Shrug Snugs Needed
Use your fingering/sock or worsted weight yarn leftovers and make a difference.
Shrug Snugs are tightly crocheted spirals that we include with our shrugs sent to the variety of moms we serve.
There is no need to tie a snug, simply inserting it through the fabric of a shrug and giving a little tug helps keep it on - while adding a fun accent!
Making a Shrug Snug is easy. You don't need to know much about crochet to quickly complete one and these are a great way to use up leftovers while supporting our mission!
Using fingering/sock weight yarn try using an I hook with 2 strands held together. If using worsted weight yarn use a J hook and a single strand.
Chain 12". The amount of stitches varies on hook and yarn used. Starting with the first stitch (the stitch next to the one with the working yarn) make 4 double crochets in each stitch (3 if using J hook). When you reach the very last stitch add and extra double crochet to help tighten this end of the spiral. Weave in your tails.
Please go to our PDF page and print out our sheet of Shrug Snug cards, double sided on cardstock. Add your name to the back side of the card. Your Shrug Snug and card will be placed in a small bag and included with a coordinating shrug made by another volunteer making this gift even more meaningful to the mom receiving it.
See our Shrug Club yarns in person and support local shops
Supporting moms at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, RI
.Knitting Needles 555 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840
Join us for our monthly Zooms on the 1st Thursday of each month from 12:30-2:30. Our Zoom ID is 943 444 874 no password is needed. IF YOU LIVE OUT OF STATE, PLEASE SHIP SHRUGS TO: MARY LANGDON, 1 REDWOOD ROAD, MARTINSVILLE, NJ 08836.
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.
To date we’ve sent over 1,000 Hugs through Shrugs to moms staying in children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, through several charities and individual requests.
Helpful Shrug tips
Don’t be afraid to be creative
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.
Knit Shrug Pattern
2 skeins Lion Brand Homespun, 1 skein Loops and Threads Facet Stones, and US19 29” circular needles
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.
Half Double Crochet Pattern
Thank you for designing this pattern for us Terry Fraser
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.
