purlJam

# Pink Breeze Cape-Sleeve Summer Shrug
### An Easy T-Shaped Crochet Kimono Cardigan • Sizes XS–3XL

A light, drapey summer cardigan worked in soft pink sport-weight cotton. Built from simple rectangles in beginner-friendly half double crochet, it features dramatic flowing **cape sleeves** that fall softly over the arms. No complicated shaping — just rectangles, seams, and a tidy border. Perfect over a tank or sundress.

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## SKILL LEVEL
**Easy** — straight rows of hdc, basic seaming, and a single-crochet border.

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## SIZES
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)

Pattern is written for the smallest size with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

### Finished Measurements
| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust circumference | 38" | 42" | 46" | 50" | 54" | 58" | 62" |
| Body length (hem to shoulder) | 22" | 22" | 23" | 23" | 24" | 24" | 24" |
| Cape sleeve depth (shoulder to lower edge) | 16" | 16" | 17" | 17" | 18" | 18" | 18" |
| Cape sleeve width (top edge) | 17" | 17" | 18" | 18" | 19" | 19" | 20" |

*Designed with a relaxed, open-front fit (worn open, edges meeting at center). Choose by bust with about 6–8" positive ease.*

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## MATERIALS
- **Yarn:** Sport weight (#2 Fine) cotton or cotton blend, in **pink**.
  Approx. yardage:
  - XS: 1100 yd • S: 1200 yd • M: 1350 yd • L: 1500 yd • XL: 1650 yd • 2XL: 1800 yd • 3XL: 1950 yd
- **Hook:** US H/8 (5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors

*Recommended fibers: cotton, bamboo, or cotton-Tencel blend for summer drape.*

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## GAUGE
**18 hdc × 14 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in half double crochet.
That equals **4.5 sts per inch** and **3.5 rows per inch**.

> ⚠️ Gauge matters for fit. Make a 5" × 5" swatch, block it, and measure. Cotton may relax/grow slightly when blocked — block your swatch the way you'll block the garment.

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## ABBREVIATIONS (US Terms)
- **ch** – chain
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **hdc** – half double crochet
- **sc** – single crochet
- **sl st** – slip stitch
- **fhdc** – foundation half double crochet (optional stretchy start)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **rep** – repeat

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## CONSTRUCTION NOTES
This is a **T-shaped kimono**: flat rectangles with **no armhole, shoulder, or sleeve shaping**.
- **Back:** one rectangle.
- **Fronts:** two rectangles (left and right), each half the back width, so the two fronts together equal the back and the side seams align.
- **Cape sleeves:** two wide, deep rectangles attached at right angles — they drape over the arm like a cape. They are **not tapered**.

Turning ch-1 at the start of each hdc row does **not** count as a stitch unless noted.

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## STITCH COUNTS REFERENCE
All widths use 4.5 sts/inch, rounded to even numbers.

| Piece (starting ch+1 / sts) | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Back** width (in) | 19" | 21" | 23" | 25" | 27" | 29" | 31" |
| Back sts | 86 | 94 | 104 | 112 | 122 | 130 | 140 |
| **Each Front** width (in) | 9.5" | 10.5" | 11.5" | 12.5" | 13.5" | 14.5" | 15.5" |
| Front sts | 42 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 66 | 70 |
| **Each Sleeve** width (in) | 17" | 17" | 18" | 18" | 19" | 19" | 20" |
| Sleeve sts | 76 | 76 | 80 | 80 | 86 | 86 | 90 |

> **Math check:** Two fronts (42+42=84) ≈ Back (86) at XS — they align within rounding for clean side seams. The slight difference is absorbed in the front border, leaving a small, intentional open-front gap. ✓
> Back sts ÷ 4.5: 86 ÷ 4.5 = 19.1" ≈ 19". ✓

### Row counts (length & depth)
- **Body length:** 22 (22, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24)" × 3.5 rows/in = **77 (77, 81, 81, 84, 84, 84) rows**
- **Sleeve depth:** 16 (16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18)" × 3.5 rows/in = **56 (56, 60, 60, 63, 63, 63) rows**

> **Math check:** 22" × 3.5 = 77 rows. ✓  16" × 3.5 = 56 rows. ✓

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK (make 1)
**Foundation:** Ch 87 (95, 105, 113, 123, 131, 141).
*(Optional stretchy start: work 86 (94, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140) fhdc and skip Row 1's foundation chain.)*

**Row 1 (RS):** Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across — **86 (94, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140) hdc**.

**Row 2:** Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across.

**Rows 3 to 77 (77, 81, 81, 84, 84, 84):** Rep Row 2.

Fasten off. Piece measures approx. **19 (21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31)" wide × 22 (22, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24)" long**.

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### LEFT FRONT (make 1)
**Foundation:** Ch 43 (49, 53, 57, 61, 67, 71).

**Row 1 (RS):** Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across — **42 (48, 52, 56, 60, 66, 70) hdc**.

**Row 2:** Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across.

**Rows 3 to 77 (77, 81, 81, 84, 84, 84):** Rep Row 2.

Fasten off. Piece measures approx. **9.5 (10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15.5)" wide × same length as Back**.

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### RIGHT FRONT (make 1)
Work exactly as Left Front. Fasten off.

> *Note: These fronts are simple rectangles with a straight neckline edge (classic kimono style). The relaxed open front frames the neck nicely; the border later softens the edge.*

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### CAPE SLEEVES (make 2)
The cape sleeve is a deep, wide rectangle. Because the depth (16–18") is much greater than a standard sleeve, the fabric falls in a graceful cape-like drape over the upper arm.

**Foundation:** Ch 77 (77, 81, 81, 87, 87, 91).

**Row 1 (RS):** Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across — **76 (76, 80, 80, 86, 86, 90) hdc**.

**Row 2:** Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across.

**Rows 3 to 56 (56, 60, 60, 63, 63, 63):** Rep Row 2.

Fasten off. Each sleeve measures approx. **17 (17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20)" wide × 16 (16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18)" deep**.

> **Drape tip:** For an even more flowing cape, you may add 4 (4, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8) extra rows of depth — this lengthens the cape effect without changing the attachment edge.

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## ASSEMBLY

Block all pieces flat to finished measurements before seaming. Use a tapestry needle and mattress stitch (or sl st seam) throughout.

**1. Shoulder seams (straight, horizontal):**
Lay the Back RS up. Place each Front on top, RS down, aligning top edges (shoulder line). Seam each Front to the Back across the shoulder for about **3 (3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)"** in from each side edge. Leave the center of the top edge open — this forms the **neck opening**.

> **Math check:** Front width 9.5" − shoulder seam 3" = 6.5" of front top edge remains open at neck per side; total neck opening ≈ matches a comfortable summer neckline. ✓

**2. Attach cape sleeves (perpendicular, dropped shoulder):**
Find the center of each sleeve's top edge and pin it to the shoulder seam. The sleeve attaches at a **right angle** to the body. Pin the full **17 (17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20)"** sleeve top edge evenly along the body, centered on the shoulder seam — about half on the Back, half on the Front. Seam in place. The sleeve will hang well below the natural shoulder (dropped shoulder), creating the cape drape.

**3. Side & sleeve seams:**
Fold the shrug at the shoulders, RS together. Starting at each lower sleeve edge, seam down the underside of the sleeve, then continue down the body side seam to the hem — leaving the lower sleeve open (it's a cape, so the sleeve underseam may be left partly or fully open for an extra-flowy look; seam only the body sides if you prefer a true cape silhouette).

> **For maximum cape effect:** seam ONLY the body side seams and leave the sleeve undersides open so the fabric drapes freely like a cape.

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## BORDER / EDGING
With RS facing, join pink yarn at the bottom of the Right Front.

**Round 1:** Ch 1, work sc evenly up the Right Front edge, around the back neck opening, down the Left Front edge, and across the lower hem, working approximately **3 sc for every 4 rows** along vertical edges and **1 sc in each st** along horizontal edges. Work 3 sc in each outer corner. Join with sl st to first sc.

**Round 2 (optional crab stitch):** Ch 1, work **reverse single crochet (crab stitch)** around for a neat finished edge. Join, fasten off.

**Sleeve cuffs:** With RS facing, join yarn at a lower sleeve edge and work 1 round of sc evenly around; join and fasten off. (Skip if you left sleeve undersides open for a cape — instead work sc along each open edge for a clean finish.)

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## CLOSURE
This shrug is designed to be **worn open** as a breezy summer layer.
**Optional tie:** For a closed look, attach two 12" chains (ch 60 each, sl st back) at the front edges at bust level and tie in a bow.

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## FINISHING & BLOCKING
1. Weave in all ends with a tapestry needle.
2. Wet- or steam-block the finished shrug to open up the stitches and encourage drape.
3. Lay flat to dry, gently shaping the cape sleeves into a soft, flowing line.

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## QUICK MEASUREMENT RECAP
- **Bust:** 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62)"
- **Body length:** 22 (22, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24)"
- **Cape sleeve depth:** 16 (16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18)"
- **Cape sleeve width:** 17 (17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20)"

Enjoy your **Pink Breeze Cape-Sleeve Summer Shrug** — light, easy, and perfectly summery! 🌸