Crochet Duchess Shrugdigan
“Effortless Elegance: Cozy Up with This Simple, Round Shrug-Cardi with Sleeves”
Duchess Shrug: A Happy Accident Turned Cozy Masterpiece
Every once in a while, a crochet project doesn’t go exactly as planned—but sometimes, that leads to something even better. That’s exactly how the Duchess Shrugdigan came to life.
Originally, this piece was meant to be a completely different project, the Duchess Shawl. Actually, a reader of mine has asked me to help her with the instructions for Duchess Shawl, so I started crocheting it in order to me able to write detailed written pattern. I wanted to make this royal shawl for myself as well, and its full circle motif was supposed to be the back part of the large shawl with fringe. But as it happens in the world of crafting, I ran out of yarn. And not just any yarn—I couldn’t find the same one anywhere, no matter how hard I searched.
Rather than let the circle go to waste, I began thinking of ways to re-purpose it. After all, the hours spent crocheting weren’t about to go down the drain! That’s when inspiration struck. I draped the circle over my shoulders, played around with it a bit, and pinned it around my arms. Suddenly, the shape of a shrug started to form, complete with little sleeves and rolled-up shawl collar.
With a few adjustments and a couple more rounds along the hemline, the Duchess Shrugdigan was born. What started as a challenge quickly turned into a cozy, elegant piece that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. The shrug drapes beautifully, making it the perfect piece to throw on over any outfit when you need an extra layer of warmth.
The name Shrugdigan came to me as a result of a dilemma whether this is a shrug or a cardigan. The hybrid name for it eventually covered both kinds of wrap.
This project is an excellent example of how crochet can be wonderfully forgiving and adaptable. It also highlights the beauty of thinking outside the box—sometimes, the best designs come from unexpected places.
Whether you’re looking for a simple, round shrug with sleeves or just need a new idea to use up your yarn stash, the Duchess Shrug is a project you’ll love making and wearing.
In the photos below you can see the length and shape of the shrug from all sides. Duchess Shrug has a pattern identical to the Duchess Shawl. However, instead of 1 full circle, 2 semi-circles, and 2 triangles, this piece consists of only one full circle motif, whose most part covers the back. Being made from sport yarn, the round motif is very big, so it is enough to wrap it around your body to cover the shoulders as well as to form very simple sleeves. When you fold or roll up the upper part of the shrug outwards, you get a pretty, decorative shawl collar.
level
To make the Duchess Shrugdigan you will need intermediate knowledge of crocheting skills. Stitches used in this pattern are chain, single and double crochet
material
- About 300 gr of sport yarn (6 balls, 1 ball – 50 gr = 142 m) 3 mm hook
- Crochet hook 4.5 mm
- Yarn needle
size
Circle diameter – 93 cm (36.6 in), size is suitable for S/M/L/XL (36/38/40/42)
instructions in a nutshell
Step 1 – The Back
The back, which is the main piece, is made by crocheting in the rounds following the diagram given in this section. The work has 29 rounds.
Step 2 – The Sleeves
The sleeves are formed approximately on a third of the round piece, on the left and right sides. Part of the last round is left open for the arms, and 13 stitches are closed using the slip stitch.
Step 3 – The Border
After completing the sleeves, the rest of the hem is crocheted following rounds 10, 11 and 12 from the diagram.
