A post for Cathie

Cathie is a longtime friend from my long-time sewing list. Yesterday, she asked about how to construct a shrug. So this post is the answer to her question.

1. Super Easy Tube  Shrug

Fold a 45 inch wide fabric in 1/2.  The finished height should be wider than your upper arm. So let's pretend that you start with a rectangle that is  45 inches x 14 inches and you folded it in half 

Stitch  the open end from the selvedge most of the way to the center of the fabric. Do the same from the other selvedge.

Turn the fabric right side out. Then slip your arms into the shrug from the center unstitched section. The unstitched section will comfortably slip up around the back of your neck and down to about bra-strap height on your back. 

If the shrug falls off your shoulders stitch a few more inches into the center of the fabric. If it is uncomfortably small unpick a few inches on each side. 

Once you like the fit you can hem that open center section.

If you wish you can add elastic to the cuffs.

This sequined and embroidered net shrug is made in the simple tube shrug technique.

It doesn't go with the dress I am wearing today but it has looked fabulous with some of my cocktails dresses.

2. A slightly more complicated shrug

Fold a 45 inch x 36 inch piece of fabric in 1/4s

Cut this sloping curve

from the open selvedge side to the unfolded bottom edge of the fabric.

Unfold the east-west folds so the cut fabric looks like this.

Stitch along the curves that you cut.

I know that this looks like a t-shirt that is missing a hole for your head. It is not. It is a shrug. 

Pick up the shrug from the bottom of one of the seams. Slip your other arm through the armhole. Then slip your first arm through the other arm hole. You are now wearing your shrug

This is seemingly complicated but it is not.

The shrug will fit you more or less like the drawing below.

This is your shrug so you can adjust the measurements to suit you. Of course you can hem the edge that goes around the back of your neck. You can cut the shrug longer if you wish, and you have more fabric. 

I will often cut shrugs out of lace that has two scalloped selvedges. This means that the only sewing I have to do are those two curved under arm seams. It looks fancy but it is lazy.

One scalloped edge visible as the sleeve edge

This shrug gets worn often.

This embellished net shrug was worn at a Zoom wedding

The ribbed wool jersey shrug is mostly worn over a nightgown on chilly nights

. The color isn't great on me.

So, go forth and make shrugs. They are a great way to use up left over lengths of pretty fabric.