One Skein Summer Shrug

It is a common affliction among those who indulge in the yarn arts - the single skein.  I have no idea why I purchased this particular lonely skein of electric teal Paton's wool, but I suspect that my though process was something like "OOOOOOO, PRETTY!!!!".  It has been in my stash for at least two years, but I never knew what to do with it. Coincidentally, I have had a pattern for a "capelet" which I though would be a quick and cute little project to use up this small amount of yarn.

I tried to figure out how to adjust the pattern for the thinner yarn and to deal with the fact that there were no measurements in the original pattern.  In the end, I realized it would be easier to start from scratch.  I found this formula for a raglan sweater and calculated it to my measurements.  I also decided that I wanted to work the shrug in an open lace pattern so it would use less yarn and better for summer.  I leafed through my Vogue Guide to Knitting until I found a lace pattern I liked with a relative short repeat (this one is six stitches).  The short repeat length was important because nearly the entire shrug is raglan increases and I wanted to minimize the ugliness created by trying to increase in a lace pattern. All in all, I am quite happy with the resulting shrug. It is light enough for summer, even through it is wool, and it adds a nice pop of color to neutral dresses.  One skein down, lots more to go!