Photos: Jenny Williams
» photos: Jenny Williams
Heart Party Shrug
By Jenny Williams
I recently designed an adult-sized shrug and it was such a quick, entertaining piece to knit and to wear, I was anxious to design one for my friend's daughter. Having two boys myself, it gave me an opportunity to reminisce on what made me feel special as a little girl. I decided on classic heart yarn-over's with a splash of bobbles around the edges for fun. It's a great way to break into lace and bobbles if you are new to them. I named it Heart Party because there are so many hearts, they could all have a party, and because its dressy enough to wear to a party if she wanted.
Sizes
4[6, 8, 10]
Size Shown in Picture: 10
Note: Be sure to measure shoulder-to-shoulder width and arm circumference at armpit. This pattern is sized according to CYC sizing standards, which may run small in this category.
Finished Measurements
Shoulder to shoulder: 93⁄4[101⁄4, 103⁄4, 111⁄4] inches
Upper arm: 71⁄2[8, 81⁄2, 83⁄4] inches
Materials
Patons Silk Bamboo [70% Bamboo, 30% Silk; 102 yards/93 meters per 2.2 ounce/65 gram ball];
#85510 Apricot; 2 balls
Recommended needle sizes
US #3/3.25mm circular or straight needles
US #5/3.75mm circular or straight needles (or size to obtain gauge)
US #3/3.25mm dpns (set of 4) and a cable needle or US #3/3.25mm dpns (set of 5)
Notions
Crochet hook
Yarn needle
Gauge
20 sts and 33 rows = 4 inches in heart pattern, blocked, using larger-sized needles
6 sts and 10 rows = 1 inch in ribbing, unblocked, using smaller-sized needles
Pattern Notes
This shrug is a simple rectangle worked from bottom to top, that is sewn up at the ribbing to form "sleeves". Then stitches are picked up around the arms to form the sleeve ribbing. It is very important to block the body as it will make the hearts lay nicely instead of bunching up at the top. However, block the ribbing as little as possible to maintain its elasticity.
MB (Make Bobble): In made stitch, (k1, p1, k1, p1) all in 1 st, turn, p5, turn, k5, turn, p5, turn, pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th st over first st, sl first st back to right needle.
Skills Required:
Bobbles, yarn-overs and a small amount of knitting on dpns
INSTRUCTIONS
With smaller straight or circular needles and using the long-tail cast-on method, cast on 84[86, 92, 94] sts. This method produces a nice edge and makes knitting the first row, which will be the wrong side, much easier. A may also find this video illustration helpful.
Bottom Ribbing (All Sizes)
Row 1 (WS): P1[2, 1, 2], k2, * p2, k2; repeat from * across to last 1[2, 1, 2] st(s), p1[2, 1, 2].
Rows 2 and 3: Knit the k sts and purl the p sts. In other words, continue in established rib.
Row 4: K1[2, 1, 2], [p2, k2] 4[4, 5, 5] times, p1, m1, slip made st back to left needle and MB, p1, [k2, p2, k2, p1, m1, slip made st back to left needle and MB, p1] 6 times, [k2, p2] across to last 1[2, 1, 2] st(s), k1[2, 1, 2].
Note: Bobbles are not placed under the arms where they might be irritating.
Row 5: P1[2, 1, 2], [k2, p2] 4[4, 5, 5] times, k1, k2tog, [p2, k2, p2, k1, k2tog] 6 times , [p2, k2] across to last 1[2, 1, 2] st(s), p1[2, 1, 2].
Rows 6-13: Knit the k sts and purl the p sts, increasing 5[5, 1, 1] st(s) evenly spaced across last row: 89[91, 93, 95] sts.
Body - Sizes 4 [6, 8] Only
Change to larger needles.
First Row of Hearts
Beginning with a knit row, work in St st for 6 rows.
Row 1 (RS): K3[4, 5], * work chart, k13[13, 13]; repeat from * 2 more times, work chart, k3[4, 5].
Row 2 & all even rows: Purl across.
Rows 3-12: Continue in patt until chart is complete.
Size 8 Only
Work 2 rows in St st.
Second Row of Hearts
Row 1: K15[16, 17], work Row 1 of chart, * k13, work Row 1 of chart; repeat from * once more, k15[16, 17]
Row 2 & all even rows: Purl across.
Rows 3-12: Continue in patt until chart is complete.
Size 8 Only
Work 2 rows in St st.
Third and Fourth Row of Hearts
Work same as First and Second Row of Hearts.
Work 4[6, 6] in rows St st, decreasing 5[5, 1] st(s) evenly spaced across last row: 84[86, 92] sts.
Body - Size 10 Only
Change to larger needles.
First Row of Hearts
Beginning with a knit row, work in St st for 2 rows.
Row 1 (RS): K2, * work chart, k13; repeat from * 2 more times, work chart, k2.
Row 2 & all even rows: Purl across.
Rows 3-16: Continue in patt until chart is complete.
Second Row of Hearts
Row 1: K15, work Row 1 of chart, * work Row 1 of chart, k13; repeat from * 2 more times, k15.
Row 2 & all even rows: Purl across.
Rows 3-16: Continue in patt until chart is complete.
Third and Fourth Row of Hearts
Work same as First and Second Row of Hearts.
Work 2 more rows in St st, decreasing 1 st in center of last row: 94 sts.
Top Ribbing - All Sizes
Change to smaller needles.
Row 1 (RS): K1[2, 1, 2], p2, * k2, p2; repeat from * across to last 1[2, 1, 2] st(s), k1[2, 1, 2].
Continue ribbing as established.
Row 9: K1[2, 1, 2], [p2, k2] 1[1, 2, 2] times, p1, m1, slip made st back to left needle and MB, p1, * k2, p2, k2, p1, m1, slip made st back to left needle and MB, p1; repeat from * 8 more times, [k2, p2] 1[1, 2, 2] time(s), k1[2, 1, 2]: 94[96, 102, 104] sts.
Row 10: P1[2, 1, 2], [k2, p2] 1[1, 2, 2] time(s), k1, k2tog, * p2, k2, p2, k1, k2tog; repeat from * 8 more times, [p2, k2] 1[1, 2, 2] times, p1[2, 1, 2]: 84[86, 92, 94] sts.
Row 11: Work across in established rib.
Bind off all sts loosely in rib.
Finishing
Block body lightly by pinning into desired shape and spritzing, leaving top & bottom rib unpinned in order to maintain elasticity. Sew left top ribbing to left bottom rib and right top rib to right bottom rib, creating a "sleeve". Beginning at right underarm, pick up 44 sts evenly around the sleeve hole. (I find using a crochet hook to pull through yarn to pick up sts is easiest.) Divide sts evenly on 3 smaller dpns.
Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 8 rounds.
Note: Use a 5th dpn or a cable needle to make bobbles on next row.
Row 9: [K2, p2] 3 times, * k2, p1, m1, slip made st back to left needle and MB, p1, k2, p2; repeat from * 3 more times.
Row 10: [K2, p2] 3times, * k2, p1, p2tog, k2, p2; repeat from * 3 more times.
Row 11: Work in established rib around.
Bind of in rib.
Repeat for left sleeve, taking care to place bobbles in same spots, i.e. over top of arm and not under.