Free online knitting pattern
Dream shrug. Photo: Alex
A lacework shrug in mohair with elbow-length sleeves and deep ribbing.
I created the Dream shrug after finding some brightly-coloured vintage 80s mohair. I used a ripple lace pattern to show-off the beautiful colour changes. The yarn I used (Argyll Mohair) is sadly long discontinued, I have suggested modern alternatives.
The shrug is knitted sideways, in one piece, in the flat on straight needles, then the sleeves are seamed. The ribbing around the body is knitted on circular needles, using the pick-up and knit technique.
The shrug has no discernible top or bottom, the lace pattern has a lot of stretch and it will fit either way up. The finished garment is lightweight and surprisingly cosy thanks to the mohair’s amazing thermal properties.
Size information
Instructions are given for the smallest size, other sizes are shown in brackets. Larger needles are used for the lace pattern on the largest two sizes in order to increase the width – the stitch count is the same.
| Chest measurement at underarm (above bust) | inches | 32 | (34 | 36 | 38 | 40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cm | 81 | (86 | 94 | 97 | 102) | |
| Sleeve length | inches | 10 | (10.5 | 10.5 | 11 | 11) |
| cm | 25 | (27 | 27 | 28 | 28) | |
| Total length (cuff to cuff) | inches | 36 | (39 | 41 | 45 | 47) |
| cm | 91 | (99 | 104 | 114 | 119) | |
| Width (unfolded) | inches | 11 | (11 | 11 | 12 | 12) |
| cm | 28 | (28 | 28 | 30 | 30) |
Requirements
Yarn & notions
- 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) x 100 g hanks Colinette Mohair, or
- 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) x 50 g balls Sirdar Blur, or
- Approx. 400m any mohair blend yarn with recommended needle size of 4-5mm
Needles & equipment
- 5.5 mm circular needle, 80cm or longer
- 9 (9, 9, 10, 10) mm straight needles
- 2 removable stitch markers
Tension/gauge
Tension is not critical – both the lace and the ribbing have a lot of stretch.
Photo: Alex
Instructions
Cuff
With smaller needles, CO 54 sts
Working flat, [k1 p1] to end
Repeat for a further 4 rows
Switch to larger needles
[K1 k2tog] to end (36 sts)
Purl one row
Sleeves and body
Ripple pattern. Photo: Alex
Ripple pattern
Worked over multiples of 18 sts
Row 1: [K2tog] x 3, [k1 yo] x 6, [k2tog] x 3. Repeat this pattern once more to end of row (36 sts)
Rows 2 & 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Continue in ripple pattern until work measures 35 (38, 40, 44, 46) inches, 89 (97, 102, 112, 117) cm from cast on edge
Cuff
Switch to smaller needles
Next row: [Kfb K1] to end (54 sts)
Next 5 rows: [K1 p1] to end
Cast off in rib using larger needle.
Photo: Alex
Sleeve seams
With right side facing, fold work in half lengthways
Place a stitch marker 10 (10.5 10.5 11 11) inches, 25 (27, 27, 28, 28) cm from cast-on edge, measured along raw edge, catching both thicknesses and matching pattern. Repeat for the cast-off edge.
Join sleeve seam from cast-on edge to first marker, and from cast-off edge to second marker, using whip stitch.
Ribbing
Using smaller circular needle, starting at right-hand marker, pick-up and knit 66 (74, 82, 95, 103) sts along raw edge to second marker. Turn work. Pick-up and knit 66 (74, 82, 95, 103) sts along opposite raw edge to first marker.
Join to work in the round, knit 1 row
Next row: [K1, p1] to end
Continue in 1×1 rib until ribbing measures 5 inches
Cast off loosely in rib using the larger needle.
This is gorgeous! Thank you for the pattern. I mean really beautiful. Congratulations!
Lovely shrug, your design works so well with this particular yarn. I’m thrilled to have found it because I have some old mohair with a metallic thread in it and I think your pattern will be lovely for it.
Hi,
I have downloaded your shrug pattern and am anxious to make it, the comments are great about it!
I have one question before I start. On the pattern it gives two needle sizes to use, on your ravelry page of the same pattern you give 3 needle sizes to use. Which should I go with? also in your opinion is stashed karabella gossamer yarn ok to use with this pattern and needle sizes suggested? Thank you
Hiya,
I checked the Ravelry page and there are only two needle sizes listed. The pattern requires you to use a different sized needle for the lace pattern (either 9 or 10 mm) depending on the size you make. I’m not familiar with the yarn you’re using but the lace pattern has a lot of give so the yarn weight is particularly important. If your yarn weight is 4ply or thinner I would suggest going up a needle size to compensate though.
Good luck with your project!
Suzie
Hi suzie,
Thanks for the reply. This is the page I got the 3 needle info from. Just thought you might like to see it in case you want to change anything on it. I’ll use the 2 needles you memtioned.
Shoshy
suziesparkle > notebook > projects > Technicolour Dream Shrug
Thanks for posting. Those details are for the prototype, which I tried out different needles sizes for. The project page is mainly for my own reference, but the pattern page on Ravelry has the recommended needles sizes for the pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dream-shrug
I think this is a wonderful pattern– but I’m hoping to try it for a little girl’s size 6. Wish me luck?
Hi Jill,
You should be able to make a smaller size quite successfully by using a smaller needle and reducing the length of the sleeves. You shouldn’t have to change anything else but it might require some experimentation to get the right size! Good luck with it.
Suzie
I would like to ask Suzie Blackman’s permission to knit her ‘Dream Shrug’ to sell in my outdoor market booth. I am glad to make a donation and put her name on the work as designer>
Hi Cheryl,
Currently I only offer a non-commercial licence on free patterns, which means that you cannot make garments based on them to sell for profit. I am very happy for people to make garments for charitable sale though, providing all proceeds are donated to charity.
Suzie
Your shrug was a delight. Taught me new skills without making me crazy, and it worked up to be absolutely gorgeous. I dropped down two needle sizes, used bright pink and turquoise (for the ribbing). Makes a perfect little girl shrug.
Thanks so much.
Thanks Sandy! Really glad it worked out for you!
I cannot find a link on this page to download the pattern. My printer is out of service so I would like to save this for when I get a new one.
Thank you so much. It is a beautiful design.
Hi Sharahzade,
I’m glad you like it!
There is no download, it’s an online pattern. If you use free sortware like CutePDF you could print it to a PDF.
Suzie
Suzie. Can I make the dream shrug with a sport weight #2 yarn?. Would needle size and amount of wool remain the same?
Hi Ali,
There’s a risk it would come out very small. It works best with a mohair yarn equivalent to an aran weight. It’s very difficult to give a gauge because the lace pattern pulls in different directions in different parts of the garment. You could do a swatch in the lace pattern then work out if you need to add any pattern repeats to achieve the correct width.
Suzie
I have used this stitch pattern to make scarves. I don’t put on the ribbing at each end and I just knit it long enough to make a scarf. The first one I used wool baby yarn mixed with Rowan Kid Silk Haze. I used a size ten needle. The next one was with a linen, cotton blend, Berrocco Lindsey and Kid Silk Haze. The results are simply beautiful. The third one will be done in a different color but same mixture. Lindsay comes in a variagated colors and mixed with the white Kid Silk Haze it took on more of a look of mohair. I used the same size needles (10) I love this pattern. I’ve got it down now well enough to make the shrug. I thought I might try Noro Silk Garden because the colors are so wonderful.
Thank you for this wonderful design.
hi there, Im trying to work out what Ive done wrong, I keep on gaining stitches, I obviously get more stitches in the yo, but should lose them in the k2tog. Somehow this is just not working for me. Any ideas?
I love your shrug and would like to make it with full-length sleeves. Any ideas on modifications?
Hi Althea, the easiest way would be to measure a garment that has the length of sleeves that you want and calculate from that. You should find it easy to modify the pattern for any length of sleeve.
Just downloaded your wonderful pattern for the Dream Shrug, however have a question which does not seem to have been answered previously. If I make the 38″ size what sized straight needles would I use for the cuff and also for the body, as the pattern says ‘with smaller needles’ then ‘with larger needles’? The same applies to the circular needle for the ribbing, as you only mention the 5.5mm size. Looking forward to making it for our SWRI Federation Show next year.
Hi Suzie – Your pattern looks gorgeous. My daughter is getting married on May 25th; was wondering if this could be done in a different yarn to accomodate warmer temps. Any thoughts? Barb
This shrug is amazing, im making one now! Im using yarn bees sequin diva. It’s a worsted weight so im making adjustments also going with a longer sleeve and ribbing. I hope you don’t mind that i’m tweaking your beautiful work. But its cold out side and I wanted something a bit warmer.