Schulterwärmer in Marine in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 85 - S7051 - Downloadable PDF

Schulterwärmer in Marine – Free Knitting Pattern in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 85 (S7051)

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr guides you through creating a classic Schulterwärmer – a cosy shoulder warmer, sometimes described as a collar wrap or mini bolero – knitted in a deep Marine (Navy, Fb 00250) colourway. The finished piece sits around the shoulders and upper back, providing warmth and elegance without the bulk of a full cardigan. It is an ideal project for intermediate knitters who want a quick, satisfying make with a polished, boutique finish.

What Is Being Made

The Schulterwärmer is a rectangular shoulder collar wrap, approximately 35 cm wide and 80 cm in length before assembly. Once knitted, the cast-off edge is sewn to the upper side edge of the collar at marked points A and B, as indicated in the included cutting diagram (Schnittschema). This seaming technique shapes the flat rectangle into a three-dimensional shoulder-hugging collar. The remaining 45 cm of the piece forms the open neckline. The design is simple in construction yet striking in appearance, making excellent use of texture and a premium yarn.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 85 in Marine, Fb 00250 – a pure merino wool yarn with a fine, smooth handle and excellent stitch definition. You will need 400 g in total. Because the garment is worked holding four strands together, the yarn builds up quickly into a chunky, lofty fabric despite the yarn's individual aran-weight classification.
• Needles: Milward knitting needles size 15 (metric), suitable for the four-strand technique.
• Hook: A Milward crochet hook size 15, used for the finishing edging rounds.

Techniques Used

• Casting on (Anschlagen): 21 stitches are cast on using four strands of yarn held together, immediately establishing the chunky character of the fabric.
• Knitting in the round (flat knitting with seaming): The body is worked flat in rows and then seamed according to the schematic diagram.
• Seaming: The cast-off edge is sewn to the upper side edge of the collar, with the cast-off stitches sitting on the outside for a decorative finish. Points A and B are matched precisely as shown in the pattern diagram.
• Crochet edging – single crochet (feste Maschen): One round of single crochet stitches is worked around both the neckline and the lower edge using four strands of yarn. Stitches begin and end with a slip stitch (Kettmasche) for a neat join.
• Crochet edging – reverse single crochet / crab stitch (Krebsmaschen): A final decorative round of crab stitch is worked without turning the work, crocheting from left to right rather than the usual right to left. This technique creates a distinctive twisted, rope-like border that adds a professional, polished edge to both the neckline and the lower hem. The round begins with one chain stitch (Luftmasche) and ends with a slip stitch into the starting chain.

Stitches Used

• Perlmuster (Seed Stitch / Moss Stitch): The main body of the Schulterwärmer is worked entirely in Perlmuster, which alternates one knit stitch and one purl stitch across every row, with the pattern offset on each subsequent row so that knit stitches fall above purl stitches and vice versa. This creates a beautifully textured, reversible fabric with a pebbly surface that lies flat without curling – a significant practical advantage for a collar wrap that is visible on both sides. Seed stitch also enhances the natural softness and drape of the merino yarn.
• Single crochet (feste Maschen): Used for the first edging round around the neckline and lower border.