Renee - lace shrug

Renee Lace Shrug by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

The Renee is an elegant open lace shrug designed by Jennifer Lee, perfect for layering during cool summer and spring evenings. This garment features a comfortable, wearable design with decorative 2x2 rib cuffs at each end. The shrug is available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large, with widths from cuff to cuff measuring approximately 28½ to 34½ inches (72 to 87 cm) and depths of 14½ to 17 inches (37 to 43 cm).

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Renee shrug employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its elegant appearance and comfortable fit. The garment utilizes open lace patterning as its primary design element, creating an airy, decorative fabric. The lace pattern is worked at a deliberately looser tension than usually recommended, which is an important technical consideration for achieving the correct drape and appearance of the finished piece.

The shrug features 2x2 rib cuffs at both ends, which provide structure and elasticity to frame the open lace body. The construction involves working the lace pattern on larger needles to maintain the appropriate gauge and fabric characteristics. This two-needle approach—using different needle sizes for different sections—is a common technique for creating garments with varied fabric densities and textures.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create the lace effect. Core stitches include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches, which form the foundation of the ribbed cuffs
• Yarn overs and decreases (including pass slipped stitch over, abbreviated as psso), which are the essential elements of lace knitting that create the characteristic open, decorative holes
• 2x2 ribbing for the cuffs, which alternates knit and purl stitches in a two-stitch repeat pattern to create elasticity

Materials and Specifications

The Renee shrug is designed to be knitted with DK weight yarn, specifically using Creative Basics Esther 8ply yarn. The pattern requires 2 balls of 100g yarn, with each ball providing approximately 220 meters of yardage. Knitters should note that yarn quantities may vary depending on individual knitting tension and the specific yarn type used.

Two pairs of knitting needles are required for this project: a pair of 4.00mm needles (UK size 8, US size 6) for the ribbed cuffs, and a pair of 5.50mm needles (UK size 5, US size 9) for the lace pattern sections. A wool needle is needed for sewing up and finishing the garment.

Gauge and Difficulty Level

The pattern specifies a tension of 15 stitches and 26.5 rows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) over the lace pattern, worked using the 5.50mm needles. This gauge is achieved at the deliberately looser tension mentioned above. The Renee is rated as an Easy to Intermediate level project, making it accessible to knitters with some experience who are comfortable working lace patterns and managing multiple needle sizes.