purlJam

# Ossis: The 3D Skeletal Cabled Shrug

This advanced-level pattern creates a high-relief, anatomically inspired shrug. Featuring a prominent "spinal" cable and traveling "rib" cables, the garment mimics the human skeletal structure using sophisticated knitting techniques.

**Level:** Advanced
**Size:** Adult Female Medium (fits 36–38" / 91–96.5 cm bust)
**Finished Measurements:** 
- Bust (closed): 40" / 101.5 cm (to be worn with 2-4" positive ease)
- Length: 12" / 30.5 cm (cropped shrug style)

### MATERIALS
- **Yarn:** 1,600 yards (1,463 meters) of Fingering weight yarn (approx. 400g). High-twist wool recommended for cable definition.
- **Needles:** 
    - US 3 / 3.25 mm circular needles (32" / 80 cm or longer)
    - US 3 / 3.25 mm preferred needles for small circumference knitting (DPNs or Magic Loop)
    - US 2 / 2.75 mm needles for ribbing
- **Notions:** 8 Stitch markers (4 for raglan, 4 for cable panels), cable needle, waste yarn, tapestry needle.

### GAUGE
28 sts and 36 rows = 4" [10 cm] in Reverse Stockinette on US 3 needles, blocked.
*Note: Ensure gauge is measured on reverse stockinette to ensure cables "pop".*

### ABBREVIATIONS
- **k:** knit
- **p:** purl
- **pm:** place marker
- **sm:** slip marker
- **m1L / m1R:** make one left / make one right
- **m1pL / m1pR:** make one left purl / make one right purl
- **C6B (Spine):** Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle.
- **2-st RT (Rib):** K the 2nd st on left needle through the front loop, then k the 1st st, slip both off together (creates a twisted cord look).
- **LPC (Left Purl Cross):** Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in front, p1, k1 from cable needle.
- **RPC (Right Purl Cross):** Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back, k1, p1 from cable needle.

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### SPECIAL STITCH MOTIFS

**Spinal Column (Worked over center 10 sts of Back):**
- Rows 1-3: p2, k6, p2.
- Row 4: p2, C6B, p2.
- Rows 5-8: Repeat Rows 1-3.
*Validation: 10 sts remain 10 sts.*

**Sleeve Bone (Worked over center 12 sts of sleeve):**
- A high-relief mock-I-cord cable flanked by purls to mimic the humerus/radius.

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### DIRECTIONS

#### 1. NECK (Cervical Vertebrae)
Using US 2 / 2.75 mm needles, CO 112 sts. Do not join (worked flat for cardigan opening).
- **Row 1-8:** *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
- **Switch to US 3 / 3.25 mm needles.**

#### 2. YOKE SETUP
Establish markers for Raglan and Cable motifs.
- **Set-up Row (RS):** 
    - Right Front: k18, pm.
    - Raglan Line: k2, pm.
    - Sleeve 1: k16, pm.
    - Raglan Line: k2, pm.
    - Back: k13, pm (Spine marker), k10 (Spine), pm, k13, pm.
    - Raglan Line: k2, pm.
    - Sleeve 2: k16, pm.
    - Raglan Line: k2, pm.
    - Left Front: k18.
*Total: 18 (RF) + 2 (R) + 16 (S) + 2 (R) + 36 (B) + 2 (R) + 16 (S) + 2 (R) + 18 (LF) = 112 sts.*

#### 3. RAGLAN INCREASES & RIB CABLES
- **Row 1 (RS):** *Work to raglan marker, m1R, sm, k2, sm, m1L; rep from * 3 more times. Simultaneously, work Spine Column pattern on Back center 10 sts. All other sts are worked in Reverse Stockinette (purl on RS, knit on WS).
- **Row 2 (WS):** Knit all sts except Spine and Raglan lines (k2). Work Spine and Raglan as established.
- **Traveling Ribs:** Starting on Row 9 of Yoke, every 6th row, perform 1 RPC and 1 LPC moving outward from the Spine markers toward the raglan lines to simulate ribs.

**Increase Schedule:**
Repeat Row 1 & 2 every other row 30 times total.
*Calculation: 112 + (8 inc * 30) = 352 sts.*
- Fronts: 18 + 30 = 48 sts each (+2 for raglan) = 50 sts.
- Sleeves: 16 + 60 = 76 sts each.
- Back: 36 + 60 = 96 sts (+4 for raglan) = 100 sts.
*Note: 2 sts from each raglan line are absorbed into the neighboring body/sleeve sections.*

#### 4. SEPARATION
- **Next Row (RS):** Work 50 sts (Front), place 72 sts on waste yarn (Sleeve), CO 4 sts (underarm), work 104 sts (Back), place 72 sts on waste yarn (Sleeve), CO 4 sts (underarm), work 50 sts (Front).
- **Total Body Sts:** 50 + 4 + 104 + 4 + 50 = 212 sts.

#### 5. BODY
Continue in Reverse Stockinette, maintaining the Spine Column and the Rib Cables (which should now be traveling across the sides).
- Work until body measures 5" / 12.5 cm from underarm.
- **Hem:** Switch to US 2 / 2.75 mm needles. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 2" / 5 cm.
- Bind off loosely in pattern.

#### 6. SLEEVES (Long Bones)
Pick up 72 sts from waste yarn plus 4 sts from underarm (76 sts total). Join for working in the round.
- **Sleeve Bone Motif:** On center 12 sts of sleeve, work a 3/3/3 Braided Cable to simulate bone density.
- **Decreases:** Dec 2 sts every 10th round 8 times (60 sts remain).
- **Elbow Detail:** At 10" / 25 cm, k 3 rounds (creates a "joint" ridge in reverse stockinette).
- **Cuff:** Work until sleeve measures 18" / 45.5 cm. Switch to US 2 / 2.75 mm needles. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 3" / 7.5 cm.
- Bind off.

#### 7. FINISHING (Sternum Band)
With RS facing and US 2 / 2.75 mm needles, pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows along the front openings and neck.
- Row 1-6: k2, p2 ribbing.
- Create 4 buttonholes on the Right Front band (for female) by [yo, k2tog] spaced evenly.
- Bind off.

Weave in all ends. Block aggressively to open up the reverse stockinette "valleys" between the 3D "bony" cables.