STITCH ROUND Lace mesh crochet shrug with a shell edge
52 mesh rows plus two 12-round sleeves build this open-front lace crochet shrug.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Rounds
- 5 rounds
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 5.0 mm
- Time
- 6-8 hours
Intermediate
What the original page called it. Nothing here is graded a second time.
5 rounds
Each one gets its own line, with a box beside it to tick as you go.
Worsted
What the sample was made in. Any weight works — the size moves with it.
About this pattern
This shrug starts as one long mesh panel: fifty-two rows of dc and ch-1 build the back and both fronts before any shaping happens. Once that panel is folded and seamed at the sides, each sleeve is picked up at the armhole and worked in twelve mesh rounds, so two identical twelve-round segments finish the arms. Tick off the panel first, then the two sleeves, and the shrug is essentially done.
- Chain a long foundation and build the dc and ch-1 mesh row by row until the panel is wide and tall enough for both fronts and the back.
- Fold the finished mesh rectangle and seam the sides, leaving two openings where the arms will pass through.
- Work a new row of dc directly into each armhole opening to start the sleeve in the round.
- Continue the dc and ch-1 mesh pattern in rounds until each sleeve reaches its full length from the underarm.
- Repeat the sleeve steps a second time so both arms match before weaving in ends.
What goes wrong
- Skipping the wrong stitch in mesh Chain 1 and skip the ch-1 space, not the dc itself, or the mesh count will drift row over row.
- Uneven armhole dc placement Pin the armhole opening and mark it before working the joining round so the 48 dc land evenly around the circle instead of bunching on one side.
- Shells cupping along the border Drop to the 4.5mm hook for the shell border as soon as the shells start pulling tighter than the mesh body.
- Side seams twisting during assembly Match the starting edge of the foundation row on both panels and use stitch markers to pin them before seaming.
Yarn, hook and the rest
Copied from the source pattern's own materials list.
Yarn
- Approximately 800 to 1000 yards of light worsted weight yarn (Category 3)
- The butter yellow shown here has a slight sheen, suggesting a mercerized cotton or cotton-acrylic blend
Hook
- 5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook for the mesh body
- You may want to go down to a 4.5mm (7) hook for the shell border if your shells feel loose
Notions
- Tapestry needle for weaving ends
- Stitch markers (at least 4)
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Gauge
In mesh pattern
- 4 chain-1 spaces and 8 rows = 4 inches square
- To test your gauge, chain 22 and work the mesh pattern for about 12 rows. Measure the center section, avoiding the edges. If your swatch is too small, go up a hook size. If it is too large, go down a hook size.
- Finished Measurements
Bust
- Approximately 34 to 38 inches (designed for an open front with 2 to 4 inches of ease)
- Length from shoulder to hem: Approximately 14 inches
- Sleeve length from underarm: Approximately 18 inches including bell cuff
- Bell cuff circumference: Approximately 14 inches
Progress tracker
0 of the 5 rounds on this page are ticked.
The pattern, round by round
Kept in the order and the wording the source used. Tick a round as you finish it; the ticks stay on this device.
Foundation Row
Round 1
Dc in 4th ch from hook (the skipped chains count as your first dc), *ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next ch*. Repeat from * across. Turn. (60 dc, 59 ch-1 spaces)
Round 2
Ch 4 (counts as dc plus ch 1), sk first dc, dc in next dc, *ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, dc in next dc*. Repeat from * across, placing last dc in top of turning chain. Turn. (60 dc, 59 ch-1 spaces)Rows 3 through 52: Repeat Row 2. Your piece should measure approximately 26 inches wide and 14 inches tall at this point. This creates enough fabric for the back panel and both front panels when folded.Fasten off and weave in ends.
Joining Round
Round 1
Work 48 dc evenly around the armhole opening, spacing them to create a smooth circle. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (48 dc)*Tip: Aim for about 2 dc per row edge along the sides, and 1 dc per stitch along the top and bottom of the opening.*
Round 2
Ch 4 (counts as dc plus ch 1), sk next dc, dc in next dc, *ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc*. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of ch-4. (24 dc, 24 ch-1 spaces)
Round 3
through 12: Ch 4, dc in next dc, *ch 1, dc in next dc*. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st. (24 dc, 24 ch-1 spaces)
Your sleeve should measure approximately 6 inches from the armhole at this point.
Hook
5.0mm (H/8) crochet hook for the mesh body You may want to go down to a 4.5mm (7) hook for the shell border if your shells feel loose
Notions
Tapestry needle for weaving ends Stitch markers (at least 4)
Measuring tape Scissors
Side seams
Do not seam the shoulder/top area. This remains open, creating the front opening of your shrug.
The shells are cupping
The front edges are wavy:
This usually corrects itself with blocking. If it persists, you may need fewer stitches in your edging round.
Finish
- Weave in every end left from the foundation row and from fastening off the mesh panel before any seaming begins.
- Close the side seams first so the armhole openings sit evenly, then join yarn to begin the sleeve rounds.
- Block the finished shrug to open the ch-1 mesh fully and to settle the shells along the border edges.
Bigger or smaller
- Larger
- Work additional mesh rows past row 52 before folding, which widens the body panel, and add extra sleeve rounds past round 12 for longer arms.
- Smaller
- Stop the mesh panel before row 52 for a narrower body, or work fewer than 12 sleeve rounds and go down a hook size to tighten the overall mesh.
Photographs of this one
Every photograph on this page was taken by whoever published the pattern, and they are printed in the order the source listed them.
FAQs
Asked and answered
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.
What yarn works best for this shrug?
A cotton or cotton blend gives the best drape and stitch definition for the mesh. The piece takes roughly 800 to 1000 yards of light worsted weight, category 3 yarn.
Why does the pattern call for two hook sizes?
The 5.0mm hook keeps the mesh body open and drapey, while dropping to the 4.5mm hook tightens the shell border if the shells start to feel loose.
How can gauge be checked before starting the full panel?
Chain 22 and work the mesh pattern for about 12 rows, then measure the center section away from the edges. Compare that measurement to 4 chain-1 spaces and 8 rows equaling 4 inches, and adjust hook size if it is off.
How long will the sleeves end up?
Each sleeve measures about 18 inches from the underarm, bell cuff included, with a bell cuff circumference of about 14 inches. That length comes from the 12 mesh rounds worked after the joining round.