Block City Shrug

Block City Shrug by Afifa Knits Designs

What is Being Made

The Block City Shrug is a transitional knitted bolero-style garment designed for fall layering. This shrug features a sophisticated construction with multiple stitch pattern sections that work together to create visual interest and dimension. The garment is sized to fit multiple body measurements, with widths from tip to tip of the armhole ranging from 62 to 66 inches and back lengths from 28 to 33 inches, making it an adaptable piece suitable for various body types.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly shrug employs several fundamental knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance. The construction includes a built-in i-cord edging, which provides a professional, finished edge throughout the garment. The pattern incorporates drop stitch borders that create an airy, open texture contrasting with denser sections. Slip stitches are used strategically, particularly the slip three stitches with yarn in front (sl3wyif) technique, which creates a neat selvage edge and contributes to the garment's polished finish. The pattern uses marker placement to help knitters track different sections and maintain pattern accuracy across the width of the piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Block City Shrug combines multiple stitch patterns to achieve its textured appearance. Stockinette stitch forms the primary panel of the garment, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface that showcases yarn color and texture beautifully. Garter stitch is worked as a border section, producing a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. The drop stitch border creates openwork sections with an intentionally airy quality. These varying stitch patterns serve a dual purpose: they showcase variegated yarns by creating visual separation between color blocks, while also adding textural interest to solid-colored yarns.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Block City Shrug is worked in fingering weight yarn, requiring approximately 550 to 700 yards depending on the size selected. The sample shown was knitted using YarnLoveYarn Marie Antoinette in the Tranquil Waters80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. This fiber composition provides softness, durability, and a subtle sheen. The pattern calls for US size 5 (3.75 mm) needles for the main fabric. The gauge is 22 stitches by 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch after blocking, which is typical for fingering weight yarn. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and a US size 5 crochet hook, though the primary construction is knitted rather than crocheted.

Difficulty Level

This shrug is rated as a beginner level project, making it accessible to knitters new to garment construction. While it incorporates multiple techniques, each is fundamental and well-suited to developing knitting skills. The straightforward cast-on of 140 to 160 stitches and the repetitive nature of the garter border and stockinette sections make this an ideal first shrug project.