Using front post half double crochet and back post half double crochet stitches, you can make this lightweight and lovely shrug. It’s the perfect shrug to have on hand for a cooler summer evening.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Width of Shrug- 32” (35”)

Length of Shrug- 39” (40”)

Pattern made for a women’s size small/medium.

Changes for women’s size medium/ large are in ( ).

Gauge: 5 sts and 4 rows = 1” in hdc

Materials

Yarn:

 Drops Cotton Light (50% cotton, 50% polyester; 114 yards [105 meters]/50 grams): 25 Light Lilac (10 skeins)

Hook: US size J/10 (6.0 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle)

Abbreviations

st(s) – stitch(es)

ch – chain stitch

sl st – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

fphdc – front post half double crochet

bphdc – back post half double crochet

Special Stitches

Front Post Half Double Crochet (fphdc)

Yarn over, insert hook under post of next stitch (st). Yarn over, draw up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Back Post Half Double Crochet (bphdc)

Yarn over, insert hook through the back of your work (from behind) into the hole/space next to the post of the next stitch (st). Push your hook around the post, so that the hook is at the back of your work again. Yarn over, and draw through a loop, bringing it through both sides of the fabric (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Pattern

Shrug

Ch 125 (141)

Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, ch 1, 2 dc in the same st, skip 3 sts; rep from * 29 (33) times, 2 dc in next st, ch 1, 2 dc in the same st, skip 2 sts, dc in next st. Turn.

Rows 2-47 (55): Ch 2, dc in same st, *2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in the same st; rep from * 30 (34) times, dc in last st. Turn.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

The finished rectangle should measure approx 39 (44)” x 32 (35)”.

Finishing

Armholes/Sleeves

Begin by folding the rectangle in half, width-wise.

To create the armholes, seam up the sides of the folded rectangle using a yarn needle.

Seam up 11 (12.5)”, and leave 8.5 (9.5)” seamless.

Rnd 1: Sl st at the seam of each armhole/sleeve ch 1, sc 65 (73) all around the edge of the armhole/sleeve sl st in 1st sc of rnd to join. (65 (73) sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 64 (72) sts, sl st in 1st sc of rnd to join. (65 (73) sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Collar

Rnd 1: Sl st at the bottom of the shrug (collar), ch 1, sc 221 (241) all around the edge of the shrug sl st in 1st sc of rnd to join. (221 (241) sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 220 (240) sts, sl st in 1st sc of rnd to join. (221 (241) sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Ribbed Section of Collar

Row 1: Sl st to the 43rd (49th) st of Rnd 2 of the collar pattern, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, *fphdc in next st, bphdc in next st; rep from * 61 (66) times, fphdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next st. Turn.

Row 2: Sl st in 1st st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, *bphdc in next st, fphdc in next st; rep from * 61 (66) times, bphdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next st. Turn.

Row 3: Sl st in 1st st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, *fphdc in next st, bphdc in next st; rep from * 61 (66) times, fphdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next st. Turn.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Fasten off and weave in ends.