A display of utility and elegance, our Simple Ribbed Shrug takes the function of basic increases and turns them into a magnificent form, like a perfectly balanced vase.

As simple as can be, you knit this graceful shrug from the top down (so you can try it on as you go!) all in 2×2 ribbing that traces the lines of your shoulders and provides a perfect balance of flexibility and structure…. Comfortable and gorgeous, too!

Whether you’ve knit a cabinet-full of sweaters or have yet to dive into knitting garments, the Simple Ribbed Shrug gives you a taste of the fun. Enjoy shaping for fit and wearing something made just for you but without the parts of sweater knitting that may slow you down (no visits to sleeve island!).

The tidy spin and wool-cotton fiber of our gorgeous Plein Air create ribbing that is wonderfully distinct and with enough structure that the collar of your shrug holds its shape.

A light worsted weight, you can wear this shrug under a coat or over a cardigan. It’s the layer you need no matter the season!

Plein Air’s colors have a gorgeous heathered quality that comes from the slight difference in how the wool and cotton absorb dye, adding even more depth and character to the fabric. Dive into Plein Air’s palette of 16 stunning colors and cast on with just three or four skeins!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. Click here to see even more of Hiromi’s work!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoSimpleRibbedShrug, and #PurlSohoPleinAir. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

• 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) skeins of Purl Soho’s Plein Air, 67% wool and 33% organically grown cotton. Each skein is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 480 (565, 675, 780, 870) total yards required. We used the color Blue Chambray.
• US 6 (4 mm), 20- or 24-inch-inch circular needles, depending on size you are making
• US 6, 32-, 40- or 47-inch circular needles, depending on size you are making
• Stitch markers, including one unique

GAUGE

28 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in 2 x 2 rib, unstretched

SIZES

NOTE To find your chest-plus-arms circumference, hold both arms to your sides and measure around the widest part of your chest, including your arms. To learn about “negative ease,” please visit our Understanding Ease + Selecting Size Tutorial!

30¾ (36½, 42¼, 48, 53¾)

To fit approximate chest-plus-arms circumference of 36–42 (42–48, 48–54, 54–60, 60–66) inches with approximately 6–12 inches of negative ease

• Finished Circumference at Hem, unstretched: 30¾ (36½, 42¼, 48, 53¾) inches
• Finished Circumference at Neck, unstretched: 17¼ (18¼, 19½, 20½, 21¾) inches
• Finished Height: 16 (16½, 17, 17½, 18) inches, with instructions to modify

Sample: The sample shown here is size 36½, worn with approximately 5 inches of negative ease (a bit less negative ease than we recommend, but still very nice!).

NOTES

CONSTRUCTION

You will make this shrug in the round, from top down, starting with the Collar and working in 2 x 2
rib. For the Yoke, you will work 4 sets of raglan increases, then work evenly to finish with the Body.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

M1R + M1L (MAKE 1 RIGHT + LEFT)

NOTE: For more help with these increases, visit our Make 1 Right (M1R) + Make 1 Left (M1L) tutorial at purlsoho.com/create/make-one-right-m1r-make-one-left-m1l

M1R (Make 1 Right): Use left needle to pick up strand (or “bar”) between last stitch and next stitch, from back to front. Knit into front leg. [1 stitch increased]

M1L (Make 1 Left): Use left needle to pick up strand between last stitch and next stitch, from front to back. Knit into back leg. [1 stitch increased]

MAKE 1 RIGHT + LEFT PURLWISE

NOTE: For more help with these increases, please visit our Make 1 Purlwise Tutorial at purlsoho.com/create/make-1-purlwise-m1p

M1R purlwise: Use left needle to pick up strand (or “bar”) between last stitch and next stitch, from back to front. Purl into front leg. [1 stitch increased]

M1L purlwise: Use left needle to pick up strand between last stitch and next stitch, from front to back. Purl into back leg. [1 stitch increased]

PATTERN

CAST ON

With shorter needles, cast on 120 (128, 136, 144, 152) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On, but any stretchy cast-on will do!

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

SIZES 30¾, 36½ AND 53¾ ONLY

Set-Up Round: K1, [p2, k2] 4 (4, -, -, 5) times, p2, place marker (pm) for Back Left, [k2, p2] 5 (6, -, -, 7) times, k2, pm for Front Left, [p2, k2] 9 (9, -, -, 11) times, p2, pm for Front Right, [k2, p2] 5 (6, -, -, 7) times, k2, pm for Back Right, [p2, k2] 4 (4, -, -, 5) times, p2, k1. [4 markers placed; 5 markers total]

SIZES 42¼ AND 48 ONLY

Set-Up Round: P1, [k2, p2] – (-, 5, 5, -) times, place marker (pm) for Back Left, [k2, p2] – (-, 6, 7, -) times, k2, pm for Front Left, [p2, k2] – (-, 10, 10, -) times, p2, pm for Front Right, [k2, p2] – (-, 6, 7, -) times, k2, pm for Back Right, [p2, k2] – (-, 5, 5, -) times, p1. [4 markers placed; 5 markers total]

COLLAR

SIZES 30¾, 36½ AND 53¾ ONLY

Round 1: K1, *p2, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, slipping markers as you come to them, p2, k1.

SIZES 42¼ AND 48 ONLY

Round 1: P1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, slipping markers as you come to them, k2, p1.

ALL SIZES

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 4 inches from cast-on edge.

YOKE

Changing to longer circular needles as needed . . .

Increase Round 1: [Work in rib pattern (knitting the knits and purling the purls) to next marker, m1R (see Special Instructions), slip marker (sm), work in pattern to next marker, sm, m1L (see Special Instructions)] 2 times, work in pattern to end of round. [4 stitches increased]

Next Round: Repeat Increase Round 1. [4 stitches increased]

Increase Round 2: [Work in pattern to next marker, m1R purlwise (see Special Instructions), sm, work in pattern to next marker, sm, m1L purlwise (see Special Instructions)] 2 times, work in pattern to end of round. [4 stitches increased]

Next Round: Repeat Increase Round 2. [4 stitches increased]

Repeat last 4 rounds 5 (7, 9, 11, 13) more times. [216 (256, 296, 336, 376) stitches]

BODY

NOTE: Remove stitch markers, except unique endof-round marker, on first round.

Work evenly in established pattern (knitting the knits and purling the purls) until piece measures 16 (16½, 17, 17½, 18) inches from cast-on edge, or to desired length.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends and gently wet block.