Hey Friends!
This one has been in the “I’ll get to it eventually” category for quite some time now! 🙂 I figured I better get it done, posted, and off my plate so I can get to some Fall decorating and refinishing all the hutches I’ve collected as of late.
I love half sleeve tops of any sort because I have ape arms and full sleeves always seem to run short on me. I didn’t have any half sleeve shrugs before this, so I was really excited to get it done so I can finally have one to wear!
This is, as always, a free pattern. It is a size large in misses. I’ve included some ideas on how to make the shrug smaller or larger at the end of the pattern. I’ve also added the step-by-step pictures to try to convey some of the more abstract concepts of the pattern. Please note if the direction I’m working in the pictures seems jacked up, it’s because I crochet left-handed. Don’t pay so much attention to the direction as to the concept of what the picture shows.
PLEASE NOTE these measurements will vary depending on your gauge and if you use a different yarn.
Half Sleeve No Seam Shrug Free Crochet Pattern
Supplies:
Crochet Hook size N/15 10mm
Marker
Scissors
Yarn Needle
3 Skeins Vanna’s Choice Yarn in Dusty Purple where to buy
Red Heart Soft Yarn will also work nicely for this pattern where to buy
Both yarns suggested above are worsted weight.
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Please note: The notation in parentheses at the end of each line of directions is simply a count of how many stitches you should have at the end of working that particular line of directions to help you keep track of your stitch count.
Gauge: 8 double crochet = 4 inches and 6 rows of double crochet = 4 inches. Use whatever size crochet hook needed to achieve this gauge. For best results, please check your gauge before beginning this pattern.
Directions:
Sleeve 1:
Chain 24 stitches; join ends with slip stitch forming a loop (24 stitches total).
Round 1-5: ch 1, single crochet around round, join with slip stitch (24 stitches total).
Rounds 6-25: ch 3, double crochet around round to last stitch, increase 1 double crochet (44 stitches at the end of row 25).
Back:
Rows 1-15: chain 3, turn, double crochet 21 stitches (22 stitches total). When you start the back, you will begin working off the sleeve you just finished in rows and turning your work instead of working in rounds and not turning your work. Make sure you start the first row on the bottom of the back (armpit) and end the last row at the top of the back.
Sleeve 2:
Chain 22 off the top of the back. Join chain to the bottom of the back with a slip stitch to form the round for the sleeve. Turn and work across chain for round 1.
Rounds 1-20: ch 3, double crochet around round to last stitch, decrease 1 double crochet (44 stitches total at start of row 1; 24 stitches total at the end of row 20).
Rounds 21-26: ch 1, single crochet around round (24 stitches total at the end of row 26).
Cut yarn, tie off and weave in ends.
Finish Sleeve 1:
Tie on to cuff, single crochet once around.
Cut yarn, tie off, and weave in ends.
Front:
Join yarn on bottom of back; single crochet 8 rows around. You will work from the bottom of the back up one sleeve, across the top of the back (neck), down the other sleeve, and back across to where you started.
Cut yarn, tie off and weave in ends.
Ideas to make this shrug smaller (S-M):
Follow the pattern as written, but use a smaller hook. The weave will be a little tighter if you do it this way.
OR
Use the same hook size but start the pattern with 2-4 stitches less, then follow the pattern as it’s written as far as increasing/decreasing, but it will be 2-4 stitches less than shown all around (stitch counts at the end should be 2-4 stitches less than shown). Also, remove the last 2-4 rows on the first sleeve and the first 2-4 rows on the second sleeve, and 2 rows across the back.
Ideas to make this shrug larger (XL-XXL):
Follow the pattern as written, but use a larger hook. The weave will be a little looser if you do it this way.
OR
Add 2-4 rows to the back, 2-4 more rounds to the front, and 2-4 more stitches to the sleeve rounds.
Here’s the step-by-step breakdown. The pictures show the pattern being worked from left to right because I am left handed. This pattern is symmetrical, so it can be worked either left to right or right to left and achieve the same results.
Work the first sleeve in the round as shown above.
Work the back by working back and forth off the back half of the first sleeve.
When you’re done working the back, chain 22 stitches off the top of the back, and join the chain with a slip stitch too the bottom of the back. This forms the round to start the second sleeve.
Work the second sleeve out from the round formed by the last instructions.
Once the second sleeve is finished, work the front as shown above. Tie on the yarn at the bottom of the back and work a single crochet across 1/2 the back, up one sleeve, across the top, down the other sleeve, and across the other 1/2 the back for 8 rounds.
That’s all there is to it! 🙂 Please let me know what you think or if you have any questions in the comments section below!
Don’t forget to check out my other free crochet patterns!
it is lovely idea for autumn … I will have to try it 🙂
thank you for sharing
lalkacrochetka.blogspot.com
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi, I could not find where to comment. I love your shawl pattern & was wondering if I can use a different stitch like the waffle stitch to make 1?
This turned out really great!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you Jess! 🙂
This looks great, how big a deal woukd it be to change it to size 3X?
Hi Kathleen! I don’t think it would be a big deal at all… I would try doubling the amount of increase stitches for the XL-XXL sizing and go from there. If you can size it to the person you’re making it for as you work, that would be ideal. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
You had me at left handed. great pattern thank you for sharing it.
I will try but will need some guidance
I know the basic stitches try to do.
Hi Rupa! I will be happy to guide you if you need it. If you get stuck, just tell me where and I will do my best to help you.
Such great ideas I cannot wait to try myself!
Thank you Lynne! 🙂
Cute shrug – love the no seaming. I bet this works up quick on the size N hook – thanks for sharing the pattern – pinned.
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for the free pattern and the helpful diagrams. I would love to give a try. Currenly working on Christmas gifts. This might work into my plans.
You’re welcome Eileen, and thank you! 🙂
I’m always so amazed by you! This looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. I appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on Monday at 7. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Awe you’re too kind 🙂 Thanks again for hosting an awesome link party!
Great project! Thanks for sharing at My Flagstaff Home!
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer! 🙂 And thank you for hosting the link party!
Great Job! It’s so pretty! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again this week!! I pinned this to My 2 Favorite Things Pinterest Board!
Thank you Elaine! 🙂 And thank you for hosting the link party!
michelle – clever lady
Any chance of this clever design in a knitted pattern
Regards
Annalina
Hi Annalina! I’ve actually been thinking of doing just that! 🙂 I’m pretty busy through the holidays so it probably wouldn’t happen until next spring… but this would make a nice spring shrug! 🙂
I am also a leftie. It’s so nice to have directions from another. Don’t have to figure out which way I am suppose to be going. Have to be a lattice to really appreciate this
Don’t you love spell checker. Lattice should read leftie
LOL yup! 🙂 As a blogger, I have a real love-hate relationship with it!
Thank you Shirley! Always nice to know I’m appreciated 🙂
Saw this today on FB and was interested in making it. Found some yarn and got started. It worked up quickly and easily. Love it! Thank you!
You’re welcome Peggy! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed my pattern- it’s always very nice to hear! 🙂
What a cute pattern! I’m going to start on it tomorrow. Cannot wait to get started! Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome Vicki! 🙂
Conroe 6 – 25 do you change 3 for each round for each ground and then increase?
Hi Shirley! Yes, you chain 3 for each round and that counts as your first stitch, and then you increase one for every round as well.
I really like this pattern, I will be finished today, can’t wait to wear it. Just beautiful
Thank you LaJuana! 🙂
Your work is simply beautiful. I’m an experienced crocheter.. I’m going to attempt to make this. Your thorough instructions and pics will help me, I’m sure.
Super thanks for sharing
I made this in a coral chunky baby yarn. I wore it on my Hawaii cruise and received several compliments from women I didn’t know. I made the sleeves longer and it was perfect for the air conditioned ship. Thankyou so much for sharing this pattern. I am about to make my second one with homespun yarn.
Thanks so much for sharing this Sandra! 🙂 Hearing from one of my readers about how they made and enjoyed one of my patterns always makes my day!
I bought a shrug from a catalog… Same as this ….will. Start some for Christmas gifts now …. Thanks very much.
You’re very welcome Nonnie! 🙂
Michelle, thank you so much for posting the pics along with the printed directions. I am so bad at following patterns but got the concept from the visual (pictures) so now it’s super easy for me to work this beautiful shrug. I just happen to have some leftover skeins of Heartland Glacier Bay yarn that I bought last winter which I think will be perfect for this shrug. Thank you so much. You do beautiful work!!!!!
Thanks so much Nena! 🙂 I am so happy the pictures helped you with the pattern. The way the second sleeve comes together can be a hard concept to grasp, but like you said, once you get it it’s a breeze! 🙂 Thanks again!
For some reason it wouldn’t let me save to Pinterest or copy & print for the directions.
Hi Ruby!
I tested it this morning and had no problems. Sometimes glitches happen with my web host that are beyond my control. Please try again today- if it still doesn’t work, try it in a different web browser. Thanks! 🙂
For some reason it won’t let me save to Pinterest or print & copy for directions.
Hi Ruby!
I tested it this morning and had no problems. Sometimes glitches happen with my web host that are beyond my control. Please try again today- if it still doesn’t work, try it in a different web browser. Thanks! 🙂
This looks really cute! Any suggestions of how to size it down for a little girl? I suppose I could just start and try to fit it to her as I go…
Thank you Sara! 🙂 I would start with the “how to make this shrug smaller” directions I incldued below the pattern as a guide, and then fit it to her as you go like you said. This shrug is very forgiving, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get a good fit.
How would you suggest to make it longer. More like a cocoon shrug?
Hi Amanda,
I’ve never tried this myself, so I don’t know if this will actually work or not.
After you finish the second sleeve, tie onto the bottom of the backside of the shrug and work back and forth downwards until you reach the back length you want. Then work the 5 dc rounds in the front of the shrug as directed, but include the back part you just finished in the rounds.
If you try this, let me know how it works out! 🙂
Michelle
I love this! I wonder if you could tell me the measurement for the sleeve? I ask because I have the right amount of stitches done for the first sleeve–but I’m only on row 14, so something is wonky. It looks right, but it worries me that I have all these stitches when I’ve only done a little over half the rows.
I made two and they are so awesome! Made the first one according to instructions. The second I did open and stitched it after because I’m teaching my girls how to crochet and wanted ththem to see the options. They are both soft and beautiful. Used two strands on both with a yarn I would never use alone because it is hard to work with, but with regular yarn it was perfect…. Both girls wanna make one now 🙂
Thanks for sharing Roslyn! It’s always great to hear from people who are using and enjoying my patterns! And I love that you are teaching your girls how to crochet 🙂
I love the look of this and can’t wait to make it! But, I hate chunky yarn patterns and would prefer to use a medium (4) weight yarn, #1 reason being cost. Have you tried in a worsted weight yarn? Would be very interested in how to make one using a worsted weight yarn. Thanks for the freebie, love your stuff.
Hi Shannon!
The yarns used and suggested in this pattern are worsted weight. I just took for granted that people would know that the yarn were worsted weight, which I shouldn’t have done! I updated the pattern so in the future people will know that these yarns are worsted weight.
You’re very welcome for the free patterns! Thanks for checking them out! 🙂
I am not a very experienced crocheter but would like to try this pattern as it loks nice and not too difficult. However, I’m a bit confused as to whether worsted weight yarn in America is what we in England call double knitting yarn or is it the equivalent of what we call Aran yarn?
Hi Hazel!
This is what I got when I Googled your question: “Sometimes you’ll even see patterns use Aran and worsted interchangeably, noting that you can use a worsted/Aran weight yarn. One reason for this is that in the UK, Aran is much more common while worsted is not widely used to refer to the medium-weight category. But the two are not exactly interchangeable, especially in the U.S. Aran actually weighs slightly more than worsted yarn. Some knitters and crocheters even refer to Aran-weight yarn as “heavy worsted.” The Aran yarn weight can be made from any fiber, from wool to acrylic.” Source: https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/04/what-is-aran-weight-yarn/
I hope that helps! 🙂
Thank you Michelle. Sounds like I might be better using what we know as double knitting yarn (8 ply) and adjust the hook size if necessary as Aran wool might possibly be too heavy. I’ll give it a go anyway.
Michelle, I am working on half sleeve shrug. I am stuck on beginning sleeve 2. I don’t understand what to do when it says turn and work across chain for round 1. I love the pattern. Need help. Thanks
Hi Bernice, I’m sorry you’re having trouble with the pattern. Assuming you created the chain and attached it to form the beginning of sleeve 2, you just start crocheting back down the chain (like you were starting the first row on an afgan after creating the starting chain). I hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks
Hi Michelle. Our readers will love this. I have included your wonderful tips in our Crafty Like Granny weekly Craft roundup 🙂 https://craftylikegranny.com/happiest-when-crafting/ Cheers Emily
Thanks for sharing this with your readers Emily! 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Just love this shrug. I have been making several of these shrugs. At first I found did find it a little difficult when I got to the 2nd – sleeve section, but kept working on it until I got it. Have to definitely count the stitches and keep track of the seamless seam so its straight. Thanks so much for sharing this fun pattern!
You’re very welcome Diane – I’m happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Hi I’m not very experienced and having problems with the seam on the second sleeve. It’s not straight. I have tried different ways to decrease but no luck 😭 xx
Hi Julie, I’m sorry you’re having troubles with the pattern. I will try to help you. What do you mean by “it’s not straight” – do you mean it doesn’t look like the first sleeve?
Hello, I love this seamless shurg. I have a question, are you using a different form of double crochet? I like the way it looks. My double crochet looks different. I hope this is not a silly question.Thank you.
Hi Eve! It’s not a silly question at all – I do the “standard” double crochet stitch, so I’m guessing the reason it looks different is because I’m left handed. I’m happy you like the shrug! 🙂
I love the look of your shrug, but I am having trouble with the eight rows of single crochet. Are you left handed because the picture doesn’t make sense to me and my 8 rows don’t look like yours. Would be helpful to have detailed pictures or a video. Also when doing the second sleeve it works better to decrease at the beginning of the row.
Hi Sandra! Yes I am left-handed – I make note of that in all of my crochet posts because my crochet in the pictures will look jacked up to a right-hander. It’s the same reason that I don’t make videos – I’m afraid that it will confuse people more than it will help them. If it works better for you to decrease at the beginning of the row than at the end, awesome – it really doesn’t matter whether you decrease at the beginning or end as you will get the same result. Hope that helps! 🙂
Lovely pattern, would make a great bed jacket too. I may make it for that purpose
Heya! I was curious if you can tell me how many stitches you got when you did the edging? Or maybe just give a good estimate for the top and bottom of the shrug. I don’t want to end up with a odd number and it end up looking weird.
Hi Steph,
It’s been so long since I made this that I don’t remember how many stitches it took. But I do remember that when I posted this pattern, I purposely omitted how many stitches it took because I didn’t want anyone to get too focused on getting the “correct” number of stitches – as long as it looks good, that’s all that matters. You can probably get a rough estimate of how many stitches by looking at the picture where I’m finishing it. I hope that helps even though I couldn’t give you the exact stitch count.
Changed the ch 3 to ch 2 and made edges much nicer. Loved pattern very easy to follow thank you. Mary
Hi Michelle, just wondering if this pattern also uses two strands of yarn held together. I was looking at your Blue Willow shrug but wanted wider sleeves. Thx
Hi Robin! I’m not sure if you’re asking me if this pattern DOES use two strands held together or if it CAN use two two strands held together. The pattern as it is written now does not use two strands held together. However, if you want to make the sleeves wider, you can use a larger hook and use two strands held together so the weave doesn’t get loose. You can also add more stitches to the sleeves to make them larger. I hope this helps!
Thank you for the pattern and the helpful step by step pictures. I’m getting ready to finish this as a gift for a coworker.
You’re very welcome Evelyn! I’m happy you enjoyed the pattern!
Hi, I am getting ready to begin this cute pattern, but have a question. I may be jumping the gun since I haven’t actually started, but when you make the chain to begin the 2nd sleeve, do you attach it to the back as you start the first row?
thanks!
Hi Patti! When you make the chain for the second sleeve, you attach it to the bottom of the back (see photo in post) and then start the first row. I hope that helps!