Simple Sunrise Knitted Shrug Pattern

Back when we were selecting our yarn from Topsy Farms, I was immediately drawn to the richness of the Gold Sunflower colour. It’s a very warm, comforting colour that reminded me of a sunrise or actually, more of a sunset over Lake Huron because well let’s face it, I rarely catch a sunrise!

Although I didn’t have a project immediately in mind, I knew I wanted to create something with that colour. With 29 gorgeous options to choose from, it was definitely difficult to pick just one for a project. If you’d like to learn more about the many benefits of working with wool, you can read our previous post here.

After receiving the yarn, I tried a few different things just to get a feel for knitting with it. Before finally deciding on a light-weight spring shrug, I began to knit a scalloped carpet bag pattern that I absolutely loved! I have to show a picture of it because it’s just too beautiful not too.

And although I didn’t end up finishing the carpet bag, I will definitely return to it in the near future. But for now, I am so happy with my cozy, easy to wear, loose fitting shrug that wraps perfectly around the shoulders for those brisk spring or fall nights.

Free Knitted Shrug Pattern

We’re very excited to share this new pattern with all of the knitting lovers out there! With this pattern, you will create a simple one piece knit shrug with a single lace stitch along the centre back and a fisherman’s ribbed neck band and sleeve cuffs.

If you aren’t familiar with the fisherman’s rib knit technique, check out our quick video on YouTube.

Supplies Needed to Make the Simple Sunrise Knitted Shrug:

• Approximately 300g of medium or worsted weight pure wool yarn.

We used Topsy Farms’ Gold Sunflower 2-ply fine wool which comes in generous 100g skeins (double the size of usual wool skeins you may find in the store). If you are in the downtown Toronto area you can also stop by Yarns Untangled, the only Toronto distributor of Topsy Farms yarn.

• Straight Needles (US7 / 4.5mm)
• Straight Needles (US9 / 5.5mm)
• Circular Needle (US7 / 4.5mm); 31” long
• Stitch Marker – or these sheep stitch markers on Amazon are pretty adorable!
• Darning needle

Size:

Small/Medium, Finished Length = 35” from edge to edge

Gauge:

Approx. 14 sts & 22 rows = 4”/10cm in St st

Change needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

The Pattern:

• CO = Cast on
• sts = stitches
• St st = stockinette stitch
• k1 = knit 1 stitch
• p1 = purl 1 stitch
• k2tog = knit two stitches together
• M1R = Make 1 right
• M1L = Make 1 left
• ssk = slip slip knit
• Yo = yarn over
• WS = wrong side
• RS = right side
• BO = Bind off

Using US7 Straight Needles

CO 44

Knit all stitches

Begin fisherman’s rib: (P1, K1 stitch from below) repeat to end of row

Continue fisherman’s rib for 1 1/4″

Purl all stitches (on WS)

Switch to US9 Straight Needles

Begin St st pattern and increase as follows:

Row 1: K1, M1R, K to last stitch, M1L, K1 (RS)   (46 stitches)

Row 2: Purl all stitches (on WS)

Row 3: Knit all stitches (on RS)

Row 4: Purl all stitches (WS)

Continue this pattern (Row 1 to Row 4) until you have 84 stitches on your needle.

On RS of work, begin lace pattern along one row: K3, [yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1] fifteen times, K3

(The center point of the shrug is approximately 17 1/2″ from cast on edge).

Continue St st and begin decreasing as follows:

Row 1: Purl all stitches

Row 2: Knit all stitches

Row 3: Purl all stitches

Row 4: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, K1

Continue this pattern (Row 1 to Row 4) until you have 44 stitches on your needle.

Switch to US 7 Straight Needles

Purl all stitches (WS)

Begin fisherman’s rib: (P1, K1 stitch from below) repeat to end of row

Continue fisherman’s rib for 1 1/4″

Knit all stitches (RS)

BO using very stretchy cast off method.

Lightly steam knitted piece.

Fold the knitted piece in half lengthwise with RS together and seam up each end approx. 2″ or to achieve a desired fit.

Using your size US7 circular needle, and starting at the right underarm, pick up 2 sts for every three rows all the way around the inside edge of the shrug.

The exact number of stitches is not critical but try to pick up an even number of stitches.

Place a stitch marker to mark the start of your round.

Knit all stitches to the stitch marker.

Begin Fisherman’s rib: (P1, K1 stitch from below) repeat to stitch marker.

Continue Fisherman’s rib until your ribbing measures 1 ½”.

Knit all stitches to stitch marker.

BO using very stretchy cast off method.

Weave in all yarn tails and ENJOY!

Additional Knitting and Crochet Ideas

If you are interested in additional knitting ideas we’ve collected some of the best free scarf knitting patterns on the web. We also have our multi-wear cowl knitting pattern and a beautiful knitted beach cover-up review.

For all you crochet addicts out there, we recently posted a free Sand Pebble Crochet Afghan pattern and crochet coaster pattern for beginners. Also check out our review of the botanical knits book.

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“Some of the materials used in this post were provided to us free of charge from Topsy Farms. All opinions expressed are our own: we wouldn’t be collaborating with this company if we didn’t feel that they provide value to our readers. Also, this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy any products through these links – at no additional cost to you – we make a small commission. ”