Faith, Hope, Courage and Grace, affordable acrylic kits. A great way to get started.
Faith, Hope, Courage and Grace, affordable acrylic kits. A great way to get started.
We were looking forward to seeing everyone again at NJ Sheep and Wool and debut our new Shrug Club yarns, but these days we are all finding other creative ways to stay connected. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for monthly charity updates and be the first to see the latest hand dyed creations fresh from the dye pan. We will also highlight some Bargain Bags from our leftover yarn shop inventory.
We are excited to be part of Kristy Glass and Eve Ashworth’s 3 day knitting retreat, November 2021, and we will also be participating in the virtual event they are working on for December. So many people are putting in a lot of time keeping our fiber community active during the pandemic and we are all learning new exciting ways to do this. When we know details on the virtual Knit and Escape event, we will update you in our October episode on YouTube. A grateful thank you to Kristy and Eve for taking the time to give us another fun get together!!
If you love what we do but aren’t sure how to get started, we’ve made an easy, affordable way for you to pitch in! Our Shrug Club kits contain everything you need to make a shrug. With so many moms entering children’s hospitals each day, we have our work cut out for us. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
.Knitting Needles 555 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840
We recommend starting out with a Shrug Club Kit. This will help guide you with your own yarn combinations. Any yarns can be used for our shrugs and any shrug donation makes you eligible to receive one of our Kakes for half price. We will also provide you with a tax receipt when swapping a shrug for a Kake purchase.
You can always get started with some “big box” yarns. Please be sure to follow our instructions carefully. It is easy when working with bulky yarns to make a fabric that is too heavy or too stretchy. Finished measurements need to be a minimum of 50” x 30”.
There are so many wonderful yarns out there. Don’t be afraid to experiment. But keep in mind that each yarn, stitch pattern, needle choice and your own tension affect the outcome of your finished fabric and fit.
A stretchy garter stitch with 2 strands of bulky yarn on US19 needles will grow when worn. If your measurements are 28” x 50” laying flat, the shrug will stretch and most likely be a great sized shrug. However, a stockinette shrug in with a tighter gauge might need to have a finished width of 53-55” to be adequate for a mom to wrap up in. All tunisian shrugs need to be 55-56” wide as there is very little stretch in tunisian simple stitch.
Keep in mind our intention, wrapping these moms in a great big hug. When budgeting your yarn - and time - focus on the width (wrist to wrist) measurement. Even a finished length of 27” is bound to stretch some when worn and if you run short on yarn, you can always add an accent yarn to finish off your length (top to bottom measurement when worn) and make an awesome collar! So casting on and working horizontally is a good way to get started until you know how much yarn you’ll need to get the correct finished measurements. Shoot for 53” - and take notes of what worked and what didn’t. Only you will know what works for you.
Measure your finished fabric and take note of how it drapes when worn. Make adjustments on your next one. If measurements are between 50-55” x 28-30” it will make a great shrug for our donations.
As a brand, we are hoping for some uniformity. Please consider lofty bulky yarns and double stranding to create a cozy fabric. Our Shrug Club kits are a great way to get started but there are several good choices in big box stores like Michael’s and JoAnn Fabric as well. Lion Brand Homespun, Scarfie and Shawl in a Ball combine nicely as do Loops and Threads Barcelona, Facet Stones and Red Heart Dreamy and Unforgettable. You can always email us or join our monthly zoom with questions.
Using US8 knitting needles and holding 2 fingering weight strands together (OR single strand of dk weight), cast on 12 stitches leaving a 6” tail that will become one tie of the cape. Knit 2 rows.
Continue next 2 rows until cape measure 2 1/2 “
Row 1: knit 2, purl 8, knit 2
Row 2: knit.
At 2 1/2” (about 12 stockinette rows), Knit 2 more rows
Bind off as follows: knit first stitch, yarn over clockwise from front to back, bind off the yarn over. Knit next stitch, bind off as usual. Continue binding off in this manner, rotating a yarn over bind off with a regular bind off until all stitches are off your needles. This stretchy bind off will cause the bottom of the cape to flare out, giving the cape a little shape. Cut a 6” strand of yarn and attach to top of cape to complete the set of ties. Please place a knot on the ends of both ties.
Holding 2 strands of Homespun, cast on 76 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 6 rows. Cut one strand of Homespun, attach one strand of Facet Stones.
Begin stockinette portion:
Row 1: Knit row.
Row 2: Knit 3, Purl to last 3 stitches, Knit 3.
Continue these 2 rows (creating stockinette stitch with 3 stitch garter border) until you run out of Facet Stones, ending with a full row of stockinette. Attach Homespun to end of Facet Stones and complete the last few rows in garter stitch leaving enough yarn to loosely bind off.
Lay shrug with wrong side up. Fold corners toward center and lace 2 small seams to form “sleeves”. See photo below. These laces can be removed if the mom receiving your gift would prefer to use her shrug as a throw.
We have started a virtual Shrug Club on Zoom on the 1st Thursday of each month from 12:30 - 2:30. Join us and learn more about our mission, make some friends and talk shrugs! Meeting ID 943 444 874. No password needed.
3 skeins Lion Brand Homespun - 185 yards each
Size P crochet hook
Chain 77 stitches - this makes your foundation chain of 75 plus 2 for turning.
Row 1: Half double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook. Repeat in every stitch across row. Chain 2 for turning.
Row 2 -30: Double crochet in the 2nd stitch from the hook. Repeat in every stitch across row. End of row 30 chain 1 for turning.
Row 31-35: Single crochet in the first chain from the hook and in every stitch across the row. Shrug will measure approximately 48" wide x 32" long.
Edge each side with single crochet stitch (3 - 4 rows on each side). Finished shrug will now measure 50" x 32".
Make 2 chains 100 stitches each and use to lace "sleeves" closed. You can make a third tie to use as a closure.
See photo below for finishing instructions.
This pattern is knit across the shorter/30" side of the shrug working vertically (top to bottom when wearing the shrug as opposed to the previous pattern which works the shrug horizontally of side to side - wrist to wrist - when worn. You can also use circular needles to do this pattern if you prefer to work with less stitches in each row.
US17 needles
Shawl in a Ball (or Shawl in a Cake) by Lion Brand Yarns held together with ONE of the following three choices:
"Puzzle" by Premier Yarns, "Barcelona" by Loops and Threads or "Homespun" by Lion Brand Yarns.
Holding 2 strands of yarn together throughout project, cast on 54 stitches.
Rows 1-8: Knit all stitches
Row 9: Knit 4, Purl 46, Knit last 4 stitches
Row 10: Knit all stitches
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until shrug measures 48" - 50" long, then knit the last 8 rows and VERY LOOSELY bind off.
Using 2 crocheted chains about 40" long or a thick ribbon. Lace sleeves closed as pictured below.
Martinsville Community Center, 1961 Washington Valley Rd., Bridgewater, New Jersey 08836, United States
Martinsville Community Center, 1961 Washington Valley Rd., Bridgewater, New Jersey 08836, United States
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