Inspired by the popularity of BBC programs like Downton Abbey and The Forsyte Saga, the Highclere Shrug adds a romantic touch to any outfit. Knit in fingering/sock weight yarn, the body is worked in one piece, bottom-up, to the armholes, then split into fronts and back. The body of the shrug, as well as each sleeve, is finished with a neat row of single crochet, then a luxurious lace ruffle is picked up and knit in the round, and completed with a delicate picot bind off.
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Skill level: Intermediate
Finished Bust: Small (36”), Medium (40.25”), Large 44.5”), XLarge (48.75”), 2X (53”)
Materials: 1200 (1400, 1550, 1700, 1855) yds fingering weight yarn (CYCA 1, Superfine). Model shown used 3 (4, 4, 5, 5,) skeins Holiday Yarns Flock Sock (100g/400yds; 75% merino/ 25% polyamide) in the Aphrodite colorway.
Circular knitting needles with 36” or longer cable in sizes 4/3.5mm, 6/4.0mm and 8/5.0mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Circular knitting needles with 12” or 16” cables OR dpns in sizes 4/3.5mm, 6/4.0mm and 8/5.0mm.
Stitch holders or waste yarn to hold stitches
Crochet hook size B/1/2.25mm for edging
Stitch markers
Hook and eye closure
Tapestry needle to weave in ends
Sewing needle and coordinating thread to sew on closure
Gauge: 1 completed medallion in lace stitch is approximately 1.5″ tall; 2 medallions is approximately 4.25″ wide, using size 4/3.5mm needles, after blocking.
Abbreviations:
Foll – following
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
M1 – make 1
P – purl
Psso – sl 1, k 1, pass slipped stitch over
Rep – repeat
Sc – single crochet
Sk2p – sl 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped st over knit st
Sl st – slip stitch
Yo – yarn over
Note:
I have used a row of single crochet around the body of the shrug to make the edge look especially neat when the lace ruffle flips back at the collar, and to keep the knitted body of the work from stretching out where the ruffle begins. If you cannot bear the thought of crocheting you can skip this step, but theneck edge will not look as pretty if you simply pick up and knit around the neck opening.
Shrug
With longer size 4/3.5mm circular needle, cast on 95 (119, 131, 143, 155) sts. Do not join.
Row 1 (RS): Yo, k 1, yo, k 9, *yo, sk2p, yo, k 9. Rep from * across until 1 st remains, yo, k 1.
Rows 2 & 4: Yo, purl across.
Row 3: Yo, cast on 1, k 4, yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo, *k 5, yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo. Rep from * across until 4 sts remain, k 2, m 1, k 2.
Row 5: Cast on 1, yo, *k 7, yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo. Rep from * across until 7 sts remain, k 5, m 1, k1, yo, k 1.
Row 6: Purl.
Rep Rows 1-6 a total of 8 (8, 9, 10, 11) times, then Rows 1-5 once more. 203 (227, 251, 275, 299) sts.
Divide Front and Back:
Next row (WS): P 54 (60, 66, 72, 78), place these sts on st holder for Left Front, p 95 (107,119, 131, 143) for Back, place marker, p 54 (60, 66, 72, 78), place sts after marker on st holder for Right Front.
Back:
Rejoin yarn with RS facing.
Note: When working shaping in stitch pattern, if there are not enough sts available to work both a yo and its corresponding decrease, omit the yo and work the rem st(s) in stockinette.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, work in pattern to end.
Row 2: Bind off 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, work to end.
Rows 3 and 4: Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, work to end.
Row 5: Psso, work to end.
Row 6: P2tog, work to end.
Rep Rows 5-6 0 (2, 4, 6, 8) more times. 83 (89,93, 99, 105) sts.
Work even in pattern until armholes measure 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)”, ending with a RS row.
Divide for Neck and Shoulders
Right Shoulder
Row 1 (WS): P 24 (26, 27, 29, 31), place on stitch holder for Left Shoulder, bind off 35 (37, 39, 41, 43) for back neck, p to end.
Row 2: Bind off 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work to end.
Row 3: Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: Rep Row 3.
Row 6: Bind off 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts, work to end. 7 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts.
Row 7: Work in pattern.
Bind off all sts.
Left Shoulder
With WS facing, place sts from holder onto
needles.
Row 1 (WS): Work in pattern.
Row 2: Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Row 3: Bind off 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work to end.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: Rep Row 3.
Row 6: Work even.
Row 7: Bind off 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts, work to end. 7
(6, 7, 7, 8) sts.
Row 8: Work in pattern.
Bind off all sts.
Right Front
With RS facing, place stitches from holder onto needles.
Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern.
Row 2: Bind off 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, work to end.
Row 3: Work in pattern.
Row 4: Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, work to end.
Row 5: Work in pattern.
Row 6: P2tog, work to end. 48 (53, 57, 62, 67) sts.
Row 7: Work in pattern.
Size S Only:
Row 8 and all foll WS rows: Work in pattern.
Rows 9 and 11: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 13 and 15: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 17: Psso, work to end.
Rep Rows 16-17 13 more times. 24 sts rem.
Size M Only:
Rows 8 and 10: P2tog, work to end.
Rows 9 and 11: Bind off 3, work to end.
Row 12 and all foll WS rows: Work in pattern.
Rows 13 and 15: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 17: Psso, work to end.
Rep Rows 16-17 14 more times. 26 sts rem.
Size L Only:
Rows 8, 10, 12, 14: P2tog, work to end.
Rows 9 and 11: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 13 and 15: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 16: Work in pattern to end.
Row 17: Psso, work to end.
Rep Rows 16-17 13 more times. 27 sts rem.
Sizes XL (2X) Only:
Rows 8, 10, 12, 14: P2tog, work to end.
Rows 9 and 11: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 13 and 15: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 16: P2tog, work to end.
Row 17: Psso, work to end.
Rep Rows 16-17 1 (3) more times. 44 (45) sts.
Next row (WS): Work in pattern to end.
Next row: Psso, work to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 14 (13) more times. 29 (31) sts rem.
All Sizes:
Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending with a RS row.
Shoulder Shaping:
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): Bind off 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work to end.
Rows 2 and 4: Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Row 5: Bind off 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts, work to end. 7 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts.
Row 6: Work in pattern.
Bind off rem sts.
Left Front:
With RS facing, place stitches from holder onto needles.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, work to end.
Row 2: Work in pattern.
Row 3: Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, work to end.
Row 4: Work in pattern.
Row 5: Psso, work to end. 48 (53, 57, 62, 67) sts.
Row 6: Work in pattern.
Size S Only:
Row 7 and all foll RS rows: Work in pattern.
Rows 8 and 10: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 12 and 14: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 16: P2tog, work to end.
Rep Rows 15-16 13 more times. 24 sts rem.
Size M Only:
Rows 7 and 9: Psso, work to end.
Rows 8 and 10: Bind off 3, work to end.
Row 11 and all foll RS rows: Work in pattern.
Rows 12 and 14: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 16: P2tog, work to end.
Rep Rows 15-16 14 more times. 26 sts rem.
Size L Only:
Rows 7, 9, 11, 13: Psso, work to end.
Rows 8 and 10: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 12 and 14: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 15: Work in pattern.
Row 16: P2tog, work to end.
Rep Rows 15-16 13 more times. 27 sts rem.
Sizes XL (2X) Only:
Rows 7, 9, 11, 13: Psso, work to end.
Rows 8 and 10: Bind off 3, work to end.
Rows 12 and 14: Bind off 2, work to end.
Row 15: Psso, work to end.
Row 16: P2tog, work to end.
Rep Rows 15-16 1 (3) more times. 44 (45) sts.
Next row (RS): Work in pattern to end.
Next row: P2tog, work to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 14 (13) more times. 29 (31) sts rem.
All Sizes:
Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.
Shoulder Shaping:
Rows 1 and 3 (RS): Bind off 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work to end.
Rows 2 and 4: Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Row 5: Bind off 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts, work to end. 7 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts.
Row 6: Work in pattern.
Bind off rem sts.
Sleeves (Make Two):
With size 4 circular needle with longer cable, cast on 53 (59, 59, 65, 71) sts. Do not join.
Sizes S (XL) Only:
Row 1 (RS): K 1, *yo, sk2p, yo, k 9. Rep from * to last 4 sts, yo, sk2p, yo, k 1.
Row 2 and all foll WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: K 5, *yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo, k 5. Rep from * across.
Row 5: K 6, *yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo, k 7. Rep from * across.
Row 7: K 7, *yo, sk2p, yo, k 7. Rep from * across.
Row 9: K 2, psso, k 2, yo, k 5, *yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo, k 5. Rep from * to last 6 sts, yo, k 2, psso, k 2.
Row 11: K 2, psso, k 1, yo, k 7, *yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo, k 7. Rep from * to last 5 sts, yo, k 1, psso, k 2.
Row 12 (WS): Purl.
Rows 1-12 set the stitch pattern.
Sizes M (L, 2X) Only:
Row 1 (RS): K 4, *yo, sk2p, yo, k 9. Rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, sk2p, yo, k 4.
Row 2 and all foll WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: Psso, k 1, yo, k 5, *yo, k 2, sk2p, k2, yo, k5. Rep from * to last 3 sts, yo, k 1, psso.
Row 5: K 9, *yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo, k 7. Rep from * to last 2 sts, k 2.
Row 7: K 10, *yo, sk2p, yo, k 9. Rep from * to last st, k 1.
Row 9: K 2, *yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo, k5. Rep from * to last 9 sts, yo, k 2, sk2p, k 2, yo, k 2.
Row 11: K 3, *yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo, k 7. Rep from * to last 8 sts, yo, k 1, sk2p, k 1, yo, k 3.
Row 12 (WS): Purl.
Rows 1-12 set the stitch pattern.
All Sizes:
Inc row (RS): K 1, m1, work in pattern to last st,
Continue in pattern, rep Inc Row on every 8th (8th, 6th, 6th, 6th) row 3 (3, 5, 3, 5) more times, then every 6th (6th, 4th, 4th, 4th) row 5 (5, 6, 9, 7) times, working increased sts into stitch pattern. 71 (77, 83, 91, 97) sts.
Work even until sleeve measures 11.25 (11.25, 11.5, 11.5, 12)”, ending with a WS row.
Sleeve Cap Shaping:
Rows 1 and 2: Bind off 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts, work to end.
Rows 3 and 4: Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) sts, work to end. 61 (65, 67, 73, 77) sts.
Row 5 (RS): Psso, work to end. 1 st dec’d.
Row 6: P2tog, work to end. 1 st dec’d.
Rep Rows 5-6 11 (11, 14, 15, 15) more times. 37 (41, 37, 41, 45) sts.
Next row (RS): Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Next row: Bind off 2 sts, work to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 3 (4, 3, 3, 4) more times. 21, 21, 21, 25, 25) sts rem.
Bind off all sts.
Finishing:
Block each piece to measurements on schematic.
Seam fronts to back at shoulder seams.
Seam sleeves and stitch into place in each sleeve opening.
Edging (Body):
With size B/2.25mm crochet hook, and RS facing, work one round sc evenly spaced around entire body of the shrug, beginning anywhere.
Join rnd with sl st in 1st sc, end off.
With size 4 circular needle with longest cable, RS facing, pick up and knit one st in each scaround. Place marker and join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: *Yo, p 1. Rep from * around until 1 st remains, k 1, sl st back to left needle.
Rnd 2: *Yo, p2tog. Rep from * around until 1 st remains, k 1, sl st back to left needle.
Rep Rnd 2 twice more, switch to size 6 needles and rep Rnd 2 3 times more, switch to size 8 needles and rep Rnd 2 6 more times.
Picot Bind Off:
*Cable cast-on 2 sts, bind off 4 sts. Rep from * to end, bind off last st.
Edging (Sleeves):
With size B/2.25mm crochet hook, and RS facing, work one round sc evenly spaced around sleeve, beginning at the center seam. Join rnd with sl st in 1st sc, end off.
Rep instructions for Edging: Body with circular needles with shortest cables, or DPNs
Weave in all ends.
Sew on hook and eye.