Nearly Autumn Shrug

The Nearly Autumn Hat pattern comes FREE with the purchase of the Nearly Autumn Shrug! You'll see both downloads after checking out. [Shrug tutorial here!!][1] The Nearly Autumn Shrug is a fantastic transitional piece, tailor made with your choice of length, sleeve and fiber! For warm weather that’s just starting to get chilly in the evenings, knit it cropped, in a light, cotton blend with short sleeves. For cooler fall temps, use wool or alpaca, Classic waist length with longer sleeves. Either way, this small, lightweight piece is fast and easy to work up, easy to carry in a bag for layering, and goes with anything from a sun dress to a tshirt and jeans. The Nearly Autumn Shrug takes its starting point from Melody Hoffman's **[Iris][2]** — a brilliant piece of construction, where a provisional cast-on runs down the spine and the lace grows outward from that center line in mirror image on both sides. It's a stunning effect, and it's the reason I picked up her pattern in the first place. From there, this is very much its own design. Iris is loose and drapey, elegant and flowing — if that's the silhouette you're after, go have a look at hers, it's lovely. Nearly Autumn borrows that same lace and center-out construction and takes it somewhere different: a fitted, close-to-body shape with integrated neck and waist shaping, a knit-in-line cabled and slipped stitch edging rather than a picked-up one, a new provisional cast-on method, and multiple sleeve-length options. If you're looking for flowing and drapey, Iris is the pattern you want. If you want that same mirrored lace spine in something more structured and fitted to the body, I hope you'll give Nearly Autumn a try. This shrug is worked ‘sideways’ from the center back outwards, using the easiest provisional cast on you've ever tried! If you hate provisional cast-ons, you'll be won-over by this one – no crochet hook and NO picking up loops - just a spare circular needle! Nearly Autumn can be made cropped or classic length, short, medium or long sleeves, and can be adjusted to fit with more or less ease under the arms at finishing. Short sleeves stop at about 2-3” above the elbow, medium sleeves hit just below the elbow, and long sleeves can be adjusted to above or below the wrist. Instructions are included to knit to any sleeve length, and piece can be blocked before binding off to get exactly the sleeve length you want. Use any worsted to light chunky weight yarn that looks good knit in stockinette at about 16 sts/4”/10cm blocked. Be sure to measure after blocking, as this lace will open up a LOT. Heavier yarn knit at the same gauge will make a thicker shrug! Adjust needle size as needed. I’ve suggested 3 different fiber combinations below to suit your season, whether it’s Nearly Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer!! Change needle size as needed to work up any of these yarns to 16 sts/4”/10cm blocked – gently stretched and pinned. **Yardage:** Cropped w/Short Sleeves– appx 400 yds Classic (natural waist) w/elbow sleeves – appx 600 yds **Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn – [Berroco Remix][3]** 30% nylon, 27% cotton, 24% acrylic, 10% silk, 9% linen This 100% recycled yarn is the perfect choice for a slightly heavy, smooth and very drapey fabric. Recommended for cooler summer nights, where you want your shoulders and back covered but not too much insulation. It has the drape and slight texture of a linen, but with the smoothness granted by the cotton and silk, and it blooms beautifully with blocking to fill all the gaps in your stitches. **Spring/Autumn/Early Winter – [Blue Sky Fiber Woolstock Worsted][4]** 100% Wool Your perfect cool-weather choice, this yarn knits up beautifully, blocks and drapes very well, and is smooth and non itchy. I wear this shrug when the temps are in the 60s, but I still want to wear shorter sleeves or my strappy sun dresses without a denim jacket or heavier second layer. **Early/Mid Winter - [Plymouth Yarn Aireado][5]** 70% Alpaca, 23% Nylon, 7% Merino If you’ve never encountered this yarn before, you’re in for a real treat. Fibers of alpaca and merino are blown into an ultra fine nylon tube (chainette) to create incredible loft with virtually no weight. This is one of the most insulating yarns you’ll find, and the yardage per 100 grams is incredible!! This fiber will keep you warm when the temps are downright chilly! [1]: https://youtu.be/k-bzqPXTRG0 [2]: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/iris-46 [3]: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/berroco-remix [4]: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/blue-sky-fibers-woolstok-worsted [5]: https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/plymouth-yarn-aireado