A versatile and lovely accessory that can be worn as a loop, doubled to keep your neck warm, or draped over your shoulders and upper arms like a soft hug. Great gift item! (Note: Also see my Infinitely Grateful pattern, which is similar, but it was designed with sport weight yarn, and includes specific instructions for adding optional beads. Infinitely Grateful also includes lace sections in addition to mesh and is therefore slightly larger in height and circumference than Warm Shoulders Loop.)

This pattern is written for use with DK weight yarn on size 8 needles so the softness and drape are correct. If heavier or lighter weight yarn is used, the needle size should also be larger or smaller, respectively. And, of course, that will change the overall size. For example, if only 29” circular needles are available, just CO 20 additional stitches so the ends can be joined. It will be 4 - 5 inches longer, and will use more yarn.

Due to the merino and silk content of the original project in the top two photos, this loop was able to “grow” approximately two inches in both directions after wet blocking. If using an acrylic yarn, consider beginning with more stitches in increments of two stitches plus the initial knit stitch on each round. (NOTE: The initial knit stitch in the pattern was included to avoid beginning or ending a round with a yarnover so that less experienced knitters can be comfortable; however, it can be omitted, if desired, and then an even number of stitches would be cast on.) This pattern can easily be knit longer and/or wider, both of which will impact the amount of yarn required.

Approximately 1 1/3 hanks of Malabrigo Silky Merino yarn was used for the original Warm Shoulders Loop (top two photos). With one hank of Silky Merino (150 yds), the yarn will be gone in the first few rounds of Mesh Section #4. To adjust the pattern to use one hank, work only three mesh sections by changing Mesh Section #3 to k2tog vs. ssk, add Rnd 6 to following garter stitch section, then BO. This will shorten the height by approximately 2 1/2”. Other brands of dk wt. yarn have more yardage to accomplish the pattern as written with one skein.

The pattern includes instructions for a matching CO and BO. The crochet hook is only used for the CO -- no crocheting required!

10/9/18 - Italian Version
Ravelry member LaMicky provided an Italian translated version of my pattern, so I sent out the update today. Thank you so much, LaMicky!

This pattern is also included in the 2020 Knitting Calendar (knitting pattern a day) by Andrews McMeel Publishing on May 11 - 14, 2020.