Shrug It Off is a fun knit shrug worked in an easy 2x2 ribbing pattern. Worked from the top down and designed to keep the arms cozy, this is a cute and easy knit.
Yarn Suggestions I suggest using a merino wool or baby alpaca yarn blend to get the same final results. Cotton can work but will not bounce back in the 2x2 ribbing, so keep this in mind if you decide to work with cotton.
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Alpaca Cloud DKFeels like Alpaca Yarn
- Alpaca Soft DK - Beautiful shades and super soft against the skin. (can also see here and here)
- Aliza Angora Gold (held double)
- We Are Knitters Baby Alpaca - similar to Wool and the Gang Sugar Baby Alpaca.
- Drops Lima
This pattern is an original pattern by Friday Knits. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute.
Please Note: This pattern has not been tested. To keep the pattern free, I am sharing it as a blog post so that I can update it as I receive feedback. If you have any feedback or questions, please contact me or direct message me on instagram @friday.knits
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Abbreviations and Techniques
RS: Right Side of your work.
WS: Wrong Side of your work.
PM: Place Marker.
work stitches: work the stitches in pattern, i.e knit the knits and purl the purls.
k2tog: knit the next 2 stitches together.
Increases
M1RK: make a right leaning increase knit-wise; pick up the bar between stitches from back to front, knit through the front loop.
M1LK: make a left leaning increase knit-wise; pick up the bar between stitches from front to back, knit through the back loop.
M1RP: make a right leaning increase purl-wise; pick up the bar between stitches from front to back, knit through the front loop.
M1LP: make a right leaning increase purl-wise; pick up the bar between stitches from back to front, knit through the back loop from back to front.
Video Tutorial
For those who are a bit more visual, follow along with this video tutorial below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oRVKwFI-Oo&t=869s
PATTERN
Body
(Video Chapter 02:22)
Cast On 56 (60) 72 sts using any Cast On (I used the long tail cast on).
(Video Chapter 03:46)
Marker
Row 1 (WS): Purl 3, PM, knit 2, *purl 2, knit 2* for the next 8 (8) 12 stitches, PM, purl 2, PM, knit 2, *purl 2, knit 2* for 24 (28) 32 stitches, PM, purl 2, PM, knit 2, *purl 2, knit 2* for 8 (8) 12 stitches, PM, purl 3.
You should have 3 stitches for your front raglan, 10 (10) 14 stitches for your left sleeve, 26 (30) 34 stitches for your back, 10 (10) 14 stitches for your right sleeve, 3 stitches for your front raglan.
You will have a total of 56 (60) 72 stitches on your needle.
Tip: Because the 2x2 rib is a reversible stitch, I suggest placing a removable stitch marker to mark which side is the RS or WS of your work (you can place it on the side that makes sense to you).
Increase rows
(Video Chapters 06:35 - 16:34)
As you work the increases, your pattern will become irregular. Continue to work your stitches as they appear i.e knit your knit stitches and purl your purl stitches.
(Video Chapter 06:35)
Row 2 (RS) increase: slip 1 knit-wise, knit 2, *slip marker, M1LK, work in pattern to the next marker, M1RK, slip marker, knit 2,* repeat from * to * twice more, slip one knitwise. (6 stitches increases)
(Video Chapter 10:53)
Row 3 (WS): Work stitches in pattern as they appear.
(Video Chapter 11:46)
Row 4 (RS) increase: Repeat Increase ROUND 2. (6 stitches increased)
(Video Chapter 12:44)
Row 5 (WS): Work stitches in pattern as they appear.
(Video Chapter 13:20)
ROW 6 (RS) increase: slip 1 knit-wise, knit 2, *slip marker, M1LP, work in pattern to the next marker, M1RP, slip marker, knit 2,* repeat from * to * twice more, slip one knitwise. (6 stitches increased)
Row 7 (WS): Work stitches in pattern as they appear.
(Video Chapter 16:34)
Row 8 (RS) increase: repeat Increase ROUND 6. (6 stitches increased)
Row 9 (WS): Work stitches in pattern as they appear.
Repeat Rows 2-9 for a total of 8 (9) 9 repeats.
(Video Chapter 18:06)
Your raglan should measure 8 (9) 9 inches / 20.25 (22.75) 22.75 cm.
You will have a total of 248 (276) 312 stitches on your needle.
You have now completed your increases.
We will now place the stitches for your sleeve on hold while at the same time, join your front raglans to the body stitches and cast on stitches for your underarm.
Join Body
Join the body to continue working the body stitches down in 2x2 rib.
(Video Chapter 18:32)
Joining Round: On the RS of your work, slip 1 knit-wise, knit 2, remove marker, place left sleeve stitches on hold, cast on 6 (6) 10 stitches using any cast on you prefer, work in pattern across to the next marker, remove marker, knit 2, remove marker, place right sleeve stitches on hold, cast on 6 stitches using any cast on you prefer, remove marker, knit 2, slip 1 knit-wise.
You will have a total of 102 (114) 126 stitches on your needle.
Body Stitches
WS: Work in pattern to the end of the row.
RS: Work in pattern to the end of the row.
Continue working back and forth in pattern until you’ve reached the desired length for your body, ending on a WS row, meaning the last row you work is the WS. For the sample, I worked an inch because I didn’t want my shrug to be too long.
(Video Chapter 29:07)
Bind Off (RS): This bind off is not very stretchy as it’s what I preferred to maintain a bit of structure as I didn’t want my shrug to be too loose. You can choose to also work a stretchy bind off if you prefer.
Regular bind off (as shown in video):
Knit 2 stitches, slip the second stitch on your right hand needle over your first stitch, *knit 1, slip the second stitch on your right hand needle over your first stitch,* repeat from between * to * until you reach the end of your row.
Pull your yarn through the final stitch and cut a tail to weave in your ends.
(Video Chapter 26:13)
Stretchy Bind Off:
To work a stretchy bind off:
Knit 1 stitch, *bring the working yarn to the front between the needles, then over the right hand needle to the back, work the next stitch, slip the first 2 stitches on your right hand needle over the third stitch,* repeat from * to * until you reach the end of your row.
Cut the yarn and pull through to the last stitch to secure. Weave in your tail. (if you follow the video, you will not need to join your yarn here as the hem is not worked in the round).
Sleeves
Transfer the stitches on hold for the sleeve onto your 4mm [US 6], 16 inch / 40 cm circular needles. (If you’ve decided to work using the magic loop method, transfer to your longer needles).
Work the instructions below for both sleeves.
(Video Chapter 22:29)
Transfer your 64 (72) 72 stitches onto your circular needles, pick up and knit your 6 (6) 10 underarm stitches. Place a marker at your mid underarm to mark your beginning of round. Work in 2x2 ribbing, in the round, until you’ve reached your desired sleeve length. To do this, I tried on my shrug to choose my desired length.
You will have 70 (78) 82 stitches on your needle.
(Video Chapter 26:13)
Stretchy Bind Off:
To work a stretchy bind off:
Knit 1 stitch, *bring the working yarn to the front between the needles, then over the right hand needle to the back, work the next stitch, slip the first 2 stitches on your right hand needle over the third stitch,* repeat from * to * until you reach the end of your row. Cut the yarn and pull through to the last stitch to secure. With your yarn needle, secure the last stitch to your first stitch, and then weave in your tail.
(Video Chapter 29:50)
Weave in any loose ends, wash and block according to the instructions on your ball/skein. Line up the front raglan the the back raglan, and lay the sleeves out. Dry in the shade.