ESPRIT RAGLAN SHRUG Designed by Michelle Ciccariello This shrug is worked from the top-down. You will be knitting two sleeves and a back, no fronts. Esprit Shrug is pictured atop Sonata Crest of the Wave Tank Top, also designed by Michelle Ciccariello, and also free at elann.com! Sizes: Child, plus S-M-L, XL and up for women (instructions are included for adjusting to your size). Materials: - elann.com Esprit (186 yds stretched, 100yds relaxed, per 50g ball) - For a child 3-4 balls; for an adult 4 balls. - 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle, 16" long, or size necessary to obtain correct gauge - Set of 4.5mm (US 7) double pointed needles - 3.5mm (E) Crochet Hook for part of edging - 2 Stitch Markers. Gauge: 18 st = 4", measured over stockinette stitch on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles. Cast On: (You will be casting on 2 sleeves and a back, separated by 2 stitch markers. Stitches before the first marker will be the first sleeve, and stitches after the second marker will be the second sleeve. Stitches between the 2 markers will be the back.) For child: 15 sts, place markers at 3 sts and 12 sts, work back and forth as follows. For ladies’ sizes S-M-L: 30 sts, place markers at 6 sts and 24 sts, work back and forth as follows. For Ladies’ sizes XL and up: 45 sts, place markers at 9 sts and 36 sts, work back and forth as follows. If unsure of size, use this formula: Measure around the back and sides of your neck in inches Multiply this number by your gauge per inch (4.5 stitches) Round this number to the nearest multiple of 3 Place 2 markers at one-fifth and four-fifths of total stitches – at either end of your needle, each sleeve will be one fifth of your total number of stitches, and between these, the center three-fifths will be the back of your shrug. Stitch Pattern: The basic shrug looks lovely worked in plain stockinette. A lace pattern, such as Crest of the Wave (as pictured), can be used at the lower edges without changing the yarn requirements at all. Crest of the Wave (multiple of 12 sts, 12 rounds or rows) - Based on Barbara Walker First Treasury, p. 205 Crest of The Wave – (mltpl 12 + 1) (for rows) Rows 1-4: k Rows 5, 7, 9, 11: k1, *(k2tog)x2, (yo, k1)x3, yo, (k2tog-tbl)x2, k1, rep from * to end of row. Rows 6, 8, 10, 12: Purl Crest of The Wave (mltpl 12) (for rounds) Rnds 1, 3: k Rnds 2, 4: p Rnds 5, 7, 9, 11: *(k2tog)x2, (yo, k1)x3, yo, (k2tog-tbl)x2, k1, rep from * to end of round. Rnds 6, 8, 10, 12: Knit Back & Sleeves, From Neck Down to Armpits: All RS Rows: K-f&b at beginning and end of row, and before & after each increase marker (total: 6 inc sts.) All WS Rows: Purl across. Continue to armpits (to determine correct length, measure the vertical distance from the neck to the armpit of the wearer, then add one inch for ease).Verify by measuring your gauge. Knit until stitches across back section (between your two markers) equal half of total needed for chest measurement of the size you are making. Move back stitches to a length of narrow ribbon or scrap yarn, and finish the sleeves before returning to the back. Sleeves: Move sleeve backs (armpit to shoulder, across back) to one circular needle and sleeve fronts (armpit to shoulder, across front) to a second circular needle, using a different ball of yarn for each sleeve (or use dpns and knit each sleeve separately). Knit around, decreasing 1 st ea side of armpit every 4th rnd. End at three-quarter length with one full cycle (12 rounds) of Crest of the Wave stitch. Back: Pick up and knit armpit sts (8 on each side), and knit back and forth, decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of every row. Continue in plain stockinette for about 3-3.5 inches (8 cm), then switch to Crest of the Wave for 2 complete cycles of the pattern (24 rows). Bind off loosely; do not break yarn. Using the same strand of yarn, crochet small shells from the last bound off stitch up to the armpit as follows: 3 dc in next st, skip 1 st, 1 sc in next st, skip 1 st, repeat. At about three sts before armpit, switch back to knitting needle and begin picking up sts from one armpit to the other for ribbing. Shoulder-Neck Edging: Pick up all sts from one armpit to the other, beginning three sts before one armpit and moving across armpit, up front of shoulder at a rate of pick up 2, skip 1, pickup all sts across back of neck, then continue down the other side of the front, resuming a rate of pick up 2, skip 1, and ending at 3 sts past the opposite armpit. From RS, knit across all (or from WS, purl across all), placing markers to show raglan positions. Work back and forth in a K2, P2 rib, beginning each row with a sl1-k2tog-psso, and decreasing 1 st on ea side of raglan markers on all RS rows. Continue until rib edge is 1 inch or more, as desired. Bind off in pattern. Do not break yarn. Using the same strand of yarn, crochet small shells (as before) from the last bound off stitch (this time that will be near the armpit) down to bottom of Crest of the Wave edging. Break yarn, tie a knot, weave in the end. Abbreviations: Approx - approximately, beg - begin(ning), BO - bind off, CC - contrast color, cm - centimeter, cn - cable needle, CO - cast on, cont - continue(ing), dec - decrease, dc – double crochet, EOR - every other row, ER - every row, es - edge stitch, inc - increase, k - knit, K-f&b - knit into front and back of st, L - left, MC - main color, meas - measures, mm - millimeters, P - purl, patt - pattern, pm - place marker, psso - pass slip st over, rem - remain, rep - repeat, Rev - reverse, R - right, rnd - round, RS® - right side (row), sc - single crochet, SKP - slip 1, knit 1, psso, s - slip, SSK - slip, slip, knit - slip next two stitches knitwise, one at a time, to right-hand needle. Insert tip of left-hand needle into fronts of these stitches, from left to right. Knit them together. One stitch has been decreased, st st - stocking/ stockinette stitch, st(s) - stitch(es), tbl - through back loop, tog - together, WS® - wrong side (row), wyib - with yarn in back, wyif - with yarn in front, yb - yarn back, yf - yarn forward, yo - yarn over. Please note this pattern is copyrighted material and the entire contents of this pattern are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws of Canada and the United States. You may print a copy of this pattern for your own personal use and enjoyment, but editing, publishing, transmitting, e-mailing, posting it to a list service or database, or otherwise commercially exploiting this pattern is strictly forbidden. Michelle Ciccariello