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I'm in the midst of a love affair with shrugs.
Q: What do I love about them more than the fact that you can wear them with anything?
A: No seams to sew!

I visited last year's NY Sheep & Wool Festival with a yearning for lime green yarn. I found this splendid, fuzzy bundle, and took a while before I decided what to create with it.

Then it struck me -- lace! This stitch gives a light and delicate feeling to the yarn and an interesting twist to this very simple silhouette. You can knit this shrug with any type of yarn, in any stitch pattern for the main body piece to complete your own unique garment. But remember to swatch first, as changing yarn and needle sizes will mean a change in the finished garment size.

model: Melissa Webster photos: Heather Dixon

SIZE
S [M, L, XL] Shown in size Small.
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 16[20, 24, 28] inches
Length (measured from end to end): 71[73.5, 76, 78.5] inches

 

MATERIALS

Blue Ridge Yarns Brushed Mohair [100% Mohair; 250yds/225m per 4oz skein]; color: Lime Green; 2[3, 3, 3] skeins

1 US #8/5mm circular needle, 32 inches or longer
1 US #11/8mm circular needle, 32 inches or longer
(See Pattern Notes before selecting needles for this project.)

Stitch marker
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

16 sts / 22 rows = 4 inches in 1x1 Rib using smaller needles

Each repeat of Lace Pattern, worked with larger needles, measures 2 inches wide by 2.5 inches long.

 

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

This pattern is worked using the "Magic Loop" technique. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, instructions may be found here:

http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit/mloop.html

and here:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/advanced_techniques/

If you prefer, the body of the shrug may be worked on double-point needles, or on two circular needles. It is still necessary to have a circular needle, at least 24 inches in length, to work the ribbing around the body opening of the shrug.

1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
Round 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Repeat this round for 1x1 Rib.

Lace Pattern (Worked in the round over a multiple of 6 sts + 1; see notes below re. working Lace Pattern back and forth):
Round 1: K1, [yo, p1, p3tog, p1, yo, k1] to end.
Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8: K all sts.
Round 3: K2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, [k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo] to last 2 sts, k2.
Round 5: P2tog, p1, yo, k1, yo, p1, [p3tog, p1, yo, k1, yo, p1] to last 2 sts, p2tog.
Round 7: K2tog, yo, k3, yo, [sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, yo] to last 2 sts, sl1, k1, psso.
These 8 rounds form Lace Stitch.

Note: When Lace Pattern is worked back and forth, work rounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 as RS rows. Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8 will be worked as WS rows; all sts in these rows will be purled instead of knit.

 
DIRECTIONS

Using smaller needles, CO 24[30, 36, 42] sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in 1x1 Rib until work measure 8 inches.

Next Round: [Kfb] to last st, k into front, then back, then front again, of last st. 49[61, 73, 85] sts.

Switch to larger needle and begin working in Lace Pattern.

Work 8 rounds of Lace Pattern 8 times.

Begin to work back and forth to form Body Opening. Work 8 rows of Lace Pattern 6[7, 8, 9] times.

Rejoin work to begin working in the round.

Work 8 rounds of Lace Pattern 8 times.

Next Round: Using smaller needle, [k2tog] to last 3 sts, k3tog.

Work in 1x1 Rib for 8 inches. BO all sts.

Body Opening Trim:
Using smaller needle, pick up and k 7 sts in every 4 rows around body opening. 168[196, 224, 252] sts.
Work in 1x1 Rib for 6 inches. BO all sts loosely.

 
FINISHING

Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

After completing a BA in Knitwear Design in her native Nottingham, England, Heather transplanted herself to Manhattan, NY, to have some wild and crazy fun and become the designer of Relais Knitware.

A self-taught knitter at the age of 6, she showed no fear as she whipped up crazy intarsias and cables to adorn herself and any willing family members.

Her fashion sense has calmed down since she entered her thirties and some of her latest creations can be seen at her website.

She shares her home with her very tall Canadian boyfriend who believes that every project she begins will be for him!