Shrug knitted with mohair

Wedding Bolero Kid Mohair Silk Shrug

What is Being Made

This is a knitted bolero shrug designed by Beemohr, crafted from kid mohair and silk blend yarn. The bolero is a short, fitted garment that covers the shoulders and upper back, making it an elegant layering piece perfect for weddings and formal occasions. The design is offered in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, with proportional adjustments throughout the pattern to ensure proper fit across different body measurements.

Techniques Used

The shrug construction employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques. Raglan shaping is used to create fitted sleeves that taper toward the neckline, achieved through strategic decreases worked at regular intervals. The pattern incorporates increases and decreases to build sleeve cap shaping, with increases worked in the lower sleeve section to add width and volume, followed by decreases in the upper sleeve to create the characteristic raglan silhouette. Stitch markers are used to denote important shaping points and construction landmarks. The garment also features selvedge stitches at the edges to create clean, finished edges suitable for a refined wedding garment. Bind-off techniques are used to finish the neckline opening and complete the sleeves with a neat edge.

Stitches Used

Stocking stitch (also called stockinette stitch) forms the primary fabric throughout the bolero. This classic knit stitch creates a smooth, uniform texture on the right side with a column-like appearance, making it ideal for formal wear. The pattern also employs knit stitches for selvedge edges and knit two together decreases to shape the raglan armholes. Slip stitch, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (slip-slip-knit or SSK decrease) is used in the sleeve cap finishing, creating a left-leaning decrease that pairs aesthetically with right-leaning decreases for balanced shaping.

Materials and Specifications

This shrug is designed to be worked with DK weight yarn in a kid mohair and silk blend, which provides a luxurious, soft drape and subtle sheen appropriate for wedding wear. The yarn weight classification ensures the finished fabric will have the correct density and drape for a fitted bolero silhouette. Knitters will need appropriately sized needles for DK weight yarn and contrasting yarn or stitch markers for construction purposes. The downloadable PDF format provides detailed row-by-row instructions with specific stitch counts for each of the three sizes, allowing knitters to customize the fit to their measurements.

Pattern Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as an intermediate-level project, this bolero is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping techniques. The pattern requires understanding of increases, decreases, raglan shaping, and stitch marker placement. The repetitive nature of the stocking stitch background makes the pattern accessible despite the intermediate rating, while the shaping elements provide a satisfying challenge for developing knitters.