While designing this shrug, I was inspired by the softness of a single-ply yarn worked in textured Seed Stitch and wanted to echo that feeling in gently curving lines in the garment itself. Short rows were the perfect way to achieve this, so I incorporated them into all horizontal edges of this shrug: the high collar, the bottom hem, and the sleeve cuff. The short rows and sloping edges also give the shrug body, and a bit of soft “puff”. The final piece is a pretty winter garment, chic enough for wearing over party dresses, and cozy enough for cuddling up by the fire afterwards.

A heavier-weight version of this cardigan first appeared in Knitscene’s Winter 2012 issue. You can check out the Snowdrift Shrug here.

Finished Measurements:
Bust: 30.75 (34.5, 38.25, 42.5, 47.25, 49.75, 54.25, 58.5)” / 78 (87.5, 97, 108, 120, 126.5, 138, 148.5) cm
Length from back neck to hem (excluding collar): 17.25 (18.5, 18.75, 20.25, 20.75, 22, 22.75, 24)’’ / 44 (47, 47.5, 51, 52.5, 56, 58, 61) cm
Sample is shown in size 34.5” / 87.5 cm, worn with 1.5”/ 4 cm of positive ease.

Specific yarn requirements:
Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yds / 192 m per 100g); 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins in Pigeon
Or, 625 (700, 775, 860, 960, 1010, 1100, 1185) yds / 570 (640, 710, 785, 880, 925, 1005, 1085) m of an Aran weight yarn (single ply yarns recommended, but not required)

Gauge (blocked, using US 8 needles):
15 sts & 24 rows = 4”/ 10 cm in Seed St
16 sts & 20 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette St

Technical editing by Alison Green.

Please come ask questions and share either in-progress or FO photos in The Yarniad’s Symposium group!