Starflower shrug by Elizabeth Felgate

Starflower shrug

Knitting
July 2015
DK (11 wpi) ?
16 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches
in starflower lace
US 6 - 4.0 mm
781 - 991 yards (714 - 906 m)
xs-s. m-l, xx-xxl
English
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Drapey, slouchy shrugs are all the rage this summer and so easy to wear. This relaxed and effortlessly chic DK weight shrug in a very beautiful traditional Estonian starflower lace pattern is just the ticket. Pair it with flip flops and sunglasses for the starlet look.

Yarn requirements:
Any DK or worsted yarn with which you can achieve gauge on a blocked swatch. I used a Jamieson’s 100% wool yarn at 11 WPI and have listed some silmilar yarns above (some superwash, although mine was not, but you’ll great great stretch on the lace with superwash). But this will work fine with cotton, silk or linen yarns or mixes (or other summery yarns and synthetics, although do always block your swatch to make sure that you can block to an attractive flat and open pattern). Testers used a variety of natural and synthetic fibres to great effect. Expect a more drape to the fabric with silks, cottons etc. Solid, tonal and semi-solid colours are going to show the pattern to best advantage.

XS-S: 714m/781yds
M-L: 782m/855yds
XL-XXL: 906m/991yds

Needles
4mm (US size 7) circular needle with a long cable or correct needle size to achieve gauge for the lace (I’m a very loose knitter so adjust your needle size accordingly). 3.5mm (US 4) needles for the ribbing or needles a size or two smaller than those you used for the body.

Sizes
Sizes are the wearer’s maximum actual cross back measurements to fit as modelled. As this garment does not have to meet across the chest, and there is lots of ease and the fit is loose and slouchy, there is a lot of flexibility in the sizing for this garment. Choosing a size smaller than usual will give a garment that fits with slightly less ease and drape than shown, but that will sit tighter on the body. This is the knitter’s choice.

XS/S: 38cm/ 15 in
M/L: 44cm/ 17 1/4 in
XL/XXL: 45.5cm/ 18 in

Construction and techniques
Provisional cast on, flat lace knitting (lace is right side only but does have a changing stitch count row to row), simple grafting technique for the sleeves, ribbing is knit in the round. Short rows to shape the hem. It is easier not to use stitch markers for the lace repeats as they require moving before the start of most right side rows; being able to read your knitting will therefore be an advantage for this piece. Alternatively use scrap yarn or locking stitch markers that can be moved easily before starting a new right side row.

Pattern contains
Full written and charted instructions for the lace.
Links to tutorials for suggested techniques for cast on and grafting.
Suggestions for adjusting fit
As in all my patterns measurements are given in both metric and imperial measures.