A modern cropped open-front shrug worked top-down with raglan shaping and an easy folded hem. This pattern is written for 6 sizes (XS/S/M/L/XL/2XL). Worked in stockinette with garter borders for a soft, drapey fabric. Suitable for confident beginners and intermediate knitters.
DK/Light worsted weight yarn (~8 ply). Example: 100% soft wool or wool blend.
Yarn weight note: DK / Light Worsted. Metric: approx 50 g = 115-130 m (125 m typical).
18 sts x 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette on US 8 / 5.0 mm after blocking. Adjust needle size to match gauge. Gauge in garter is slightly denser.
Work from the neck down in the round to the underarms using raglan increases. At the underarms split for body and sleeves. Body is worked down to hem in the round; sleeves are worked in the round downward or transferred to DPNs/circular and worked to cuffs. Hem is a folded garter hem worked by short-row or provisional cast-on—this pattern uses a provisional cast-on and grafted/3-needle bind off for a neat folded edge. If you prefer simpler finishing, pick up and knit a garter border at the end.
Where the pattern lists instructions separated by slashes, read the number appropriate to your size: XS/S/M/L/XL/2XL. Example: "Cast on 80/88/96/104/112/120".
Using provisional cast-on with US 7 / 4.5 mm, cast on 80/88/96/104/112/120 sts for neck (this is provisional; you'll graft later to form folded neckband). Join for working in the round, place marker for beginning of round.
Switch to US 8 / 5.0 mm.
Round 1 (RS): Work 8/8/8/8/8/8 sts in garter-stitch ridge pattern (see note), place marker, K across to next marker, place marker, work 8 sts in garter, place marker, K across, place marker, work 8 sts, place marker, K across to end—these markers divide raglan sections: Front L / Sleeve L / Back / Sleeve R / Front R depending on how you want the shaping. The garter ridge is worked as K 1 round, P 1 round across the small neck ridges only; for simplicity, treat the first 8 sts after each marker as seed/garter edge worked K on RS, P on WS when you encounter those rows. Because we are working in the round, to create garter ridges on a narrow band work: Round A: K all sts; Round B: *P 8, K to next 8-st garter area, P 8, K to end*—you will maintain a lightweight garter stripe at the neck edges.
Raglan increases begin immediately and are worked every RS round: increase 8 raglan increases per round (2 per raglan seam) as follows:
Repeat rounds until yoke measures 7/7.25/7.5/7.75/8/8.25 in (18/18.5/19/19.5/20/21 cm) from cast-on, or until you have the following stitch counts:
St counts before split (including all raglan increases): 120/136/152/168/184/200 sts.
Typical increase round (RS): *K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, slip marker, K1, M1L* (repeat at each raglan marker). Knit to end of round.
When yoke is complete, place sleeve stitches on holders or waste yarn. For better clarity: At this point you will have 4 raglan sections: Front L, Sleeve L, Back, Sleeve R, Front R (or 4 pieces depending on your marker placement). Transfer the sleeve sections (each between the raglan markers) to holders: for sizes XS/S/M/L/XL/2XL move 20/22/24/26/28/30 sts per sleeve to holders (adjust if your counts differ—ensure sleeves have equal stitches). After removing sleeve sts, join body in the round by knitting across front and back sections. You will then have the following body stitch counts: 80/92/104/116/128/140 sts (this is approximate—use your actual count after removing sleeve sts).
Body is worked in the round on US 8 / 5.0 mm.
Round 1: Knit around.
Work in stockinette (K every round) until body measures 6/6.25/6.5/6.75/7/7.25 in (15/16/16.5/17/18/18.5 cm) from underarm, or desired length minus hem depth.
Garter hem (folded) option A - provisional hem graft: Place live stitches on waste yarn and graft later to provisional cast-on to create 1.5"/4 cm folded garter hem. Option B - simple hem: Switch to smaller needles US 6 / 4.0 mm and work 10 rounds garter or 1x1 rib for 1.5"/4 cm, bind off loosely.
Transfer sleeve sts to needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm) and pick up 2 sts at each underarm gap to avoid holes (or use kfb at start of sleeve round). Join in the round. You will have sleeve counts: 24/26/28/30/32/34 sts (approx—use your held stitches count + picked up sts).
Work in the round: K every round until sleeve measures 5/5.25/5.5/6/6.5/7 in (13/13.5/14/15/16.5/18 cm) from underarm, then switch to US 6 / 4.0 mm and work 10 rounds garter/rib for cuff, bind off loosely. For a tapered sleeve, decrease 2 sts evenly every 12 rounds until desired cuff width is reached.
Remove provisional cast-on and graft to live neck stitches using Kitchener graft to create a neat folded neckband, or pick up and knit around to create a rolled/folded band. For a softer finish, pick up with US 7 / 4.5 mm and work 6 rounds garter then graft.
If you need help with any step, email team@verde.uk. This pattern and name "Fida Shrug" are provided by PurlJam and intended for personal use and small-run selling with credit. Visit https://purljam.verde.uk and follow #purljam for updates.
Abbreviations and needle conversions provided are approximate. Needles listed: US, Metric (mm), UK old system as guidance.