crochetguideKnow these stitches: chain, double crochet, single crochet, single crochet decrease, slip stitch
Materials and yarn planning
Yarns we’ve reviewed that suit it: Knit Picks Dishie Cone yarn, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton worsted yarn, Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran. For the hook, choose by size and handle.
Yarn estimate for size Medium: the 4,600 double crochets at about 8 cm of medium yarn each and the 536 single crochets at about 4 cm come to about 390 m. Buy about 430 m, for example three balls of 150 m.
For an exact figure in your own yarn, weigh a washed swatch in the pattern stitch: the weighed-swatch yarn calculator scales it to each flat panel or strip. Allow a little more for seams, edging and tails.
Finished size and gauge
Sized from the Craft Yarn Council’s women’s chart. The rectangle is as wide as the upper arm plus about 10 cm, so the sleeve slides on over a top, and as long as twice the center back neck-to-wrist. The middle, half the chest plus about 5 cm, stays open. Size Medium (91.5–96.5 cm chest): 46 stitches, about 38 cm at 12 double crochets and 7 rows per 10 cm, and 100 rows, about 143 cm; the middle 36 rows, about 52 cm, stay open. The open middle by size: X-Small 41.8 cm, Small 46.8 cm, Medium 52 cm, Large 57 cm, X-Large 62.1 cm, 2X 67.3 cm, 3X 72.3 cm, 4X 77.3 cm, 5X 82.5 cm. Read the stitches and rows for your size and swatch from the table below. These are calculations from the counts, not a measured sample.
Sizes from your swatch
Example: 12 double crochets and 7 rows in 10 cm, the gauge the steps are written for. Type your own swatch over it to see your counts.
| Size | Width, around the sleeve | Length, wrist to wrist | Stitches | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Small (71–76 cm chest) | 35 cm (13.75 in) | 134.5 cm (53 in) | 42 (chain 44) | 94 |
| Small (81–86 cm chest) | 36 cm (14.25 in) | 138.5 cm (54.5 in) | 43 (chain 45) | 96 |
| Medium (91.5–96.5 cm chest) | 38 cm (15 in) | 143.5 cm (56.5 in) | 46 (chain 48) | 100 |
| Large (101.5–106.5 cm chest) | 40.5 cm (16 in) | 148.5 cm (58.5 in) | 49 (chain 51) | 104 |
| X-Large (111.5–117 cm chest) | 44.5 cm (17.5 in) | 148.5 cm (58.5 in) | 53 (chain 55) | 104 |
| 2X (122–127 cm chest) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 154 cm (60.75 in) | 59 (chain 61) | 108 |
| 3X (132–137 cm chest) | 53 cm (20.75 in) | 156.5 cm (61.5 in) | 64 (chain 66) | 110 |
| 4X (142–147 cm chest) | 57 cm (22.5 in) | 161.5 cm (63.5 in) | 68 (chain 70) | 114 |
| 5X (152–158 cm chest) | 59.5 cm (23.5 in) | 161.5 cm (63.5 in) | 71 (chain 73) | 114 |
Counts are rounded to whole stitches and rows and to the pattern’s repeat. Check the first rows against your swatch.
The gauge calculator compares your swatch with the pattern. A stitch name you do not know is in the abbreviation chart; a UK pattern’s names are in the US/UK term reference.
The pattern
Count rows for this patternRectangle
- Chain 48. Row 1: double crochet in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across: 46 double crochets. The skipped chains do not count as a stitch.
- Rows 2–100: chain 2 and turn (it does not count), double crochet in each stitch across: 46 stitches. Before you fasten off, hold the strip across your back with your arms out: it should reach from wrist to wrist. Work more rows or undo some to fit, keeping an even number of rows.
Sleeves
- Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, right sides together, so the two long edges meet. Sew them together from one end for 32 rows, about 46 cm. Sew the other end the same way. The middle 36 rows stay open.
- Cuffs: turn right side out. Join the yarn at the seam of one sleeve end. Round 1: chain 1, [single crochet in the next stitch, single crochet 2 together] 15 times, single crochet in the last stitch, join: 31 stitches.
- Rounds 2–4: chain 1, single crochet in each stitch, join (31 stitches). Fasten off. Work the second cuff the same.
Edge
- Join the yarn at the end of one sleeve seam, inside the opening. Round 1: chain 1, 2 single crochets in the end of each row all around the opening, join: 144 stitches.
- Round 2: chain 1, single crochet in each stitch, join (144 stitches). Fasten off and weave in all the ends.
Check the work
Every row has 46 stitches. The sleeves take 32 rows each and the opening 36: 32 + 36 + 32 = 100. Each cuff gathers 46 stitches to 31; the edge has 2 stitches for each of the 72 row ends.
- If the shrug slips off your shoulders, the opening is too long: sew each seam 2 or 3 rows further.
- If the sleeves feel tight, add 4 stitches to the rectangle; if they flap, take 4 away.
- If the edge ruffles, work 3 single crochets in every 2 row ends instead of 2 in each.
Updated . Stitch counts checked row by row; we haven’t crocheted a sample of this one yet. How the patterns are checked. Keep your yarn label, hook and swatch on the printable project worksheet.