Quick and Easy Shoulderette Shrug – FREE Weaving Pattern

Quick and Easy Shoulderette Shrug
Quick and Easy Shoulderette Shrug

Warm-Ups for Chilly Days: Quick and Easy Shoulderette Shrug

This simple-to-make shoulderette, originally published in Knit and Crochet Style Parade by Coats & Clark’s in 1954, is a cozy and stylish accessory for cool weather. Woven on rayon scrim with elegant knitting worsted yarn, this design combines simplicity with practicality for an effortless wardrobe addition. The cuffs can be either knitted or crocheted. There is a pattern for both down below so you can choose which one you would rather make.

Materials

  • Yarn: 9 skeins Chadwick’s Red Heart Knitting Worsted, 4 Ply, Art. E.232 (1 oz. skeins), in No. 515 Dark Turquoise
  • Crochet Hook Size if Crocheting the Cuffs: Use a 3.25 mm (D-3) crochet hook for a snug and flexible fabric.
  • Knitting Pins if Knitting the Cuffs: Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, No. 4 (3¼ mm size)
  • Fabric: A piece of Rayonet curtain material, 20 x 48 inches
  • Elastic: 1 yard, ½ inch wide
  • Notions: A long tapestry needle for weaving

Gauge

This pattern uses the wide and narrow spaces of the Rayonet curtain material for weaving.

Procedure

Prepare the Fabric

  1. Turn under one wide space along each short side of the fabric and baste it in place. (Weaving is worked through both thicknesses.)
  2. Place the fabric taut on a curtain stretcher or lay it flat on a surface, weighting the ends to keep it secure.

Weaving Instructions

  1. Hems: Leave 3 wide spaces from the selvedge free on each long side for hems.
  2. Thread Yarn: Cut yarn into 50-inch lengths. Thread the tapestry needle.
  3. Weaving: Starting at the 4th wide space from the selvedge, weave the yarn lengthwise:
  • Pass through each wide space twice and each narrow space once, following the diagram below.

Hems

  1. Weave in the established pattern through the 2nd narrow space in from the selvedge.
  2. Trim off the selvedge and the upright bars of the last wide space.
  3. Turn the last narrow space under at the woven line. Working in the established pattern, weave through both thicknesses to secure the hem.

Assembly

  1. Fold the woven piece in half lengthwise.
  2. Sew together 10 inches from each end to create sleeves.
  3. Hem across the lower edge of the sleeve openings:
  • Insert elastic into the hem on one side, ensuring the ends are secured.
  • Sew a plain hem on the other side, omitting the elastic.

Cuffs Knitting Method #1 (Make 2)

  1. With knitting pins, cast on 60 stitches.
  2. Work in ribbing of k2, p2 until the piece measures 4 inches.
  3. Bind off in ribbing.
  4. Sew the cuffs in place, gathering the ends to fit the sleeve openings.

Cuffs Crochet Method #2 (Make 2)

Here’s an alternate way to create the cuffs using slip stitches in the back loops only. This method produces a stretchy, ribbed texture that complements the woven shoulderette beautifully.

Crochet Cuff Instructions

  1. Foundation Chain:
  • Create a foundation chain of 20 chains (or adjust the chain length to match the desired cuff height).
  1. Row 1:
  • Starting in the second chain from the hook, make a slip stitch (sl st) in the back loop of each chain across.
  • Chain 1, turn. (You should have 19 slip stitches, or one less than your foundation chain count.)
  1. Row 2 and Beyond:
  • Slip stitch in the back loop only (BLO) of each stitch across.
  • Chain 1, turn.
  1. Repeat:
  • Continue repeating Row 2 until the cuff measures approximately 8 inches or is long enough to fit snugly around the sleeve opening, stretching slightly.
  1. Join the Ends:
  • Fold the cuff in half lengthwise with the right sides facing each other.
  • Slip stitch through both loops of the stitches on each end to join, forming a tube.
  • Break the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
  1. Attach to Sleeve:
  • Using the long tail, sew the cuff evenly to the sleeve opening. Stretch the cuff slightly as you sew to ensure a snug fit.

Crochet Notes: Why Slip Stitch in Back Loops Only?

This method creates a flexible, ribbed texture that mimics knitted ribbing. It provides the necessary elasticity for cuffs while being simple and quick to crochet. The stretchy fabric allows the cuffs to fit comfortably and retain their shape over time.

Feel free to customize the height of the cuff (by adjusting the foundation chain length) or its circumference (by altering the number of rows) to fit your needs!

This shoulderette is an easy and elegant project that can be tailored to your style with your choice of yarn color and finishing details. Perfect for chilly days, it’s a timeless design that brings both warmth and flair to your wardrobe.

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