Fluffy Pink Shrug Schematics

[mrs who]

Any Size/Any Gauge Shrug

Honestly, this is not something you want or need a pattern to do. If you know how to crochet back and forth and know how to crochet in the round, you can do this shrug. I think a pattern only serves to confuse, and removes the ability to conform this shrug to your choice of size, yarn and gauge. If you follow the schematics, you can make this for a 2 year old or for a size XXXL! And you can use any stitches you like - heavy dense ones or lacy light ones. You can use any yarn you want - baby weight or bulky weight. You can even choose whatever needle/hook size you want - a heavy yarn with smaller needle/hook will make a heavy shrug, a light yarn with larger needle/hook will make a lacy one. Obviously you can knit OR crochet this.

It's actually really easy - the hardest part is probably choosing what type of ruffle to do for the collar portion.

If you want to try it but are nervous, make a doll sized one! That'll give you a chance to see how it all comes together and it won't take much time or yarn.

First - make a gauge using whatever stitch you prefer for the body of your shrug. Measure your stitches per inch. Write this down somewhere! Gauge (G) = ____.
Now, you must get a sweater you like or one the person who plans to wear the shrug likes, one whose fit you wish to duplicate in your shrug. Spread out your sweater and measure thusly:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrugmeasurement.gif


From wrist to wrist: L (for length of rectangle)
Across the chest: C for chest
Alllll the way around the widest part of the arm: A

The "body" of the shrug is nothing but a rectangle. This is not tricky.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrug2.gif
To figure your initial chain or cast on, multiply G x A = _______. (This is the number of stitches. Remember to add on any starting chain necessary for the stitch of your choice if you're crocheting... sc requires 1 chain, hdc requires 2, etc.)You begin at the short end (A) and work until it is (L) long enough, using the stitch of your choice. End off, work in ends.

Fold your rectangle in half, long-edge to long-edge. x to x and y to y. But you already knew that.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrug3.gif

You will be sewing two seams, one from each end toward the middle, but you will leave some of the middle open. The number of inches you leave open in the center is
determined by C - your chest measurement.

Now, you will do some more math. This is NOT tricky. L" - C" = _____ divided by 2 = ______ the number of inches to sew up each arm.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrug4.gif
Take a yarn needle and some yarn, and neatly sew the two seams. Turn the shrug to look at you, open up the center opening and you will now have this:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/scribble.gif
If you wanted a plain shrug, you could stop here, slip your arms into each of those long tubes and have a shrug.

Or, you can put the ruffly bit on.

From now on, you are working in the round. With a hook one size larger, sc in each stitch all the way around the opening. If knitting, you'll need a circular needle and you'll pick up evenly all the way around.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrug5.gif
Now, begin your chosen ruffle stitch, working even for several inches, then increasing as you go to make the ruffle fan out slightly. That's it! Try it on as you go and stop making the ruffle when it is as long as you like. If you wish to make ruffled cuffs, simply chain around (or pick up and knit) the wrists and make a similar ruffle for as long as desired.
Variations: You needn't make one which goes from wrist-to-wrist. You can measure from elbow-to-elbow, or even upperarm-to-upperarm. Just remember to always leave stitches to measure C open in the center.

For a snug fitting shrug, measure a snug fitting sweater. For a loose shrug, measure a loose fitting sweater.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrugfront.jpghttp://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/shrugback.jpg
I used the "sweater stitch" for the body of mine, which is much lighter weight than normal sc.
Chain any even number of chains.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (you must have an odd number of scs at this point)
Row 2: Sc in FLO of first stitch, * sc in BLO of next stitch, sc in FLO of next stitch* across. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 - ?: Repeat row 2. (You will notice that you're always putting a sc in the opposite loop from the one below, which makes a bit of a seed stitch pattern.)
(This pattern repeat can be worked over any odd number, plus ONE for the starting chain.)

For the ruffle, I single crocheted around the body opening, making sure my sc were an amount divisible by three. My ruffle pattern is *2dc, ch 1, 2dc (shell made), ch 1 skip 2 scs* across. On subsequent rounds, slip stitch into the center of the shell, do a ch 3 for initial dc, then dc, ch 1, 2dc, ch 1. In next shell, make shell (2dc, ch1, 2dc) ch 1.

I repeated this for five rounds, then put two chains between the shells for five rounds. Then put three chains between the shells for five rounds. Then, I changed the shells to *3dc, ch1, 3dc - ch 3* for several rounds, until I had to move up to *4dc, ch 1, 4dc* shells with an increasing number of chains between rounds - ending with (I believe) 4dc, ch 1, 4dc, ch 6. In the final round I simply sc in each stitch around.

The tie is simply a short length of chain, which my daughter threaded through an opening on each side of the ruffle - in a place where she wanted. You can also cross the ruffle over your torso and pin it.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Oh goodness Thank you so much for your generosity I just know we are going to be seeing some lovely pics very soon. I have to make one for myself after I finish a few things. Thank you Thank you

[mrs who]

You're welcome. I "fudged" it the whole time, so it's something very easy to just make up as you go along. It only looks tricky, which is my favorite kind of thing. Recipes, too! I like the foods which taste difficult to make but were actually quite easy.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I love that kind of pattern the ones that just get ya going and then you can just kinda do your own thing if need be Thanks again

[kariholtz]

thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's printing out as I type.

[lilacsandroses]

Thank you so much for putting that up for us to try. Now, to find time to make it, with all my other WIP!

[fran]

Thank you very much!

[crochetfun]

This is exactly what I was looking for.


One more question: are there any inc/dec in the sleeve part?

[crochet mama]

Wow. Let me just say that I'm so intimidated to try this, but I am going to. My daughter (11) saw it and loved it so I know I have to make it.

[crochetdiva]

You are an angel!!!! thank you so much for explaining this. I have been looking for this pattern for months. I originally asked anyone if they had the pattern for Oprah's jacket....just like this one. I can't wait to make it. Thank you !!!