Here is the first installment of instructions for the Esmerelda shrug I’m designing as a Fiber Fiends Ravelry Group knit-a-long. I decided to also post the instructions here on my blog, as I think you have to in order to post the pattern as an official pattern in Ravelry, plus then those of you who haven’t joined Ravelry can also have access to the pattern (although why haven’t you joined Ravelry? It’s awesome!) I haven’t had time to start knitting my shrug yet, so let me know if you find any mistakes!
This piece is the yoke part of the shrug, knit top-down with raglan shaping, until just above the cable. See the sketch below for clarification. The cable and rib trim will be added last.
Esmerelda
by Fiber Fiend
Difficulty: Intermediate
This cabled shrug has a unique twist, with spiraling cabled sleeves. Esmerelda is worked top-down with raglan construction until the sleeves. The sleeve stitches are then put on holders while the back is worked back and forth. The sleeves are then worked top-down in the round until the desired length. Lastly, the trim is applied around the edge of the shrug, creating a shawl collar around the neckline. Esmerelda is made to fit tightly with minimal ease.
SIZE
30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) inches
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52) inches
Length: 12 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15) inches
MATERIALS
Approximately 350 (350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550) g worsted weight yarn
Shown in Fiber Fiend Yumm (100% fine wool; 250 yd / 229 m per 125g skein); color: Into the Fire; 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) skeins, 750 (750, 1000, 1000, 1000, 1000, 1250) yd
1 set US #6/4 mm double-pointed needles
1 24-inch, 29-inch, or 32-inch US #6/4 mm circular needle
Stitch Markers of two types / colors
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
Cable needle (optional)
GAUGE
20 sts/29 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch
ABBREVIATIONS
K: Knit
M1L: Make 1 Left. Lift strand between st just worked and next st by inserting left needle from front to back, k through back loop.
M1R: Make 1 Right. Lift strand between st just worked and next st by inserting left needle from back to front, k through front loop.
Mkr: Marker
Sl: Slip
PATTERN
Yoke
Cast on 45 (50, 53, 57, 59, 64, 69) sts. Knit 2, place mkr, knit 8 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12), place mkr, knit 25 (28, 31, 33, 35, 38, 41), place mkr, knit 8 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12), place mkr, knit 2. Purl 1 row.
Increase Row: *K until 1 st before mkr, m1L, k1, sl mkr, k1 m1R, rep from * 3 times, k to end of row.
{I had to edit these next instructions a bit in order to make the next part work…}
Work increase row next row and every right side row until piece measures approximately 2 (2.5, 2.75, 3.25, 3.5, 4, 4.5)” / 5 (6.5, 7, 8.5, 9, 10, 11.5) cm, ending with a WS row. 7 (9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16) increases worked; 16 (20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34) rows worked; 101 (122, 133, 153, 163, 184, 197) sts.
I can’t wait to see what some of your shrugs look like!