Carnelian Shrug Bolero Knitting Pattern

Carnelian Shrug by Marie Wallin

What is Being Made

The Carnelian Shrug is a bolero-style garment designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81-127 cm (32-50 inches). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a cropped, shoulder-covering piece that combines knitted body sections with decorative crocheted edging. The finished garment features an open front design with shaped neck and hem edges, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The shrug is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The main body is worked in stockinette stitch using 4mm needles, establishing the foundation of the garment. The pattern requires careful attention to shaping and seaming, as the body section is folded in half with markers and side seams joined using either back stitch or mattress stitch from marked positions to cast-on and cast-off edges. This construction method creates a structured, fitted silhouette.

Following the knitted body, the design incorporates crocheted edging worked with a 3.00mm crochet hook. The edging is applied to the front, neck, and hem edges by attaching yarn at the base of one side seam and working evenly around the entire opening. The crocheted border is worked in multiple rounds, creating a decorative finish that frames the shrug's openings.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary knit stitch for the body, created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Back stitch and mattress stitch – seaming techniques used to join side edges with precision
• Double crochet (dc) – used in the foundation round of the crocheted edging
• Treble (tr) – employed in decorative stitch combinations including tr2tog and tr3tog (treble clusters)
• Treble together (tr2tog and tr3tog) – decrease stitches that create textural variation in the edging
• Chain (ch) – used to create spaces and height within the crocheted rounds
• Slip stitch (ss) – joins rounds and transitions between stitch sections in the crochet edging

Materials and Specifications

This project uses Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a lightweight double-knit weight fiber. The pattern requires 9 to 12 balls of 50-gram skeins depending on the size selected, with the photographed sample shown in Deep Rose 206. The yarn is worked on 4mm (US 6) knitting needles for the body and a 3.00mm (US C2/D3) crochet hook for the edging.

The tension specification is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm needles. Achieving proper tension is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and garment fit across all five size options.

Finishing Details

The pattern includes pressing instructions to be followed according to the information page provided with the pattern. The crocheted edging features a sophisticated lace-like quality created through strategic spacing and treble clusters, with the final rounds building decorative depth through increasing chain spaces and treble groupings. This finishing technique transforms the simple knitted body into a refined, decorative garment suitable for layering over dresses or tops.