Friday 24 April 2015

Today is the day!

Yes indeed.
A year (or thereabouts) in the making and my book is available to buy today.







I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

Happy crocheting,
Sarah xx



Wednesday 1 April 2015

The Simple Shrug

I wanted to make a simple shrug.
Nothing too fancy, and certainly nothing too complicated.
Oh, and something quick.
I loves a quick project.


And so I designed one. 



Actually, I designed three; in small, medium and large sizes.
And I called it The Simple Shrug (bet you didn't see that one coming..).


What makes it simple, I hear you ask?



Well, it only has 10 (ish) rows.
You only need to know chain, double and treble crochet stitches (UK) / chain, single and double crochet stitches (US) and how to work the back loops only (BLO).
And you can make it in a couple of hours because it uses chunky-monkey yarn and a mahooosive hook.

What's not to love?







You can see me making it on Craft Daily TV, too!

So here you are!

Enjoy making,
Sarah x
 


[the UK versions are first and the US versions below]

SIMPLE SHRUG PATTERN (UK)

Small. To fit bust 32-34"
Medium. To fit bust 36-38"      
Large. To fit bust 40-42"
All sizes are approximate. Due to the stitch construction, the shrug has some stretch.

Guage: 7.5 stitches and 4 rows to 5 inches
 
Abbreviations:
Chain = ch
Stitches = sts
Slip stitch = sl st 
Double crochet = dc
Treble crochet = tr
Back loops only = BLO
 
Construction:
This pattern is worked in joined rounds. When you begin a round, make the chain/s and then put the first stitch of the round in the same stitch as the chain. When you've finished the round, join with a sl st to the first stitch, ignoring the sl st and chain from the previous round. (See the show on Craft Daily TV for a demonstration)
All rounds are worked in BLO
 
If you want to make your shrug longer, then add more rows where the pattern indicates - don't forget to buy more yarn, too.  
Small size
You will need:
4 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Off White #01)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 38. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, dc 38 (beginning in same st as the ch) (38sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, tr 8, (2tr in next st x3), tr 16, (2tr in next st x3), tr 8 (44)
 
Rnd 3. ch 2, tr 10, (2tr in next st x2), tr 20, (2tr in next st x2), tr 10 (48)
Rnd 4. ch 2, tr 11, (2tr in next st x2), tr 22, (2tr in next st x2), tr 11 (52)
 
Rnd 5. ch 2, tr 12, (2tr in next st x2), tr 24, (2tr in next st x2), tr 12 (56)
Rnd 6. ch 2, tr 13, (2tr in next st x2), tr 26, (2tr in next st x2), tr 13 (60)
 
Rnds 7-9. * ch 2, tr 60
Rnd 10. ch1, dc 60.
 
*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length
 
Fasten off, weave in ends.

Medium size
You will need:
5 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Medium Grey #04)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 38. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, dc 38 (beginning in same st as the ch) (38sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, tr 8, (2tr in next st, 3tr in next st, 2tr in next st), tr 16, (2tr in next st, 3tr in next st, 2tr in next st), tr 8 (46)
 
Rnd 3. ch 2, tr 10, (2tr in next st x3), tr 20, (2tr in next st x3), tr 10 (52)
Rnd 4. ch 2, tr 12, (2tr in next st x2), tr 24, (2tr in next st x2), tr 12 (56)
 
Rnd 5. ch 2, tr 12, (2tr in next st x3), tr 26, (2tr in next st x3), tr 12 (62)
Rnd 6. ch 2, tr 15, (2tr in next st x2), tr 28, (2tr in next st x2), tr 15 (66)
 
Rnds 7-9. * ch 2, tr 66
Rnd 10. ch1, dc 66
 
*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length

Fasten off, weave in ends


Large size
You will need:
6 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Medium Grey #04)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 42. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, dc 42 (beginning in same st as the ch) (42sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, tr 9, (2tr in next st x3), tr 18, (2tr in next st x3), tr 9 (48)
 
Rnd 3. ch 2, tr 10, (2tr in next st x4), tr 20, (2tr in next st x4), tr 10 (56)
Rnd 4. ch 2, tr 12, (2tr in next st x4), tr 24, (2tr in next st x4), tr 12 (64)
 
Rnd 5. ch 2, tr 14, (2tr in next st x4), tr 28, (2tr in next st x4), tr 14 (72)
Rnd 6. ch 2, tr 17, (2tr in next st), tr 36, (2tr in next st), tr 17 (74)
 
Rnds 7-10. * ch 2, tr 74
Rnd 10. ch1, dc 74.
 
*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length
 
Fasten off, weave in ends.


SIMPLE SHRUG PATTERN (US)

Small. To fit bust 32-34"
Medium. To fit bust 36-38"      
Large. To fit bust 40-42"
All sizes are approximate. Due to the stitch construction, the shrug has some stretch.

Guage: 7.5 stitches and 4 rows to 5 inches
 
Abbreviations:
Chain = ch
Stitches = sts
Slip stitch = sl st 
Double crochet = dc
Treble crochet = tr
Back loops only = BLO
 
Construction:
This pattern is worked in joined rounds. When you begin a round, make the chain/s and then put the first stitch of the round in the same stitch as the chain. When you've finished the round, join with a sl st to the first stitch, ignoring the sl st and chain from the previous round. (See the show on Craft Daily TV for a demonstration)
All rounds are worked in BLO
 
If you want to make your shrug longer, then add more rows where the pattern indicates - don't forget to buy more yarn, too. 


Small size

You will need:
4 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Off White #01)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 38. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, sc 38 (beginning in same st as the ch) (38sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, dc 8, (2dc in next st x3), dc 16, (2dc in next st x3), dc 8 (44)

Rnd 3. ch 2, dc 10, (2dc in next st x2), dc 20, (2dc in next st x2), dc 10 (48)
Rnd 4. ch 2, dc 11, (2dc in next st x2), dc 22, (2dc in next st x2), dc 11 (52)

Rnd 5. ch 2, dc 12, (2dc in next st x2), dc 24, (2dc in next st x2), dc 12 (56)
Rnd 6. ch 2, dc 13, (2dc in next st x2), dc 26, (2dc in next st x2), dc 13 (60)

Rnds 7-9. * ch 2, dc 60

Rnd 10. ch1, sc 60.

*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Medium size

You will need:
5 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Medium Grey #04)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 38. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, sc 38 (beginning in same st as the ch) (38sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, dc 8, (2dc in next st, 3dc in next st, 2dc in next st), dc 16, (2dc in next st, 3dc in next st, 2dc in next st), dc 8 (46)

Rnd 3. ch 2, dc 10, (2dc in next st x3), dc 20, (2dc in next st x3), dc 10 (52)
Rnd 4. ch 2, dc 12, (2dc in next st x2), dc 24, (2dc in next st x2), dc 12 (56)

Rnd 5. ch 2, dc 12, (2dc in next st x3), dc 26, (2dc in next st x3), dc 12 (62)
Rnd 6. ch 2, dc 15, (2dc in next st x2), dc 28, (2dc in next st x2), dc 15 (66)

Rnds 7-9. * ch 2, dc 66

Rnd 10. ch1, sc 66

*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length

Fasten off, weave in ends

Large size

You will need:
6 x balls of Drops Polaris Yarn (I used Medium Grey #04)
15mm hook

Foundation chain: ch 42. Join with a sl st to the first ch
(Work following rounds in BLO)
Rnd 1. ch 1, sc 42 (beginning in same st as the ch) (42sts)
Rnd 2. ch 2, dc 9, (2dc in next st x3), dc 18, (2dc in next st x3), dc 9 (48)

Rnd 3. ch 2, dc 10, (2dc in next st x4), dc 20, (2dc in next st x4), dc 10 (56)
Rnd 4. ch 2, dc 12, (2dc in next st x4), dc 24, (2dc in next st x4), dc 12 (64)

Rnd 5. ch 2, dc 14, (2dc in next st x4), dc 28, (2dc in next st x4), dc 14 (72)
Rnd 6. ch 2, dc 17, (2dc in next st), dc 36, (2dc in next st), dc 17 (74)

Rnds 7-10. * ch 2, dc 74
Rnd 10. ch1, sc 74.

*adjust the number of rounds to reach desired length

 Fasten off, weave in ends.