The Fall Leaves Crochet Shrug is truly a reflection of the vibrance of the Fall season. I don’t know if you follow trends; I do not, but there’s no denying there is something about the Fall season.
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Maybe it is the colouring of leaves to gorgeous shades, or Halloween and Thanksgiving season for people in the U.S of A? Whatever it is, I love Fall, I love seeing (in photos) all the beauty that’s birthed. From where I live though, I never quite know the difference by just looking at trees; it still is sunny, but there is a shift in the air and it gets less hot.
The Fall Leaves Crochet Shrug is a simple beauty. Easily worn over a dress, camisole, or body hugging top. I think the yarn does the most work in this pattern, it is a vibrant beauty.
P.S- notice the green ascent at the collar? I was just experimenting with another colour to see what it would look like. What do you think? I quite like it!
It took a bit of cropping a leaf photo, sketching it out on paper and marking it on graph paper to get the leaf shape just right. I had wondered how to embed the leaf into the design. Since I had just two balls of the yarn I couldn’t afford to use any intricate stitches like post stitches to get the leaf shape, factor in the colour of the yarn as well and the only option was to make the design as simple as can be. That’s why I decided on the Filet Crochet technique as the right one to use.
This is an Intermediate skill level pattern; you must be familiar with the Filet Crochet technique. Note however that in this pattern, one box stands as DC, CH 1, DC.
The Yarn
The first time I set eyes on and touched Hayfiled Spirit DK (Zest), I gasped. It looked exquisite. So vibrant, bursting with colour. However, I was at a total loss on what to make with it for many months after. Eventually, it had to be something simple that let the colours shine through- thus the Fall Leaves Crochet Shrug.
The yarn is a light worsted, medium 3 with an acrylic (80%) and wool (20%) blend, soft to touch (as I’ve come to know most Sirdar yarns are). It comes in 100g balls with a considerable length of 345m/377yds. Two balls of this yarn will suffice for sizes XS to L of this pattern.
It comes in many other colours blends. You can see them all on LoveCrafts.com.
Approx. finished sizes (width x height):
Note: All finished sizes are AFTER BLOCKING. You may not arrive at exact same size. These estimated lengths are measured by additional rows of stitches.
XS/S- 29 x 21, M/L- 31.5 x 23, 1XL/2XL- 34 x 25, 3XL/4XL- 36.5 x 27
For better understanding, I have split the pattern into 5 parts:
Gauge: 1 set of leaves (rows 1-18)= 7 inches
- Part 1- Filet Crochet body
- Part 2- top spaced DCs
- Part 3- bottom spaced DCs
- Part 4- joining
- Part 5- collar
You’ll need:
- DK weight, medium 3 yarn. This pattern uses Hayfield Spirit DK by Sirdar. 100gr/ 345mtrs.377yds. Colour- Zest. 2 balls for sizes XS-L, 3 balls for sizes 1XL-4XL
- 4.5mm hook
- Tapestry Needle
Stitches/Abbreviation
- DC- double crochet
- CH- chain
- ST- stitch
Notes:
- Chain 1 does not count as a stitch
- The Filet Crochet body is completed before the spaced DC parts at the top and bottom.
- The Filet Crochet body remains constant through each size. You only add extra stitches for width.
- One square or box stands as DC, chain 1, DC.
- There are 4 sizes, the pattern is written as this XS/S (M/L, 1XL/2XL, 3XL/4XL )
Tips on customizing
Say you want to have less of the top and bottom rows, you can make a third set of the leaf by repeating rows 2-18. Then using the sizing, add the top and bottom rows (if needed), then make the collar.
Note that if you will be customizing this way you will need an extra ball of yarn.
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Fall Leaves Crochet Shrug- Free Pattern
Part 1- Body
Row 1: FDC 144, (156, 168, 180). turn
Row 2: Ch 1, DC in 12 (18, 24, 30) sts, Start with chart HERE
Rows 3- 37: follow chart
Row 38 (38, 38,38): DC across. Do not snip yarn
Part 2– Top spaced DC
Row 39 (39,39,39): Ch 4, skp 2 sts, DC in 3rd st. *(Ch 1, skp 1 st, DC in next), repeat from *till last 3 sts, Ch 2, skp 2 sts, DC in last st. turn
Row 40 (40,40,40): Ch 4, DC in space, *(Ch 1, skp DC, DC in space) repeat from *till last Ch 4 space, Ch 1, DC in space, DC in top of Ch 3. Turn
Row 41: (41,41,41): Ch 4, DC in space, *(Ch 1, skp DC, DC in nxt space) repeat from * till last DC and ch 4. Ch 1, skp DC, DC in space, DC in top of Ch 3. Turn
Rows 42-48 (42-52, 42-56,42-60): repeat rows 40 & 41
Part 3– Bottom spaced DC
Row 1: join yarn in first st, repeat rows 39-(48, 52, 56, 60) for each size.
Part 4– Joining & Armhole
Depending on the yarn you use, your piece might appear bent out of shape at this point (mine was). So I strongly recommend blocking before proceeding to the next step.
Once fabric is blocked, fold as in picture above, leave 6.5 inches (sizes XS-S), 7 inches (size M/L), 7.5 inches (sizes 1XL-2XL) and 8 inches (sizes 3XL-4XL) for the armhole. Sew the other part closed.
Round 1: Join yarn in first st of armhole Ch 1, SC around (make 2 SCs in each DC). Join in st.
Round 2: Ch 1, SC around. Join in 1st st. Snip yarn, weave in tails.
Part 5: Collar
We will be decreasing the beginning and ending of the rows here, thus the slanting.
Tip– to ensure you have the same number of stitches on either side, count the chain spaces from the bottom of marked point to the middle seam. Each side should have the same number of spaces. You may notice that there are only 3 rows on photo 4, as reflected in the pattern the actual number to make is 5 rows, so adjust accordingly and use the photo as guide on where to make your stitches.
Lay piece flat with wrong side of last row facing up, mark the bottom parts at the folded line:
Row 1: Join yarn in space, ch 2, skp DC, DC in nxt space, *(ch 1, skp DC , DC in nxt) repeat from * till last DC before st marker, do not chain 1, DC in next space. Turn
Row 2: Ch 2, DC in next space, *(Ch 1, skp DC, DC in nxt space) repeat from * till last space, do not ch 1, DC in top of Ch 2. Turn
Rows 3-5: rep row 2. Do not snip yarn, continue on the side to the bottom of shrug
Row 5: ch 1, DC in ch2 space (same space you made the last DC in top of ch 2), *(ch 1, DC in nxt ch 2 space), repeat from * till last chain space on the other side, sl st in top of ch2 space. Snip yarn, weave in tails.
Ana Sudy says
So beautiful and easy. Anyway I will use green.
Betty Fuller says
Love your shrug pattern but need help. On the chart I get the green blocks representing Dc, ch 1, Dc, which would be 3 stitches . But the yellow blocks? Do they represent 3 Dc or? On regular Filet crochet the blocks represent the same number of stitches for each block (counting the ch as a stitch), but the stitch count would have to be way more than 144 in row 1 for that to work. I can’t get the stitch count to come out right. Help please.
Rose says
Hello Betty, I’m sorry you’re having trouble here. The yellow blocks are also 3 DC stitches. The Filet Crochet graph only covers the start and end of the leaves (which is about 120 stitches from one side to the other).
For the size you’re making, how many stitches did you make on row 2 before starting the leaf?