This pattern gives you two options: a plain back which you either graft or cast-off together; or a corset-back version where there are eyelets for you to thread ribbons.

The shrug is knitted in Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK – apparently a ‘baby’ wear yarn but really it is very luxurious so why should babies have all the fun? I also started each cuff with Kidsilk Haze, beaded.

Each sleeve is knitted and then they are joined at the back. This is to ensure that the cast-on decorative edging matches, which it won’t if you knit one and then reverse the shaping and stitches for the second sleeve.

The pattern is knitted in round for the arms and then flat across the backs.

I would rate this is as a moderately easy pattern. I knit in the round with DPNs but you can of course use magic loop or two shorter circs.

Being DK, it’s a fairly quick knit and feels really lovely on, one of its great joys is that it can double as a scarf which you can then wear as a shrug on arrival at the party!

This is the tension: 22sts and 33 rows to 10cm square, on 4mm needles and using yarn B single

You will need:

1 ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze – yarn A

4 (5, 6) balls of Rowan Merino Silk Baby DK – yarn B – (S, M, L)

88 beads, size 6

A set of 4mm DPNs (or whatever needles you prefer to use to knit in the round)

1 X 4mm cable needle with a cable not shorter than 60 cm (this is for the back which is knitted flat but you need the flexibility of a long cable needle to make the transition from knitting in the round)

1 stitch marker

Approx. 1 – 1.25m of ribbon approx. 1.5cm wide – if you want to make the corset back version.