Kid’s Shrug Bolero Knitting Pattern

Kid's Shrug in Plymouth Yarn Encore Boucle Colorspun

What is Being Made

This is a child's shrug designed to fit sizes 2 through 10 years old, with finished lengths ranging from 31 inches to 43 inches measured from cuff to cuff. A shrug is a short, open-front garment that covers the shoulders and upper arms, making it an ideal layering piece for children. This particular design is constructed in a unique method, beginning at one sleeve cuff and extending across to the opposite sleeve cuff, creating a continuous piece that wraps around the child's shoulders and back.

Construction Method

The shrug is worked in a distinctive cuff-to-cuff construction, meaning the knitter begins at one sleeve and works horizontally across the entire garment to the opposite sleeve. The pattern is divided into three main sections: the first sleeve, the body panel, and the second sleeve. This approach allows for seamless integration between sections and creates a cohesive garment with minimal finishing required.

The first sleeve is created by casting on stitches and working in stockinet stitch with strategic increases at each end to shape the sleeve cap. Once the sleeve reaches the desired length, stitches are bound off at the armhole to transition into the body section. The body is worked straight without shaping, providing comfortable coverage across the shoulders and back. The second sleeve is then constructed by casting stitches back on and working mirror-image increases to match the first sleeve.

Knitting Stitches and Techniques

This pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters:

• Stockinet Stitch (St St) – The primary stitch used throughout the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side
• 1x1 Ribbing – Applied to the cuffs at the completion of each sleeve, providing elasticity and a finished, professional appearance that helps the cuffs hug the wrists
• Increases – Single stitch increases worked at each end of rows during sleeve shaping to gradually widen the sleeve from cuff to armhole
• Decreases – Worked symmetrically at each end of rows during the second sleeve construction to taper the sleeve back down to cuff width
• Bind Off – Used to secure stitches and finish edges, with loose binding off recommended for the ribbed cuff sections to maintain elasticity
• Picking Up Stitches – A technique used to pick up and knit stitches along the top and bottom edges of the body to create the second sleeve opening
• Circular Knitting – The cuffs are worked in the round using a circular needle, allowing for seamless 1x1 ribbing

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern is designed specifically for Plymouth Yarn Encore Boucle in colorway 7173. Encore Boucle is a textured yarn featuring a distinctive boucle construction, which creates a bumpy, nubby surface texture that adds visual interest and dimension to the finished garment. The yarn is supplied in 100-gram balls, with yardage requirements varying by size: sizes 2 and 4 require 2 balls each, while sizes 6 and 8 require 3 balls each, and size 10 requires 4 balls. This yarn choice creates a soft, child-friendly fabric with excellent drape suitable for a garment intended for young wearers.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for US Size 11 straight knitting needles for the main sleeve and body sections, and a US Size 11 circular knitting needle measuring 16 inches for working the ribbed cuffs in the round. A stitch marker is required to mark the beginning of the round when working the cuff ribbing. These needle sizes are selected to achieve the specified gauge of 10 stitches over 4 inches in stockinet stitch, ensuring the garment will fit properly across all five size options.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is graded across five child sizes (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years), with all measurements provided in parentheses following the smallest size. The gauge of 10 stitches and 4 inches worked over stockinet stitch using US Size 11 needles is critical to achieving the correct finished dimensions. Maintaining accurate gauge ensures that the garment will fit the intended child properly and that the proportions of