🧶 Granny Square Shrug Sleeves: Easy Adaptation Tutorial

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I originally planned to make a shawl with my Lion Brand Mandala Bonus Bundle in Centaur. The color changes were too beautiful to hide, and I wanted something soft, simple, and soothing—easy enough to stitch in bed during a flare weekend after my first round of trigger point injections. That’s when I found The Snugglery’s continuous granny square shrug pattern, and it felt like exactly what I needed: wearable, cozy, and gentle on my brain.

I finished it on a Monday and wore it all day, wrapped in color and comfort. But by Tuesday, the mornings and evenings turned breezy, and I realized I needed sleeves to keep the chill out. So I did what any comfort-core maker would do—I adapted it.

I attached yarn at the seam and started crocheting around the armholes, using granny clusters and gradually reducing stitches to shape the sleeves. It was intuitive, rhythmic, and surprisingly meditative. I even found myself watching The Touble with Maggie Cole—a show I never meant to watch, but couldn’t stop once it came on after Wuthering Heights. Maybe it’s the small English village setting, or maybe it’s the part of me that’s always dreamed of writing a cozy crime novel in a seaside town. Either way, it fit the mood perfectly.

This post walks you through how I added granny square shrug sleeves—step by step, stitch by stitch. It’s spoonie-friendly, adaptable, and designed to honor your energy while keeping you warm.

🧵 Why Add Sleeves?

When I first finished my continuous granny square shrug, it felt like the perfect weekend project—soft, colorful, and easy to wear. But as the weather shifted, I realized it wasn’t quite warm enough for breezy mornings and chilly evenings. I needed sleeves—not just for warmth, but for comfort, coverage, and that layered, wrapped-up feeling that makes a shrug feel like a hug.

Adding sleeves was also a spoonie-friendly solution. I didn’t have to start over or frog anything. I could build on what I’d already made, stitch by stitch, in short bursts from bed or the couch. It turned a transitional piece into a cozy staple I could wear all day, even during flare recovery.

It felt good to adapt a finished project to fit my real-life needs, stitch by stitch, without unraveling a thing. This simple sleeve method let me build on what I’d already made, layering warmth and intention into a piece I already loved. It turned a transitional shrug into a cozy staple—one I could wear through chilly mornings, breezy evenings, and flare-friendly days without sacrificing softness or ease.

🧺 Materials & Setup

Here’s what I used to add granny square shrug sleeves:

Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Bonus Bundle in Centaur The color changes were perfect for granny clusters and added visual interest without extra effort.
Hook: I used the same hook size as the body of the shrug to keep the tension consistent. (If you’re adapting this, use whatever size you used for the original piece.)
Stitch Markers: Helpful for marking the seam and tracking rounds, especially when reducing stitches gradually.
Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and tidying up the cuff.
Lap Setup: I worked most of the sleeve rounds from bed, using a soft lap tray and watching The Trouble with Maggie Cole—a surprise favorite that paired perfectly with cozy crafting.

📐 Sleeve Construction Step-by-Step

Here’s a gentle walkthrough of how to add granny square shrug sleeves. This approach is spoonie-friendly, easy to adapt, and lets you build warmth and structure without unraveling a single stitch.

1. 🧶 Attaching the Yarn at the Seam

I started by attaching my yarn (Lion Brand Mandala Bonus Bundle in Centaur) at the seam where I had originally joined the shrug. This gave me a clean anchor point and helped the sleeve flow naturally from the body of the piece. I used the same yarn as the body so the color changes would blend seamlessly.

2. 🧵 Granny Stitch Rounds with Gradual Reductions

From there, I worked 13 rounds of classic granny stitch clusters (3 double crochets per cluster), crocheting in the round around the armhole. To shape the sleeve gently, I reduced by one stitch per round by replacing one 3-dc cluster with a 2-dc cluster. I moved the reduced cluster around the sleeve each round to keep the shaping gradual and balanced.

3. 🔄 Single Crochet Round to Stabilize

After 13 rounds, I worked a single crochet round to stabilize the sleeve and prepare for the cuff. This gave the sleeve a clean edge and helped transition into the next section.

4. 🧵 Cuff Shaping with BLO ESC & BLO HDC

To create a soft, stretchy cuff, I alternated four rounds of back loop only extended single crochet (BLO ESC) with four rounds of back loop only half double crochet (BLO HDC). I repeated this sequence three times, chaining one and turning at the end of each round for flexibility and comfort. I continued decreasing by four stitches per round to taper the cuff gently.

5. 🧷 Final Round of Single Crochet

To finish, I worked one last round of single crochet, still decreasing by four stitches. This gave the cuff a snug, cozy finish that hugs the wrist without feeling tight.

💬 Final Thoughts & Where to Stitch Next

Adding sleeves to my continuous granny square shrug turned a weekend project into a wearable hug—one that fits my body, my energy, and the shifting seasons. It’s a reminder that crochet doesn’t have to be perfect or planned. It can be responsive, intuitive, and deeply comforting.

If you’re looking for more cozy mods, comfort-core tutorials, or spoonie-friendly inspiration, here are a few posts you might love:

Want to share your own shrug mods or sleeve experiments? Tag your makes @realangelwingsit on Instagram or Pinterest or share them in the Angel Wings It Crochet & Comfort Group—I’d love to see what you’re layering next.

Stay soft, stay magical, and stitch gently 💜