Shrug in Schachenmayr Universa - S6919 - Downloadable PDF

Shrug in Schachenmayr Universa – Free Knitting Pattern S6919

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Schachenmayr (pattern number 6919) provides instructions for a cosy, stylish shrug — a garment that wraps warmly around the shoulders and upper back, making it a versatile layering piece for cooler days. Sometimes referred to as a Schulterwärmer (shoulder warmer) in the original German instructions, this design is worked in the round and features a beautifully textured all-over stitch pattern that gives it visual interest and a comfortable, stretchy fit.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a shrug, knitted to approximately 110 cm in circumference. It is worked as a single tube-like piece in the round, making construction straightforward and seaming minimal. The design is finished with a damp-blocking method — the piece is pinned out and left to dry under damp cloths — which helps the textured stitch pattern settle beautifully and the garment hold its shape.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Universa in Indigo (shade 00151) — approximately 450 g required. Universa is a smooth DK weight yarn, well suited to stitch definition and comfortable everyday wear.
• Needles: A Milward circular needle, 80–100 cm in length, in size 3.5–4 mm (UK size 9–8), used for knitting in the round throughout.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on a long circular needle, allowing the shrug to be worked as a seamless tube
• Bobble construction — working multiple stitches (including yarn-overs) into a single stitch to create raised, decorative bobbles along the cast-on edge
• Short-row shaping — referenced within the instructions to shape and form the bobble edging, using techniques such as slipping stitches, passing slipped stitches over, and working decreases (k2tog and p3tog) on short sections before turning
• Wet blocking / damp finishing to set the texture and dimensions of the finished piece

Stitches Used

Bobble Edge (Noppenrand)

The cast-on edge features a decorative bobble border, worked on a stitch count divisible by 4. Each bobble is created by working 5 stitches into one stitch — specifically: one knit stitch, one yarn-over, one knit stitch, one yarn-over, and one knit stitch — followed by short-row turning sequences that include slip-stitch decreases (Überzug), k2tog, and p3tog to close and form each bobble neatly. This creates a charming, textured cast-on edge with a three-dimensional quality.

Rib Stitch (Bündchenmuster)

A classic 1×1 rib — alternating one knit stitch and one purl stitch — is used for the lower and upper border sections of the shrug, each approximately 5 cm deep. Rib stitch is a traditional knitting technique prized for its natural elasticity, making it ideal for cuffs, hems, and edgings that need to hug the body comfortably.

Main Pattern (Grundmuster)

The body of the shrug is worked in a textured main pattern charted in a stitch diagram included with the pattern. The repeat is based on an 18-stitch motif, worked over a 14-round sequence (rounds 3–14 are repeated throughout). Only the odd-numbered rounds are charted; even-numbered rounds are worked by knitting or purling stitches as they appear. After the first increase round, the stitch count rises from 324 to 342 stitches, accommodating the pattern repeat. The main pattern section spans approximately 40 cm in height (between the two rib sections).

Tension / Gauge

The stated