Cropped, curvy, and designed to fit closely, the body of this knit is just about as small as you can get, allowing the long sleeves to make the impact. It’s all knitted in stockinette stitch, with simple shaping and no edgings.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The shrug took around 27 hours to make, including sewing up.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Sirdar Gigi is a 100% nylon yarn with neon-bright contrasting knops of color twisted around a brushed core. It has approximately 126 yds. (115 m) to a 50 g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball. Gigi makes a very soft fabric with a lot of drape.
It should be hand-washed and dried flat, but there’s no need to iron—just give it a shake and put it on.
SIZES
To fit: bust 30[32:34:36:38] in. (76[81:86:91:97] cm).
Actual measurements: back width 15¼[16¼:17¼:18:19] in. (39[41.5:44:46:48.5] cm); length 8½[8¾:9¼:9½:9¾] in. (22[22.5:23.5:24.5:25] cm); sleeve 18 in. (46 cm). Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes; where there is one figure, it refers to all sizes.
YOU WILL NEED
• 6(7:7:8:8) x 50 g balls (approx. 10½[12:12:14:14] oz.) of Sirdar Gigi in black, shade 0046
• pair of size US 6 (4¼: mm) knitting needles
GAUGE
25 sts and 34 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over st-st on size US 6 (4¼ mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg = beginning; cont = continue; dec = decrease; foll = following; inc = increase; k = knit; kfb = k into front and back of st; p = purl; RS = right side; skpo = slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette st; tog = together; WS = wrong side.
NOTES
• To check your gauge, cast on 27 sts, and beg k row, st-st 36 rows. Place pins 1 stitch and 1 row in from each edge, and measure between pins. If you get less than 4 in. (10 cm), your knitting is too tight; try again, using larger needles. If you get more than 4 in. (10 cm), your knitting is too loose; try again, using smaller needles.
• Every row of the shaping for the front is written out.
Cast on 34(37:40:43:46) sts. Beg k row, st-st 2 rows.
Inc row (RS) K30(33:36:39:42), kfb, k3. Cont in st-st, inc in this way at front edge on next 5 RS rows. 40(43:46:49:52) sts. P 1 row.
Shape armhole. Row 1 (RS) Bind off 5(6:7:8:9) sts, k to last 4 sts, kfb, k3. P 1 row.
Row 3 K1, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, kfb, k3.
Cont in st-st, dec at beg and inc at end in same way as Row 3 on next 2 RS rows. 36(38:40:42:44) sts. Keeping front edge straight, dec at beg of next 4 RS rows. 32(34:36:38:40) sts. St-st 5 rows.
Shape neck. Dec row (RS) K to last 5 sts, skpo, k3. 31(33:35:37:39) sts. Cont in st-st, dec in this way at front edge on next 16(17:18:19:20) RS rows.15(16:17:18:19) sts. St-st 9(9:9:11:11) rows. Bind off.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 34(37:40:43:46) sts. Beg k row, st-st 2 rows.
Inc row (RS) K2, kfb, k to end. Cont in st-st, inc in this way at front edge on next 6 RS rows. 41(44:47:50:53) sts.
Shape armhole. Row 1 (WS) Bind off 5(6:7:8:9) sts, p to end.
Row 2 (RS) K2, kfb, k to last 3 sts, skpo, k1.
Cont in st-st, inc at beg and dec at end in same way as Row 3 on next 2 RS rows. 36(38:40:42:44) sts. Keeping front edge straight, dec at end of next 4 RS rows. 32(34:36:38:40) sts.
St-st 5 rows.
Shape neck. Dec row (RS) K3, k2tog, k to end.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at front edge on next 16(17:18:19:20) RS rows. 15(16:17:18:19) sts.
St-st 9(9:9:11:11) rows. Bind off.
BACK
Cast on 98(104:110:116:122) sts.
Beg k row, st-st 14 rows.
Shape armholes. Bind off 5(6:7:8:9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec row (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, skpo, k1.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at each end of next 6 RS rows. 74(78:82:86:90) sts.
St-st 39(41:43:47:49) rows.
Shape right side of neck.
Row 1 (RS) K24(25:26:27:28), turn and complete right side of shrug on these sts.
Row 2 Bind off 4 sts knitwise, p to end.
Row 3 K to last 2 sts, skpo.
Row 4 Bind off 3 sts knitwise, p to end.
Row 5 As Row 3. 15(16:17:18:19) sts.
St-st 3 rows. Bind off.
Shape left side of neck.
Row 1 (RS) Bind off center 26(28:30:32:34) sts purlwise, k to end. 24(25:26:27:28) sts.
Row 2 P to last 2 sts, p2tog.
Row 3 Bind off 4 sts purlwise, k to end.
Row 4 As Row 2.
Row 5 Bind off 3 sts purlwise, k to end. 15(16:17:18:19) sts.
St-st 3 rows. Bind off.
SLEEVES
Cast on 46(48:50:52:54) sts.
Beg k row, st-st 20 rows.
Inc row (RS) K2, kfb, k to last 4 sts, kfb, k3.
Cont in st-st, inc in this way at each end of 16(17:18:20:21) foll 6th rows. 80(84:88:94:98) sts.
St-st until sleeve measures 18 in. (46 cm) from beg, ending with a p row.
Shape top. Bind off 5(6:7:8:9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec row (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, skpo, k1.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at each end of next 6 RS rows.
56(58:60:64:66) sts.
St-st 3 rows.
Dec in same way as before at each end of next 4 RS rows.
48(50:52:56:58) sts.
P 1 row.
Next row (RS) Bind off 2 sts, k to last 2 sts, skpo.
Next row Bind off 2 sts, p to last 2 sts, p2tog.
Work last 2 rows 3 more times.
24(26:28:32:34) sts.
Bind off.
TO FINISH
Join shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams. Weave in yarn ends.
TIPS
• Mark the increases with loops of smooth, contrasting yarn. This will make it easier to count the rows between shapings, and it will also help you to match the rows when sewing the sleeves together.
• The smooth side of stockinette stitch is given as the right side (RS) throughout, and the shrug in the picture is assembled in this way, but if you’d like a shrug with the knops of color showing less and the hairs on the surface showing more, assemble the shrug with the reverse, or purl (WS), side as the right side.
Knit this sweet little mini-cardigan to wear day or night.
A little bit of fluffiness makes for a glamorous evening shrug.
