Ah! It's the Holidays! - Knit the Youngster Cabled Shrug

It's the holiday season again!  I don't know whether to worry that our culture can just say the holiday season and anyone can reasonable name off at least two of the correct choices.  On the up side, the fact that there are many more than two correct choices is nice.  On the down side, trying to keep track of everyone's' idiosyncrasies this time of year is just tiring.

You'd think that having started making snowflakes in September, the month wouldn't have snuck up me, but no such luck.  Every year I hit this point of working out how fast I can complete presents and deciding if it might be more cost effective to just buy one more.  Oh well, by this point there's some semblance of a method to my madness.

So, off onto a completely different tangent.  When I was looking at knitting patterns, there appeared to be a couple of age points that were a bit sparce.  One was the approximately 3 - 4 year old range, and the second was the tween - early teen ages.  To be fare, all sizing is a bit personal, but I was still having trouble finding a good outer layer for Bug-A-Boo.  Something that wasn't too long, and was bigger that toddler, but smaller than child.

What do I do when things like this happen.  Well, I make something up.  Bug-A-Boo didn't want a sweater, and doesn't like long sleeves.  I decided a shrug might be best.  They are fairly simple in construction and I could make the sleeves short enough so that they wouldn't get mixed in with whatever Bug-A-Boo was currently exploring.

Following is the pattern for the Youngster Cabled Shrug.

If you would like a PDF of this pattern and have a Ravelry account, a copy can be found here.

If you would like a PDF of this pattern from Etsy, it can be found here.

Feel free to change the yarn, gauge, or size to fit your needs.  Just please do not try to sell this pattern as your own.

If you have any problems that you think I might be able to help you with, email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com

Youngster Cabled Shrug

Materials:

·         2 Skeins Madelinetosh, Tosh Vintage, 100% Merino Wool, 200 yards, Color: Lepidoptra

·         US Size 7, 4.5 mm,  Double Point Needles

·         US Size 7, 4.5 mm 24” Circular Needles (Optional)

·         US Size 8, 5.0 mm Double Point Needles

·         US Size 8, 5.0 mm, Straight or 24” Circular Needles (Optional)

·         Stitch Marker

·         Darning Needle

Gauge:

·         18 sts x 24 rows =4” x 4” in Stockinette Stitch

·         ~ 30 sts x 26 rows = 4” x 4” in Honeycomb Stitch

Finished Size:

·         3-4 years

·         Arm Length: 7”

·         Shoulder to Shoulder: 11.5”

Notes:

·         Portions of the shrug are knit in the round and parts are knit back and forth.

·         The shrug can be knit completely on double points, but you may find the optional needles make the knitted rows and the collar edge easier.

·         When stitch counts change, it is denoted in Blue Italics

·         Repeats are shown in the charts and instructions in Red

Key:

Instructions:

Using size 8 Needles, cast on 48 stitches in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Switch to size 7 needles.

Chart 1: Ribbing, complete each row 12 times in the round

Rounds 1 – 6: (k2, p2) x 12 around for six rounds.

Switch to Size 8 double point needles.

Chart 2: Increase, complete row 16 times in round 7

Round 7: (k3, m1) x 16 (64 stitches)

Chart 3: Arm Rounds, complete each repeat section 3 times

Round 8: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Round 9: (22rc, 22lc) x 3, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, (22rc, 22lc) x 3

Round 10: (k8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 11: (k8) x 3, p2, 22lc, p4, 22lc, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 12: (k8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 13: (22lc, 22rc) x 3, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, (22lc, 22rc) x 3

Round 14: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Round 15: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, 22rc, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Repeat rounds 8 – 15 four more times.

Chart 4: Back Rows, complete each repeat section 3  times

(The back section is knit back and forth, instead of in the round.)

Row 1 (ws): (p8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (p8) x 3

Row 2 (rs): (22rc, 22lc) x 3, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, (22rc, 22lc) x 3

Row 3 (ws): (p8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (p8) x 3

Row 4 (rs): (k8) x 3, p2, 22lc, p4, 22lc, p2, (k8) x 3

Row 5 (ws): (p8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (p8) x 3

Row 6 (rs): (22lc, 22rc) x 3, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, (22lc, 22rc) x 3

Row 7 (ws): (p8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (p8) x 3

Row 8 (rs): (k8) x 3, k2, p4, 22rc, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Repeat rows 1 – 8 seven more times.

Repeat rows 1 – 6 once more.

Chart 5: End Rounds, complete each repeat section 3 times

(The back section is knit in the round again, instead of back and forth.)

Round 48: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Round 49: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, 22rc, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Round 50: (k8) x 3, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, (k8) x 3

Round 51: (22rc, 22lc) x 3, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, (22rc, 22lc) x 3

Round 52: (k8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 53: (k8) x 3, p2, 22lc, p4, 22lc, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 54: (k8) x 3, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, (k8) x 3

Round 55: (22lc, 22rc) x 3, 22rpc, 22lpc, 22rpc, 22lpc, (22lc, 22rc) x 3

Repeat rounds 48 – 55 four more times.

Chart 6: Decrease, complete row 16 times in round 88

Round 88: (k2, k2tog) x 16 (48 stitches)           

Switch to Size 7 double point needles.

Repeat rounds 1 – 6.

Bind off loosely in pattern and break yarn leaving a 6” tail.

With the right side facing and looking at the hole that was created while knitting in rows, pick up 144 stitches around the edge with size 7 needles.  (That is 72 stitches on each side.)

Chart 7: Ribbing, complete each row 36 times in the round

Continue knitting in the round with the right side facing.

Rounds 1 – 6: (k2, p2) x 36 around for six rounds.

Repeat rounds 1 through 6 once more.

Bind off loosely in pattern and break yarn leaving a 6” tail.

Weave in ends.