Lady Grey shrug - 2nd take






This is my second Lady Grey shrug. It is a duplicate of my first one, which I lost. I know exactly where I lost it, it was in Gandolfi Fish a couple of years ago, when I went for dinner with my blog friend Doris and her husband. I was no doubt talking too much, not paying attention to my belongings. Good company has that effect on me. I can only blame myself for not getting the shrug back, by the time I retraced my steps on the day of losing it, I couldn't sum up the energy to go into town and retrieve it. I hope it is loved by someone else.

This shrug is quite ingenious. It is a combination of cardigan and shawl covering shoulders and arms but never sliding off as it has sleeves. I love it for cool summer nights but it also doubles as a perfect scarf in winter. If it wasn't such a faff to knit, I would have several versions in all colours of the rainbow.

Let me tell you about its construction. It is knitted from the middle out in one piece. The start is a fiddly magic cast on on double needles. Each needle forms the basis of one half. The first part is knitted flat, until it is wide enough to reach the shoulder blades. Then you join the work into a round and carry on until it is long enough for you, minus the width of the edging. The edging is knitted onto the stitches of the final round. For this, it is necessary to cast on just 17 stitches onto a crochet chain, knit in the flat and at the end of every second row, the last stitch is knitted together with one stitch of the sleeve. Once the entire sleeve stitches have been knitted up, it is necessary to remove the crochet chain, pick up the stitches and use a kitchener stitch to join the stitches. The second part is knitted exactly the same.

If this description sounds quite complicated, fear not! The instructions are detailed and where necessary stitch by stitch. I found it easiest just to follow these blindly. Overthinking the process leads to mistakes, I am proof for that. It is just like finding the toilet in the dark, one step at the time. The lace patterns are both written out and in chart form. I prefer the latter because I am a visual thinker. I even colour mine in so I can quickly find the row where I am at.

The Lady Grey shrug is a versatile pattern. Use delicate lace yarn for a ethereal almost non existing shrug or use solid sock wool for a durable more substantial version. Although gauge guidelines are given, it really doesn't matter that much as it is possible to check the size as you progress and you can add or remove pattern repeats if you are using a thicker yarn.

What have you been knitting lately? In my head, knitting is not really a summer activity but I might cast on another cardigan, just a quick open front number without buttons or anything. I never wear cardigans closed. At the very most, I might have one single button at the top, to stop it from flying of my shoulders when I cycle to work at speed (as if!).

Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. I always enjoy  your comments. x

Comments

  1. It’s beautiful x

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  2. Your shrug is lovely; such a pretty colour and pattern. I love that it doesn't fall off the shoulders as some are prone to do. I am knitting a cable cardie at the moment with buttons all the way.....I'm a buttoned-up-cardie kinda girl. =)

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  3. I’m glad you made another because it’s gorgeous! I love that shade of grey so much. It looks like a really useful thing to own too.

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  4. What a shame to have lost the first one. I can understand the need to knit another one, it is stunning. Love the grey yarn such a great colour, wearable with almost anything. I have made a start on a shawl which I will share soon.

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  5. This is such a pretty pattern. I'm sorry you lost the first one you made but how nice that you are making another one to enjoy. Pat :)

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  6. What a lovely, and clever, shrug. It does sound tricky though. Such a shame you lost one, but I do love this one, gorgeous. I am happily knitting up and down a stocking stitch blanket. Just a very little one for the living room in the winter. An oblong of stocking stitch is about all I can focus on late at night. CJ xx

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  7. A pretty pattern Christina and I love the soft shade. At the moment I'm knitting some socks. They are knitted with the WYS Marie Curie yarn. The local Knit & Natter group decided they all wanted to have a go at sock knitting 'today.' They all collected materials and half are using Christine's basic sock pattern (Winwick Mum) and the others have sourced their own pattern. Cathy x

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  8. So pretty. I have nothing else to add, being mostly befuddled by knitting, but I wish I could do more!

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  9. That is absolutely gorgeous and brilliant! Don't lose this one! It sounds like a lot of work. I'm still crocheting on my Woodland blanket. I'm very slow. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. That sounds ingenious and it's beautiful! Just the sort of useful garment I love. I'm currently knitting a light summer cardigan but at the rate I'm going it won't be ready until winter!

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  11. Shame about the lost shrug but now you have a gorgeous replacement. Funny you should mention cardigans as I've knit two in quick succession. Haven't worn them yet. Not sure I ever will.

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  12. Hi Christina
    Also der Schal ist ja schon traumhaft schön! Und das Muster erst!
    Mir gefällt er ausgesprochen gut;)
    Ich strick gerade an Socken, das geht immer;)
    Sei lieb gegrüsst, herzlich, Rita

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  13. It is beautiful Christina. Lovely lace and cable pattern and the warm gray color is perfect. Those instructions though - whew! But you never seem to shy from anything tricky. (Those hexagons, sewing your own coat, bras - I am always impressed!)

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  14. What a clever pattern. It's a shame you lost the first one but it's given you the opportunity of knitting it again, and how pretty it is. I love the colour too, it should go with so many different outfits. I've got a few things on my needles at the moment but my main project is the sweater for Eleanor, it's on hold at the moment until she comes home from uni so that I can try it on her before I go any further.

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  15. That looks lovely ! I have no idea how to knit but should learn one day :)

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  16. Wish iit was me who had your original as it's lovely, but promise it isn't! Thanks for the mention - I did enjoy our evening at Gandolphi Fish. Once, years ago, I knitted a lacy shawl, but haven't attempted anything for years.

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  17. Very pretty and useful to throw on when its cool. x

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  18. I love it, as grey is my favorite color. I play with yarn year round and I live in Florida. Life is too short to take a season off having fun with yarn.

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  19. that looks lovely.. nicely done.

    http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com

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  20. I was going to say 'how have I missed this wonderful shrug post?' then I remembered why.Just scrolling through my reader list! It is wonderful and so useful in grey. Jo x

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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