When it gets really hot outside it is really hard to crochet with wool yarns but during July and August I was feeling so productive with all my new yarns around that I kept on crocheting. This shrug is really a simple project for intermediate crocheters and for adventurous beginners! To make crochetinh easier as my hand are very often tired I used my new Clover Amour crochet hook which feature a comfortable easy grip! Find the full step-by-step video tutorial for the Aspen Shrug here and the ad-free large print, printable PDF pattern on my Etsy shop here Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here Pin this pattern to your Pinterest Boards for later here CROCHET PATTERN Materials needed -US size N/15 (10.00 mm) crochet hook -Chunky yarn (color light grey )700 yds I used: STYLECRAFTSPECIAL CHUNKY 100% premium acrylic Shade:1203 Silver 144m=157yds I also used half of a skein in shade 1063 Graphite for the last row of border , you can use any of your scrap yarns in a dark grey shade and if it is not a chunky yarn then hold it double to achieve the chunky effect. Gauge 5 V sts= 6.3 inches (16 cm) width 5 rows of pattern=3.5 inches (9 cm) long Measurements of finished rectangle Adult Small: width 36.2” (92cm) x 32.2” (82cm) length Abbreviations in US terms: YO=yarn over Sts=stitches Ch=chain Sl st=slip stitch Dc=double crochet Rep=repeat Sk = skip Prev =previous Fpdc=front post double crochet Bpdc=back post double crochet Special sts V stitch=dc, ch1, dc all in indicated stitch. Fpdc=To begin the first front post double crochet, yarn over once as for traditional dc. Instead of inserting your hook into the top loops of the stitch to be worked, you will insert your hook from the front of the work (on the right side) to the back (the wrong side) beside the next stitch to be worked and to front again on the other side. Yarn over and draw a loop up from under the post of the stitch that you had on the hook. You will now have 3 loops on the hook, yarn over once more and draw through 2 loops on the hook,yo and draw through remaining 2 loops, completing one front post double crochet. Bpdc=to work a back post double crochet in next st , yo, insert your hook from the back of the work (the wrong side) to the front of the work (the right side) beside the next stitch to be worked and on the back side again, yarn over and draw up a loop from under the post of the stitch you had on the hook. . You will now have 3 loops on the hook, yarn over once more and draw through 2 loops on the hook,yo and draw through remaining 2 loops, completing one back post double crochet. Alternate fpdc and bpdc for ribbing pattern CROCHET PROJECT *This pattern is one big rectangle worked from bottom up. * When rectangle is finished, we fold it in half lengthwise. *We sew the sides, up to a point so we leave an opening to form the armholes. *Ribbed cuffs around the armholes and ribbed collar are worked directly into the main shrug instead of creating a ribbed piece and sewing it on. CROCHET PATTERN The foundation chain for this pattern should be a multiple of 3 plus 1 chains. With your crochet hook make a slip knot and chain the number of chains needed to obtain the size of shrug you would like to make. Size:small /medium ( in my Etsy PDF you will find sizes from child 6-8 years, to 4XL) Chain 88 Row 1:dc in 4rth ch from hook,* sk 2 chains, work a V st ( dc, ch1, dc) in next (third chain)*, rep from * to * to last 3 chains, sk 2 chains , 2dc in last chain, 86 dcs, turn Row 2:ch3, dc in very first st, * sk 2 sts, work V st in next ch1 space*, rep from * to * to last ch1 sp, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in 3rd ch of initial ch3, 27 V sts, turn Rep row 2 for 38 rows more Fasten off yarn, weave in all ends. PATTERN TUTORIAL PHOTOS *dc in indicated 4rth ch from hook *sk 2 sts, Vst in next indicated st *sk 2 sts, work V st in next *at the end of first row, 3 ch are left,sk 2 sts, 2dc in last ch *row 1 worked *row 2:ch3, dc in indicated first st *work V st in ch1 sp *end of row 2, after last V st, work 2dc in top of ch 3 *row 2 worked SEWING Place piece flat. Fold the corners of the body piece into the center. Use whip stitches (or preferred sewing method) to join the side edges together. Sew up until armhole point so that you leave unsewn an opening 7" (18cm) for armholes. Tie off and weave in ends. SEWING TUTORIAL PHOTOS *sew up from bottom till armhole *Leave this space unsewn for armhole opening Note:In above photos, I have already worked the ribbing, I just show you the space between arrows that you will leave unsewn. You will first sew up the sides and then you are going to work the ribbing border. Now we are going to add a ribbing border to the opening of the shrug and to both armholes openings. COLLAR RIBBING Join yarn (same yarn as in body) with a sl st at the seam point of an armhole, right side facing you. We work the collar ribbing joining every round with a sl st. We do not turn, just continue crocheting in the round. We are going to work first a regular dc round all along the perimeter of the opening of the shrug. Round 1(main color):ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to the end of the round,join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3,do not turn Note: work the same number of sts as in Vsts row. To do this, I worked 2 dc for the edge 2 dc of prev row and then in main pattern:I worked 1 dc in ch1 space of V sts and 2 dcs in spaces between V sts. This way I kept same number of sts as in body of shrug. See row 4 in my diagram at page 8 Round 2(main color):ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3, do not turn Note: to achieve ribbing pattern in every new round simply fpdc into each fpdc (the stitches that are sticking out) and bpdc into each bpdc(the receding sts) Round 3(main color):ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3 Fasten off weave in ends. Change color to work round 4, join the dark grey for the last ribbing round Round 4( dark grey):ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3, turn Fasten off weave in ends. SLEEVES RIBBING Attach yarn with a slip stitch in the seaming place of one armhole, right side facing you (repeat the same for the second armhole) We work the sleeves joining every round with a sl st. We do not turn, just continue crocheting in the round. We are going to work first a regular dc round all along the perimeter of the armhole. We are going to work down the side of our work so work dcs in each side edge space. Work approximately 28 dc in total all around the armhole perimeter. Round 1(main color):ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3,do not turn Round 2(main color): ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3, do not turn Note: again , as in collar , simply fpdc into each fpdc (the stitches that are sticking out) and bpdc into each bpdc(the receding sts) Round 3(main color): ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3 Round 4( dark grey): ch3,* fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st * rep from * to * to the end of the round, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch3, turn Fasten off weave in ends. End of tutorial. I really hope you will enjoy crocheting this shug !! BE HAPPY!!