Penelope Lace Simple Shrug in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite Lace - Downloadable PDF

Penelope Lace Simple Shrug in West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite Lace – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Penelope Lace Simple Shrug is an elegant, lightweight knitted bolero designed by Sarah Hatton. A shrug is a minimal, open-fronted garment that covers the shoulders and upper arms while leaving the front of the body largely exposed — making it a versatile layering piece that pairs beautifully with dresses, tops, and eveningwear. This particular design is worked in a delicate lace fabric, giving it a refined, feminine aesthetic that is well suited to special occasions as well as everyday wear.

Who This Pattern Is For

Despite its intricate lace appearance, the Penelope Lace Simple Shrug is rated as a beginner level project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are new to lace knitting and want to build confidence with openwork techniques. The construction is kept straightforward so that the beauty of the lace stitch pattern does the work without requiring complex shaping or advanced techniques.

Sizing and Fit

The pattern is written to fit a range of bust measurements, covering five sizes:

• 32–34 in / 81–86 cm
• 36–38 in / 91–97 cm
• 40–42 in / 101–107 cm
• 44–46 in / 112–117 cm
• 48–50 in / 122–127 cm

This generous size range makes the pattern accessible to a wide variety of body types, and the open, draped nature of a shrug silhouette adds additional flexibility in fit.

Techniques and Construction

The Penelope Lace Simple Shrug is knitted flat and incorporates a combination of classic knitting techniques. Key methods used throughout the pattern include:

• Stocking stitch (st st) — the foundational fabric of the shrug, worked by alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth, even surface
• Garter stitch (g st) — created by knitting every row, often used for borders and edges to provide a neat, non-curling finish
• Lace patterning — openwork sections that create the decorative, airy quality central to the design
• Increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) — used to shape the garment to fit the body
• Make 1 (m1) — a neat increase worked by picking up the loop between the last and next stitch and knitting into the back of it
• Make 1 purlways (m1p) — the same technique worked in purl to maintain the fabric's texture on the reverse side
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) — a decrease technique commonly used within lace patterns to create directional shaping and decorative effects

Stitches Used

The stitch vocabulary in this pattern is approachable for beginner knitters while still producing a beautiful result. Stitches and stitch patterns referenced include:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) — the two fundamental knitting stitches
• Stocking stitch — alternating knit and purl rows
• Garter stitch — knit on every row
• Lace pattern (patt) — an openwork repeat that gives the shrug its signature delicate look

Tension and Blocking

Achieving the correct tension is essential with this pattern, particularly because the fabric changes significantly after blocking. The stated tension is 26 stitches and 37 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch before blocking, which opens up to 20.5 stitches and 29 rows to 10 cm after blocking, both measured on the larger needles. This dramatic shift is entirely normal for lace knitting — the act of blocking (wetting or steaming the fabric and pinning it to the correct dimensions) opens up the lace holes, evens out the stitches, and brings the garment to its true, intended size and drape.