The Knitting Fiend

Posted on 07.09.05 by lucia @ 8:20 am

This is the first pattern generator that will actually run at the blog! Whooo hooo!

You can use this generator to create a pattern to knit a shrug like mine. Previously, I discussed swatching and figuring out the shape of the schematic. This page just lets you enter data for your custom shrug pattern.

Most people will simply wish to knit a swatch and pick a size. But, you can also customize the shape -- just in case you prefer some other sleeve shape or something. If you have questions about customizing yours, go ahead and ask in comments. I'd be glad to answer. (And I probably have a calculator to help do any really unusual calculations you might need to do.

My shrug is knit in stockinette. If you want to knit a fancy stitch pattern, you can. But, in that case, you'll may want to reorganize the directions a bit to accommodate your stitch pattern. (As in comments if you need tips.)

And now... The shrug-u-lator!

Enter Swatch Data
Enter number of rows and stitches knit in stockinette.	stitches by rows.
Enter dimensions measured after washing and blocking.	inches wide by inches long (or tall).
If this yarn shrinks (or grows) after washing and blocking, select "shrunk" in the pull down menu below. If you pick "shrunk", enter dimensions measured before washing and blocking in the boxes to the right.	inches wide by inches long (or tall).
The program has calculated the gauge of your swatch after washing and blocking. This is shown to the right.	stitches/inch and rows/inch.

Pick the sweater size.
Use this handy pull down toggle to select the size range. The program will recommend values for the shrug. To understand the relationship between the values and the shrug dimension, click to pop-up the schematic. You don't need to imitate my shrug exactly. You can make the sleeves longer or shorter, the width narrower or wider. If you want to customize dimensions, select "custom" from the pull down menu, then edit the design values in the text boxes below. My sleeves are about elbow length. If you want to modify and get the sleeve length "just right", read How long Should Sleeves Be?
Misses's size:

These are the dimensions for *your* schematic.
The values in these boxes were calculated based on the size you selected.
Length at center back:	inches.
Cuff Width	inches.
Sleeve Width (below underarm.)	inches.
Half shoulder width.	inches.
Total sleeve length ( from center back to cuff bind-off. )	inches.

Directions to knit shrug.

Materials

Sufficient yarn to knit shrug. I used 125 grams of "mystery yarn" knit at a gauge of roughly 4.1 st/inch.
Circular or double pointed needles in a diameter you used to knit your swatch.
Circular needles and double pointed needles one diameter size smaller than used to knit your swatch.
Some waste yarn, scizzors, tapestry needle and/or crochet hook, stitch marker, and row marker. (I use yarn for the row marker.)

Back: worked back and forth in stockinette; (Knit all even rows, purl all odd rows.)

Begin at shoulder. With larger diameter needles, cast on stitches using a provisional cast on. (Note: while knitting this will measure inches wide; after laundering, it will measure inches.)
Knit even until work measures inches from cast on. Hang a row marker to indicate the center back.
Tip: Measure length from cast on and count rows. Enter your row count and length in the box above to verify your row gauge. If it's way off, you'll want to reprint the sleeve shaping directions to make sure your sleeves don't end up much too long or too short.
Work even until work measures inches from cast on, finish by knitting a wrong side facing row. Turn work.
With right side facing, hang a marker on the left hand edge. The left hand edge will be the underarm.
Test fit to by draping over shoulders and pinching the ends closed. Decide if you think the opening for the shoulders is correct. If it's too tight, knit a few more rows. (If you swatch shrank, try to account for shrinkage when making this decision.)

Underarm: Worked circular in rounds; knit all stitches.
Note: When you pick up stitches to knit the second sleeve, you begin here, but mirror the directions.

You will now join to knit circular and begin shaping underarm. Slip first stitch. Place a stitch marker. Knit across row until one stitch remains before marker. Put tips of needles together and knit 2 stitches together. This stitch will be the "seam" stitch under the arm. Slip marker.
Knit next round even. Slip marker.
You will now decrease for the underarm. Knit around until 2 stitches remain before marker, k2 tog, slip marker. Knit 1 round even (that is, don't work a decrease on this round). Repeat these two rounds times.
When you finish this set of instructions, stitches remain on needle. Work measures inches from cast on.

Begin Lower Sleeve: Knit circular; knit all rounds. You will periodically decrease on either side of a "seam stitch". While knitting this, check to make sure your stitch and row gauge didn't change when you switched to knitting circular. If they did, adjust by using larger or smaller diameter needles.

For the purpose of reading the instructions, consider the round to begin two stitches after the slippable marker until you reach the 3 row garter stitch cuff. (When you reach the cuff, it begins at the slippable marker.)
Do the following times:

Knit rounds even, but finish the last round as follows: k2tog, slip marker, k1 (this is the "seam stitch"), ssk .

Do the following times:
Knit rounds even, but finish the last round as follows: k2tog, slip marker, k1 (this is the "seam stitch"), ssk.
stitches should remain.
Knit rounds.
Change to smaller diameter needles and begin to knit garter stitch. (Alternate knit and purl rounds.)
On next round, decrease stitches evenly across row.
Work 3 more rounds in garter stitch. Bind off.

Right sleeve

Picking up stitches from the provisional cast on. Note: Due to the "upside down" nature of picking up the heels of stitches, you will pick up 1 fewer stitch than you cast on. With right side facing, attach yarn at right hand side.
Knit circular then work as for left sleeve, but mirror the underarm shaping and work 1 fewer decrease than instructed for the first underarm you worked. To mirror this, you must modify step #3 in the directions for shaping the underam as follows: substitute "ssk" for the "k2tog" decrease and work the decrease after the seam stitch. (So, "knit up to the marker, slip the marker, ssk" when decreasing for the underarm.) All other directions are exactly as for the first sleeve.

Finishing.

Using smaller diameter needles, pick up stitches evenly across the top edges and an equal number of stitches along the bottom edge. Knit 3 rows garter stitch. Bind off.
This is a free pattern and required you to think to run the program. You're an intelligent knitter, do I really need to tell you to tidy all loose ends, block etc?

Stumble it (and place in Knitting/crochet!)

Please leave comments!

19 Comments »

That shrug looks absolutely wonderful on you!

Comment by Sonja (37 comments.) — 7/9/2005 @ 9:00 am
Thanks!

I got a request for an MK version by email, so I’ll be writing that up. It’s pretty easy, but, obviously, MK will require seaming. (Or, you could knit circular on a double bed, but I prefer to write patterns so people with cheaper machines can make them.)

Comment by lucia — 7/9/2005 @ 9:26 am
If I want to use a lace pattern instead of stockinette, would I knit the gage swatch in the lace pattern? And is there a ratio for increases to make a graceful bell shaped sleeve? Thanks!

Comment by Gretchen (0 comments.) — 7/18/2005 @ 1:08 am
I need to first ask, what type of lace?

Adapting is easy if it’s a sort of “border” lace with a few stockinette rows every now and them. The reason for this is the current organization has you start at one shoulder and then knit to the cuff. Then, pick up stitches and knit down.

It’s difficult to pick up stitches on a row with lots of yarn overs! But, also, when you pick up stitches, the stitches are shifted 1/2 stitch, so you need to check whether or not this is noticable. It won’t be if there are 4 rows of stockinette between lace panels, but it would probably be noticable if the pattern has strong verticals.

So, for many laces, I would suggest reorganizing, casting on at a cuff. Just flip the directions for the sleeve shaping upside down, and it will work. Then, do the back. It’s actually not very hard.

Bell sleeves would be gorgeous, but I didn’t code that. What I would do this this: Run the program for the shrug directions given here but code so the cuffs hit your elbow but skip the garter stitch and bind off. Then add a 6″ bell (I’d pick 6″ because the distance from my elbow to wrist is 6″ long.)

To calculate the bell:
The number of stitches at the elbow are the number from the shrug program.

The number of stitches at the wrist are the width you want it at the wrist (and this is a matter of taste. You could compare to bell sleeves you like.) Multiply by your stitch gauge to get the number of stitches.

The number or rows is 6″ * your row gauge.

Then use this calculator ( sleeve shaping) to get the “perfect” shaping rate.)
Good luck!

Comment by lucia — 7/18/2005 @ 7:11 am
Hi Lucia,

I love this design for another shrug/bolero and have contacted the lady who handknits these. Quoting to me that she makes them up as she goes along and does not follow a pattern and can not provide one…. left me lost and wondering how could I go about having a pattern made up for me in this design…..Do you have any ideas?? I would really appreciate them. I hope you agree that it is rather pretty. I have a problem submitting the picture though!!! I could email it if possible.
Kind Regards. Jacqueline

Comment by Jacqueline (0 comments.) — 7/25/2005 @ 12:38 pm
I too would like machine knit instructions for your shrug.It looks great on you. Hope I can make one by machine and thanks.

Comment by Ruth (0 comments.) — 8/12/2005 @ 9:29 pm
I better write up the MK one then!

Comment by lucia — 8/13/2005 @ 7:11 am
I am very new to knitting. I have done a few simple items. So I know how to cast on and kint and purl and cast off. Decrease. I saw a pattern for a knited shrug on hgtv program. It was knitted in rectular shape. But the back it short but the showed where the back was longer like a sweater or coat. I was wondering if you could help me in adjusting either your pattern or the one I have so the back is longer and the sheeves are long.

Thank You

Crafty Granny

Comment by Crafty Granny (0 comments.) — 11/2/2005 @ 10:38 pm
I’ve seen three interesting rectangular shape shrugs ideas recently, and was planning to knit one next. But, right now, I’m not entirely sure how to accomplish what you are wanting to make. There are two possibilities I can think of. Both are quite different in concept from the shrug shape I show.

On the program, was the rectangle a long wide one with two slits in it? Or was it a long rectangle, folded in half?
Lucia

Comment by lucia — 11/2/2005 @ 11:10 pm
It was long rectangle. With the first 8 in. on size 9 needles then change to size 10 1/2 needles. to a certain number of inches then change back to the size 9 knndels for 8 in. the you sew up 8 in on each end for the sleeves.
I want to length the sleeves and the back.

Thanks

crafty Granny

Comment by Crafty Granny (0 comments.) — 11/3/2005 @ 2:10 am
Hi Granny,
Is it this shrug?
circle

I’m not sure how a person would adjust the length or sleeve. The only way I could think of adjusting sleeves is picking up stitches and knitting sleeves.

Comment by lucia — 11/3/2005 @ 7:48 am
Hear is the link to the Pattern:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_3478784,00.html

Hope this helps.

Thanks

Crafty Granny

Comment by Crafty Granny (0 comments.) — 11/3/2005 @ 8:59 am
[…] I’ve had several people email me because they want to knit their shrug in a decorative stitch patterns, and I’ve advised them to look at my first shrug pattern generator an modify the directions. Since a number of people are interested, I’m writing a second version or the “shrug-u-lator”, knit from the cuff to cuff. If knit in stockinette, shrugs knit from either pattern generator will look exactly the same! […]

Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Cuff to Cuff “Shrug-u-lator”. ( comments.) — 11/3/2005 @ 9:31 am
Ok, to almost replicate their shrug pattern, you can use my pattern generator. Mine has garter stitch at the beginning, but you can just knit stockinette if you prefer. The *other* problem is that, since I counted you a person shaping the sleeves, my directions tell you how many rows to knit for the sleeves. I could modify the code to tell you the length too– but, maybe you want to narrow down the cuffs on the DYI one?

Because you aren’t going to shape, I advise using the “cuff to cuff” version of the generator.

http://www.thedietdiary.com/blog/lucia/356

First: Toggle Extra large; then toggle “custom”
Toe replicate THEIR shrug change all my numbers to these values:

Length at center back to 16″ (When you make this change, you will be making the back of the shrug *shorter* than I would for extra large.)
Cuff width to 16″ ( When you make this change, you are making the cuffs wider. .)
Sleeve with to 16″ (When you make this change, you will be making the sleeves tighter than I would for extra large.)

Note1 : If you look at the directions, there is a shaping procedure you now do “zero” times. The way *I* make the back a little deeprs is I make the “Length at center back” bigger than the sleeve width. Since you also want the back deeper, why not go back and change the Length at center back to 18″?)

Note 2: You didn’t say anything about the cuffs, but do you want the cuffs that wide? If not, why not make the cuffs narrower? Like say, 14″? (My directions are easier to follow if you do. But, if you want wide cuffs, ask me, and I can add a box mentioning length to the instructions.)

HalfShoulderWidth=11.5 (Their shoulders are wider than mine. Notice how mine hugs and theirs doesn’t? You might want to think about this.)

Total sleeve length= 19.5″ (Their sleeves is shorter than mine, which were 24.5 from the center back to the cuff.)

If you want long sleeve like mine, then just keep it at 24.5″.

So, you can fiddle to get the shape you want!

Of course, add their collar!
Lucia

Comment by lucia — 11/3/2005 @ 9:44 am
I am very eager to try this pattern. I believe it will fit better than others I have knit.

Comment by Fran Miller (0 comments.) — 6/4/2006 @ 3:52 pm
This looks great! Really easy to use, i can’t wait to get started. My only question is, how do you measure ‘half shoulder width’? I have very broad shoulders, but the way i’m taking the measurement, it always comes out much LESS than your default. What points should i be measuring for this?

Comment by Lily (0 comments.) — 6/30/2006 @ 10:16 pm
Lucia,

I am plugging along on the shrug. I am using a silk rayon blend. Lovely, but here is my question. On number 4, of the underarm section it says work (in my case) 23 inches from cast on. Is this correct? It seems if I work 23 inches from the original cast on, I am decreasing too early (like mid upper arm). Should I wait until I am almost finished shaping the middle arm and then decrease?
Thanks.

Shannon

Comment by Shannon Bowen (0 comments.) — 8/27/2006 @ 8:23 am
Oh my gosh you sooo rock for this! I have been searching for shrug patterns for my yarns for months! Thank you thank you thank you!

Mel

Comment by Melissa S. (1 comments.) — 3/9/2007 @ 10:32 am
I’d like to suggest that you make a place to record what size needles to use. I had to put this project down and pick it up later. I had forgotten to write down the size needles and I forgot what size I used entirely. I had to guess by the needles in the bag, that in my house is not a sure thing.

Comment by Debbie — 4/24/2008 @ 6:57 pm

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