Crocheted Shrug

If you love the look of the crocheted shrug Susan designed for the Lehigh Valley Coutererie Society Fashion Show, here's your chance to get the look for yourself:

Supplies
3 skeins of Patons Classic Wool Merino (100% pure new wool; 23 yds. (204 m); 3-1/2 oz. (100 g)*
I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
Tape measure
2 stitch markers
Safety pins
Sharp point tapestry needle, or hand sewing needle with eye large enough for the yarn
* Susan used color #00205 Deep Olive. Classic Wool is a worsted weight. This is a very common weight, and many different yarns are suitable for this project. Why not see if you have enough in your stash?
Gauge: 17 sts and 17 rows = 4"

Finished Measurements
63" long and 11" wide
Note: You may need to adjust sleeve and back length, and sleeve width, to fit your body. Fit information is included in the instructions.

Pattern Summary
Worked sc blo throughout.
1. Work 2" even.
2. Inc 1 st at beg and end of every 3rd row for 5", to 47 sts.
3. Work even to 42" from beg.
4. Dec 1 st at beg and end of every 3rd row to 33 sts.
5. Work even to 61" from beg. Fasten off.
6. Sew 19" underarm seam.

Abbreviations
Beg Begin(ning)
Blo Back loop only
Ch Chain
Cont Continue(ing)
Dec Decrease(s)(ing)
Ea Each
Hk Hook
Inc Increas(s)(ing)
Rem Remain(s)(ing)
Rep Repeat
Sc Single crochet
Sc blo Single crochet in back loop only (make a standard single crochet, but work into only the back loop of the stitch in the previous row)
Sc2tog Single crochet 2 sts together
St(s) Stitch(es)
Tog Together

Instructions
Sleeve
Ch 34
Row 1: Sc blo in 2nd ch from hk and ea ch to end, turn. [33 sts]
Row 2: Ch 1 (do not count as st), sc blo in first and ea st to end, turn.
Work even (rep row 2) for 6 more rows (about 2").
Row 9 (Inc): Ch 1 (do not count as st), 2 sc blo in first st, sc blo in next and ea st to last st, 2 sc blo in last st. [35 sts]
Cont working rows in sc blo, inc in first and last st of every 3rd row to 47 sts.
Note: Wrap work around forearm, with beg and end of rows pinned tog to make temporary underarm seam. Make sure that the work fits comfortably without sts straining, but the work isn't too loose.
Work even (rep row 2) until 19" from beg. Place marker at one edge.
Sleeve length should be same as body measurement from wrist to armpit.
Note: Check fit around upper arm when 13" from beg. If too snug, you need to rip back to 2 rows beyond last inc row, and then work more inc rows to achieve desired fit.
Back
Work even (rep row 2) until 42" from beg. Place marker at one edge.
Rem Sleeve
Work even (rep row 2) until 54" from beg.
Next Row (Dec): Ch 1 (do not count as st), sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc blo in next and ea st to last 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts, turn. [45 sts]
Cont working rows in sc blo, dec in first and last st of every 3rd row to 33 sts.
Work even to 61" from beg. Fasten off.
Finishing
Block if desired. At ea sleeve, sew beg and end of ea row tog from wrist to marker. Remove markers.