edge of body. (The easiest way to evenly space your stitches when picking up is to divide the body into sections with pins. First fold in half and put pin at centre, then each half into two, then four etc.)

Row 1: p2 *k2, p2, rep from * to end.
Row 2: k2 *p2, k2, rep from * to end.

Repeat these two rows three times more.
Cast off in rib.

Repeat on other long edge of body.

Click to see larger image

Making up

Darn in all ends. Fold body together lengthwise, with wrong sides together. Using a slip stitch join borders together for approx 5 inches (13cm) from edge and repeat at other edge.