How to Knit a Cozy Shrug: Step-by-Step Instructions

Knitting Needle Size

Size 6 or 4 mm, 8 or 5 mm

Yarn Weight

Weight (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Sizing Information

Directions are for size Small. Changes for sizes Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, and 3X are in parentheses.

To Fit Bust/Chest: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) inches

Finished Chest: 35 (39, 43, 47, 51, 55) inches

Finished Length: 14 (14½, 15, 16½, 17½, 18½) inches, not including neckband and not including ruffle

Materials

RED HEART® Soft™: 3 (3, 4, 5, 5, 6) balls 3729 Grape A.

RED HEART® Boutique™ Sashay: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) balls 1943 Tango B.

Knitting needles: 5mm [US 8], 4mm [US 6].

Stitch holders

Stitch markers (optional)

Yarn needle.

Gauge

Gauge: 17 sts = 4 inches; 23 rows = 4 inches. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches

M1 = Make 1 (Increase) – Lift strand between needles to left-hand needle and knit strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.

ssk = slip next two stitches knitwise to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, knit these stitches together through back loop.

Special Technique

3-Needle Bind-Off

Hold needles of stitches to be seamed parallel and with Right Sides together, with 3rd needle knit together the first stitch from each needle. Knit together the next stitch from each needle, pass the 2nd stitch over the first stitch and off the right needle; repeat until all stitches have been knit from the 2 parallel needles and only one stitch remains on the right needle. Fasten off.

Pattern Stitch

Seed Stitch

(Multiple of 2 sts)

Row 1 (Right Side): *K1, p1; repeat from * across.

Row 2: *P1, k1; repeat from * across.

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for Seed stitch.

Notes

1. The shrug is worked in one piece, from the lower edge up to the armholes. The piece is then divided for the armholes, and the back and fronts are worked separately to the shoulders. Sleeves are worked separately.

2. Four edge stitches are worked in Seed stitch. You may wish to place markers to separate these stitches from the Stockinette stitch middle section.

Shrug Instructions

Body

With larger needles and yarn A, cast on 148 (168, 184, 200, 216, 236) stitches.

Row 1 (Right Side): [K1, p1] 2 times, knit to last 4 stitches, [k1, p1] 2 times.

Row 2: [P1, k1] 2 times, purl to last 4 stitches, [p1, k1] 2 times. Keeping the first and last 4 stitches in Seed stitch, work even in Stockinette stitch (knit on Right Side, purl on Wrong Side) until piece measures about 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) inches from beginning, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Divide for Fronts and Back

Next Row (Right Side): [K1, p1] 2 times, k33 (38, 42, 46, 50, 55) stitches, slip these first 37 (42, 46, 50, 54, 59) stitches onto a holder for right front, bind off next 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches for armhole, knit across next 70 (78, 85, 92, 99, 107) stitches, slip last 37 (42, 46, 50, 54, 59) stitches onto a holder for left front, TURN.

Next Row (Wrong Side): Bind off 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches for armhole, purl across remaining 66 (72, 78, 84, 90, 96) stitches for back.

Back

Working over back stitches only.

Shape Armholes

Next Row (Right Side): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1—64 (70, 76, 82, 88, 94) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) more times—58 (60, 64, 68, 72, 74) stitches.

Work even in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 14 (14½, 15, 16½, 17½, 18½) inches from beginning, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Neck

Next Row (Right Side): K15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) stitches for right shoulder, bind off next 28 (28, 30, 32, 34, 34) stitches for the neck, knit to end of row for left shoulder. Cut yarn and place stitches onto a holder.

Right Front

With Wrong Side facing, return right front stitches to needle—37 (42, 46, 50, 54, 59) stitches.

Shape Armhole

Next Row (Wrong Side): Bind off 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches, purl to last 4 stitches, [p1, k1] 2 times—33 (36, 39, 42, 45, 48) stitches.

Next Row (Right Side): [K1, p1] 2 times, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1—32 (35, 38, 41, 44, 47) stitches.

Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl to last 4 stitches, [p1, k1] 2 times.

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) more times—29 (30, 32, 34, 36, 37) stitches.

Keeping 4 stitches at front edge in Seed stitch, work even in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 11½ (12, 12½, 13, 13½, 14½) inches from beginning, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Neck

Next Row (Right Side): Bind off 7 (7, 8, 6, 7, 7) stitches, knit to end of row—22 (23, 24, 28, 29, 30) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Next Row: Bind off 2 stitches, knit to end of row—20 (21, 22, 26, 27, 28) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 0 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1) more time(s)—20 (21, 22, 24, 25, 26) stitches.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, k2tog, knit to end of row—19 (20, 21, 23, 24, 25) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) times—15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) stitches.

Work even in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 14 (14½, 15, 16½, 17½, 18½) inches from the beginning.

Left Front

With Right Side facing, return right front stitches to needle—37 (42, 46, 50, 54, 59) stitches.

Shape Armhole

Next Row (Right Side): Bind off 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches, knit to last 4 stitches, [k1, p1] 2 times—33 (36, 39, 42, 45, 48) stitches.

Next Row (Wrong Side): [P1, k1] 2 times, purl to end of row.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches, [k1, p1] 2 times—32 (35, 38, 41, 44, 47) stitches.

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) more times—29 (30, 32, 34, 36, 37) stitches.

Keeping 4 stitches at front edge in Seed stitch, work in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 11½ (12, 12½, 13, 13½, 14½) inches from the beginning, ending with a Right Side row.

Shape Neck

Next Row (Wrong Side): Bind off 7 (7, 8, 6, 7, 7) stitches, purl to end of row—22 (23, 24, 28, 29, 30) stitches.

Next Row: Knit.

Next Row: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to end of row—20 (21, 22, 26, 27, 28) stitches.

Next Row: Knit.

Repeat the last 2 rows 0 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1) more time(s)—20 (21, 22, 24, 25, 26) stitches.

Next Row: P1, p2tog, purl to end of row—19 (20, 21, 23, 24, 25) stitches.

Next Row: Knit.

Repeat the last 2 rows 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) times—15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) stitches.

Work even in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 14 (14½, 15, 16½, 17½, 18½) inches from the beginning. Using 3-needle bind-off, seam shoulders.

Sleeve (Make 2)

With larger needles and yarn A, cast on 48 (48, 50, 52, 60, 64) stitches.

Work even in Seed stitch for about 1 inch, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Sleeve

Increase Row (Right Side): K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, k1—50 (50, 52, 54, 62, 66) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 7 (11, 10, 14, 12, 17) more times—64 (72, 72, 82, 86, 100) stitches.

Repeat Increase Row every other Right Side row 2 (0, 2, 0, 2, 0) times—68 (72, 76, 82, 90, 100) stitches.

Work even in Stockinette stitch until the piece measures about 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) inches, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Cap

Next Row (Right Side): Bind off 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches, knit to end of row—64 (66, 69, 74, 81, 89) stitches.

Next Row: Bind off 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) stitches, purl to end of row—60 (60, 62, 66, 72, 78) stitches.

Decrease Row (Right Side): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1—58 (58, 60, 64, 70, 76) stitches.

Next Row: Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 10 (14, 14, 14, 16, 15) more times—38 (30, 32, 36, 38, 46) stitches.

Repeat Decrease Row—36 (28, 30, 34, 36, 44) stitches.

Next Row (Wrong Side): P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 stitches, p2tog through back loops, p1—34 (26, 28, 32, 34, 42) stitches.

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 (0, 0, 1, 1, 2) more time(s)—22 (26, 26, 28, 28, 30, 34) stitches.

Repeat Decrease Row—20 (24, 26, 26, 28, 32) stitches.

Next Row (Wrong Side): Bind off 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4) stitches, purl to end of row—18 (21, 23, 23, 25, 28) stitches.

Next Row (Right Side): Bind off 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4) stitches, knit to end of row—16 (18, 20, 20, 22, 24) stitches.

Repeat the last 2 rows 2 more times—12 (12, 14, 14, 16, 16) stitches. Bind off.

Finishing

Neckband

With Right Side facing, smaller needles and yarn A, pick up and k7 (7, 8, 6, 7, 7) stitches across bound-off edge of right front, pick up and k 2 (2, 2, 4, 4, 4) stitches across right side bind-off, pick up and k11 (11, 11, 14, 14, 14) stitches across right neck,

pick up and k28 (28, 30, 32, 34, 34) stitches across back neck,

pick up and k11 (11, 11, 14, 14, 14) stitches across left neck,

pick up and k 2 (2, 2, 4, 4, 4) stitches across left side bind-off,

pick up and k7 (7, 8, 6, 7, 7) stitches across bound-off edge of left front—68 (68, 72, 80, 84, 84) stitches.

Work even in Seed stitch for about 1 inch.

Bind off in pattern.

Sew sleeve seams, sew in sleeves.

Ruffle

With Wrong Side facing, larger needles and yarn B, pick up and k74 (84, 92, 100, 108, 118) stitches.

Next Row: Knit loosely.

Bind off very loosely.

Weave in ends.