By Melissa Mall
Model: Melissa Mall
Photos: ‘Max’

Difficulty: Easy

I just love shrugs! They’re usually quick to make (which appeals to my short project attention span), they don’t use very much yarn (which appeals to my frugality and makes use of my habit of picking up stray balls of yarn) and more than anything else you can make with such a small amount of supplies, it feels like clothes.

A shrug is great for freshening up an old shirt or making lightweight summer clothes stretch into fall. And, if you haven’t taken that step before, it’s an excellent foray into crocheting something for yourself to wear!

Sizes: S [M, L, XL] (Shown in Large)

Finished Measurements: 11.75 [12.25, 13, 14] inches arm circumference; 27 [28, 29, 30] inch cuff-to-cuff

Materials:

• [MC] Red Heart Soft Yarn [100% Acrylic; 256yd/234m per 5oz/140g skein]; color: Chocolate; 1[1, 1, 2] skeins
• [CC] Red Heart Soft Yarn Multi [100% Acrylic; 204yd/187m per 4oz/113g skein]; color: Embers; 10-20 yards
• J/10 (6.00mm size) hook
• Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 13 sts/7 rows (4dc, 3 sc) = 4″/10cm in patt. (Alternating rows of sc and crossed dc)

Notes: This shrug is easy to modify for a perfect fit! Just make sure your starting chain will fit around the thickest part of your arm (in a multiple of 2) and work the sleeves and back to their desired lengths.

Directions:

First Sleeve

Rnd 1: Ch 38 [40, 42, 46]. Join rnd with a sl st in the first st made to form a ring. Ch 1; sc in each st around. (38, 40, 42, 46 sc) Join rnd.

Rnd 2: Ch 2. Sk 1st st, dc in next st. Dc in skipped st. *Sk next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st. Rep from * around. (38, 40, 42, 46 dc) Join rnd.

Rnd 3: Ch 1; sc in each st around. (38, 40, 42, 46 sc) Join rnd.

Rnds 4-8: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately.

Row 9: [Sc dec] 3 times. Sc in next st and each across until 6 sts remain. [Sc dec[ 3 times. (32, 34, 36, 40 sc) Do not join round, turn work; continue to Back.

Back

Row 1: Ch 2 (counts as dc). *Sk 1 st, dc in next st. dc in skipped st. Rep from * until 1 st remains; dc. (32, 34, 36, 40 dc) Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1; sc in each st across ending with last sc in top of ch-2 from Row 1. (32, 34, 36, 40 sc) Turn.

Rows 3-29: Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately. (S only, skip to Second Sleeve.)

Rows 30-31: Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately. (M only, skip to Second Sleeve.)

Rows 32-33: Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately. (L only, skip to Second Sleeve.)

Rows 34-35: Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately. Continue to second sleeve.

Second Sleeve

Row 1: [Sc inc] 3 times. Sc in next st and each st across until 3 sts remain. [Sc inc] 3 times. (38, 40, 42, 46 sc) Do not turn work; join round by making a sl st in the first sc made.

Rnd 2: Ch 2. Sk 1st st, dc in next st. Dc in skipped st. *Sk next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st. Rep from * around.

Rnd 3: Ch 1; sc in each st around. (38, 40, 42, 46 sc) Join rnd.

Rnds 4-9: Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternately.

Continue to Border.

Border

Switch to CC. Ch 2; dc in next st and each st around. Join rnd, finish off.

Then, attach CC to Rnd 1 of the First Sleeve. Ch 2; dc in next st and each st around. Join rnd, finish off.

Finishing: To finish, weave in ends with the needle.

About the Designer

Melissa Mall is an at-home mom with four sons seven and under. They are currently residing in Arizona after a three-year stint in Japan and are having a fun time readjusting. You can keep up with their ordinary adventures over at her blog, or take a peek at her crochet patterns and tutorials at Inner Child Crochet.

Pattern & images © Melissa Mall. All rights reserved.