Free knitting patterns for shrugs and boleros, small cardigan coverups, using one skein of yarn. In defining one skein, I selected patterns that used one skein of the recommended yarn, used 100 grams of yarn or less, and/or had projects from knitters that used one skein or less. Obviously, your mileage/meters may vary. Most patterns are free. Updated 5/22/23
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
Follow me for more patterns:
Free Patterns
Mermaid Shrug
Lace shrug knit in one piece with the ribbed cuffs knit in the round and the body knit flat with a 4 row repeat lace. Uses 100g Aran weight. Designed by Knitted Sheep
Cristaria Shrug
Easy lace shrug knit in one rectangular piece with a 4 row repeat lace and seamed. Optional beading. Uses 220 yards (201 m) DK weight yarn. Designed by Meghan Bosanko for Alpaca Direct
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet archive
- See the Ravelry page. Download link at Ravelry does not download pattern.
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima yarn at Amazon
- Get the recommended Freshwater Pearls at Amazon
Ladybird Shrug
Lace bolero with a ribbed border that can fold to a shawl collar and an 8 row repeat lace body. Body is knit flat and then stitches picked up for border. Uses Approx 270m of DK weight which was less than a skein of the yarn used in designer's project. Designed by Knitted Sheep
Shetland Shorty
Bolero with tie front and a 4 row repeat traditional Shetland lace pattern that creates a beautiful and very stretchy texture based on garter stitch. Sizes To fit up to 30 [34, 38, 42, 47, 51] inch chest. Uses one skein of the recommended fingering weight yarn for four of the sizes. Yardage 490 - 740 yards (448 - 677 m). Designed by Gudrun Johnston for Knitty.
One Skein Shrug
Sweet little shoulder warmer with tulip lace borders. Uses one skein 247 yards (226 m) of the recommended Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Kirsten Hipsky.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page. Link to pattern on Ravelry is wrong.
- Get the recommended Valley Yarns Northampton yarn at Amazon
Grape Vine Shrug
The ribbed sleeves on this shrug provide extra arm coverage while the 4 row repeat lace back maintains the dainty feel of a lace shrug. Knit in one piece with options to knit sleeves in the round or flat with the sleeves seamed at the end. Uses one skein 168 - 196 yards (154 - 179 m) Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Mountain Majesty Designs
Those Summer Nights Shrug
This simple summer shrug knit with fine yarn at a loose gauge to create a lightweight fabric. Body is knit flat in stockinette, but cuffs and border are knit in the round. Uses 480 - 490 yards (439 - 448 m) Fingering weight. Designed by Christa Casebeer
Lace Shoulder Cover
Lace shrug knit flat in one piece with a 4 row repeat. Uses 67 grams or roughly 420 yards fingering weight yarn weight yarn. Designed by Alysia Coffield
More Free Patterns
Easy Peasy Shrug
Openwork shrug knit flat in one piece with a 4 row repeat with a crossover dropped stitch. Uses 220 - 300 yards (201 - 274 m) of DK weight yarn. Many Ravelrers used one skein or less to knit the shrug. Designed by Giddy Davies
Hanga Shrug
Cable and lace shrug knit with one skein of sock yarn. Body is knit flat and ribbed border is picked up. Sizes S-M-L-XL-XXL-XXXL. Designed by Adrien Antal. Uses 350 - 383 yards (320 - 350 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Indifference
Top-down shrug with tie front and cap sleeves. Uses 462 yards (422 m) fingering weight yarn for size M. Designed by Jessica Cordova for ssh...quiet
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Knit Picks Stroll yarn at Amazon
Diamond Rib Lace Bolero
Lace shrug knit in one piece with an 8 row piece lace and seamed. Uses just one skein 350 - 360 yards (320 - 329 m) of Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sherri Hughes.
Cable Shrug
Cable and lace shrug knit flat in one piece, with ribbed border is picked up and knit. Uses just one 100g skein / 328 - 437 yards (300 - 400 m) of Fingering weight yarn. Charted. Szalajka designed by Adrien Antal
Movie Night Shrug
Knit this easy lace shrug in a few hours. Knit flat with a 4 row repeat in a rectangle and seamed. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Tante Ehm. Uses one skein (130 - 150 yards, 119 - 137 m) of the recommended bulky weight yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See more of Tante Ehm's knitting patterns
- See more Easy Shrug Knitting Patterns
Sagebrush
Hanna Breetz designed this lace shrug that uses just 250 – 280 yards (229 – 256 m) of worsted yarn.
Shrug This
This shrug design by Toni Kayser Weiner is featured in One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites and is worked seamlessly from the top down. Takes 153 yards (140 m) of Aran weight yarn. Pictured project by neuroscientist who used less than one skein.
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet archive
- See the Ravelry page
- Get One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites
Sassenach Shrug
This is Polly Foo Foo’s interpretation of the shrug that Claire wears knit flat in garter stitch. Uses one skein 174 yards (159 meters) of Aran weight yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Cuff's Shrug
Shrug knit flat in one piece with simple cable and lace motifs. The shrug in the photo took about 50g of lace weight yarn. Designed by Beaker Button.
Lace Cabled Vine Shrug
A knitted shrug with a repeating lacy cable vine pattern. Trim on sleeves echoes with a simpler lace pattern. Practically seamless, only requiring seaming along the sleeves. Uses one skein 100g of the recommended fingering weight yarn. Designed by Lily Handmade Studio.
Seafoam Shawlette-to-Shrug
This quick one-skein shawlette can easily be turned into a shrug with the addition of buttons or cufflinks. Uses 100g 4ply/fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sarah Knight.
A New Leaf One-Skein Shrug
One 100gm skein of sock yarn knits up to a beautiful shrug with a diamond lace pattern on the back. One size is given, to fit XL-3XL. Designed by Whitney Christmas.
Lace Edged Shrug
Lightweight shrug knit flat in one piece. Easy to make, perfect for beginning knitters. Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL. Uses one skein, 392 - 500 yards (358 - 457 m), of Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Dana Young.
Summer Lace Shrug
Mesh lace bolero knit flat in one piece and seamed. Uses one skein, 400 - 450 yards (366 - 411 m), of Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Dana Young.
